Quest launches Indian-sourced actives

Both ingredients were unveiled at this month's In-Cosmetics show in Berlin and fit in with the current industry trend for naturally-derived active ingredients.

Quest claims that Actisculpt is a new concept for skin firming and body sculpting applications - a category that has shown huge growth recently. A blend of active herbals from India, the combined benefits help to locally break down and remove fat effectively, allowing for shaping and firming of defined areas of the body and face - the company says.

Suitable for formulation in creams, gels and sprays, it target 'problem' areas for men and women where skin may have become less firm due to fatty deposits. It can also be used as a 'boosting' active for existing firming products, as its biochemical action is said to be complementary to caffeine - currently the most widely known slimming active.

The company's Karanja Oil offering is also from Indian Ayurvedic medicine - a plant oil with the added advantage that it contains UV absorbing ingredients (both UVA and UVB). This properties make the ingredient a strong means of avoiding the ageing affects to the skin caused by excessive exposure to the sun.

The ingredient itself is an emollient vegetable oil and the company says that this makes it suitable for formulating top-end facial skincare, bodycare, and protecting products such as lip balms and suncare - all coming with the unusual claim of being a naturally-derived product.

Quest​ has also launched Pongamia Extract, which is one of the actives found naturally in Karanja Oil. The company has added it to its range in its purified form and it is being marketed as a natural UVA absorber.

The fact that the ingredients are formulated according to Ayurvedic principles should also prove popular with the growing number of cosmetic products that claim to abide by the ancient Indian principles.

Only last month British retailer Tesco launched its own line of skin care products formulated with ingredients sourced according to Ayurvedic principles, as part of what it termed a more 'holistic' approach to skin care.