DSM launches GMO- and peanut oil-free Vit A oil
of Vitamin A oil that is said to conform to increasingly tighter
formulation requirements for a range of personal care products.
The company says that the new Vitamin A form uses medium chain triglycerides (MCT) as the carrier, which in turn guarantees that the formulation is GMO- and peanut free. The formulation taps into growing consumer concerns over the ingredients that are used in formulations, as part of the search for the purest and most natural products as well as those that are ethically produced. Matches trend towards well-being and health A growing trends towards well-being and health means that individuals are looking for products that are both natural and match up to demands that they are ethically produced. That the new Vitamin A oil is GMO-free complies with the fact that many personal care companies are now producing products that they can label as GMO-free. Likewise, the trend towards a healthier lifestyle means that consumers are looking for the purist possible personal care formulations. In this case the fact DSM's latest Vitamin A oil formulation is peanut-free addresses the fact that, even when applied topically, individuals suffering acute peanut allergies can react with anaphylactic symptoms to traces of peanut oil. DSM has been expanding its footprint in the beauty arena recently, having announced a US$2m investment in the Israeli company Sol-Gel Technologies in 2006. The company has carved its name out in the pharma and nutra field, where it has established niches in food and beverage, dietary supplements as well as animal feed. And in July 2007, DSM announced the acquisition of Switzerland-based Phentapharm, a move that further expanded its footprint for the development of active cosmetic ingredients. Its move into the personal care and cosmetic field has been more recent, but it is now establishing a reputation in this area for ingredients and building blocks used in UV absorbants, hairsprays, soaps, creams, shampoos. Vitamin A as an anti-ageing tool Vitamin A has become a particularly popular member of the vitamin family in the eyes of personal care formulators, thanks to its anti-ageing properties. Clinical studies have demonstrated the age defying properties of the vitamin which is available in various forms; Retinol, Retinyl Esters, Retinoic Acid and Tretinion. When applied topically in skin care products vitamin A fights wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen and encouraging cell renewal and therefore reducing the damage incurred from free radicals. Retinol, the animal form of Vitamin A, is used in various lotions to fight ageing but due to formulation difficulties Tretinion is often preferred. Frost & Sullivan analyst Sowmya Ramaswami said Tretinion is considered to be 10 times more potent than retinol and ideal for the treatment of wrinkles.
