German chemical group WACKER used in-cosmetics Global in Paris to introduce BELNEXT, a new line of bio-based, biodegradable raw materials meant to sit alongside, and eventually complement, its long-established BELSIL silicone portfolio. The debut includes a cationic emulsifier developed for hair care formulas and a versatile emollient built for lipstick and other color cosmetics, both derived from renewable feedstocks using WACKER's existing fermentation and polymerization expertise.
The launch reflects a wider shift among ingredient suppliers, who are under growing pressure from both regulators and formulators to offer high-performance alternatives to traditional silicones without sacrificing the sensory qualities, the glide, the shine, the finish, that made silicones the industry standard in the first place. For a magazine tracking where tomorrow's finished products come from, ingredient debuts like this are the earliest possible signal.
