BASF Personal Care introduces revised version of its Laricyl active cosmetic ingredient; product is based on the Fomes officinalis mushroom, now sustainably cultivated rather than harvested from the wild

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• 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

Pulnoy, France – July 5, 2023 – 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.

About the Care Chemicals division at BASF

The BASF division Care Chemicals offers a broad range of ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are a leading global supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry, and support our customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division’s high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets. Further information is available online at www.care-chemicals.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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