Improved sustainability and efficacy: BASF Personal Care introduces new version of its pore-tightening cosmetic ingredient Laricyl®

• Upgraded version based on Fomes officinalis mushroom, now derived from solid-state fermentation
• Clinically proven immediate pore-tightening effect
• Sustainable cultivation of the raw material supports the company’s Responsibly Active program

BASF Personal Care is releasing a revised version of its active ingredient Laricyl^® that features a more sustainable cultivation of the raw material while offering proven enhanced efficacy. For 20 years, Laricyl, an extract from the Fomes officinalis mushroom, has been a tried-and-tested component of BASF’s portfolio of cosmetic active ingredients for pore refinement. In an effort to align its actions towards more sustainable practices, the company now uses a method to cultivate the mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungus, by solid-state fermentation. This replaces the harvesting of the mushroom from the wild. The production of the mycelium, that is now organic certified, is carried out in Europe on solid medium within a controlled incubation room. The new version of Laricyl is 99.7% from natural origin according to ISO 16128.

“We continuously revise our portfolio to produce even more sustainably. Of course, this should not be at the expense of performance,” said Lucilene Veira Nunes, Head of Business Management for Bioactive Ingredients, EMEA. “With Laricyl, we have now succeeded in making cultivation of the raw material more sustainable, while at the same time improving the results of the ingredient on immediate pore tightening, skin mattifying and moisturization.”

Improved efficacy confirmed in vivo

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face and randomized study with 25 female subjects, the revised version of Laricyl at a concentration of 3% improved the appearance of pores in size and number. Image analysis showed that it minimized the appearance of visible pores immediately after application 2.8 times better than the previous version of the ingredient, with an astringent effect. The active ingredient also helped to remove excess oil from the skin, making it less shiny without drying it out.

Responsibly Active to protect natural resources

Protecting natural resources is one of three focus areas of the company’s Responsibly Active program for its bioactives portfolio. Among other things, the program seeks to have 100% of botanical supply chains traceable to the source and sustainably sourced as well as 50% organic certified by 2030. By revising the access to the fungus on which Laricyl is based, BASF continues to consistently pursue these ambitious goals. Besides conserving natural resources, the program aims to support people along the value chains and includes measures to reduce climate impact.

Laricyl is just one recent example of how the company’s Care Chemicals Division is addressing future challenges. Sustainability, digitalization, innovation and new approaches to working together are the key cornerstones to Care 360°– Solutions for Sustainable Life.