Active ingredients

Inspired by the phytoremediation power of the buckwheat seed. This active ingredient is the new solution to adapt the skin microbiota to the urban environment. This is the birth of the Expo’biota scientific concept: “Expo” for exposome, “biota” for skin flora.

Buckwheat is becoming the trendy super seed thanks to all its nutrients. This pseudocereal is full of polyphenols with antioxidant powers and is the only one that contains rutin.

It can also act as a prebiotic thanks to sugars like D-Fagomine that enhance immune defenses.

The buckwheat is known as one of the first domesticated crops on the planet. Today it is used in organic farming as a soil ‘cleaner’, this is called phytoremediation. Indeed, this plant has the ability to promote specific bacteria in the ground that are useful for its own growth and for the quality of the soil.

At SEQENS Personal Care we sourced this organic raw material from a responsible and ethical certified farmer in the historical Brittany region in France (Protected Geographical Indication certified product).

From this exceptional plant, our experts have developed Cell’intact™, a super shield active for urban skin at the crossroads of atmospheric and cutaneous microbiota (Expo’biota concept).

CELL’INTACT™ IS A

• Anti-pollution skin booster 
• Skin microbiota reinforcer 
• Oxidative stress reducer 
• Skin complexion perfector

Soothing active ingredient developed for reactive and sensitive skin. This active ingredient is based on upcycled’ saffron flowers and will help strengthen the skin’s barrier function, reduce the inflammatory response and decrease neurosensory skin discomfort.

For centuries, Saffron has been used for its multiple virtues: as a precious spice, a natural dye, and for its medicinal and cosmetic benefits. Known as ‘red gold’, it takes time, patience and skill to harvest this plant, Crocus sativus. The flowers are carefully hand-picked once the dew has evaporated but before they are fully open, in order to protect the red stigmas from the elements and to preserve the quality of the spice.

Inspired by the versatility of the plant, our experts have discovered the powerful potential of the saffron crocus flower. Committed to our CSR policy of utilizing by-products, once the spice has been harvested, we collect the remaining flower to develop our active ingredient, Sens’flower™. Developed specifically to care for sensitive skin, Sens’flower™ is rich in glycosylated flavonoids: quercetin and kaempferol which have soothing properties.

SENS’FLOWER™ IS A

• Skin comfort enhancer 
• Skin inflammation inhibitor 
• Skin barrier function booster 
• Skin redness reducer

Inspired by the blue zones ethnobotanical surveys, the getto leaf from Okinawa Island has been identified as a botanical solution for well-aging. The active developed from this plant acts as a slow-aging enhancer, a cell connection booster and skin complexion perfector

To investigate the Okinawan blue zone and discover one of its longevity secrets, we collaborated with Michel Poulain, the expert in demographic studies. He is a scientific demographer specialized in longevity studies. He is well known in this field and works as a senior researcher at the Estonian Institute for Population Studies. In 2000, he introduced the concept of blue zones and now investigates them throughout the world supported by the National Geographic Society. 

Okinawa Island, part of the archipelago of Japan, is one of these blue zones with 4 to 5 times more centenarians than Western populations (around 80 per 100,000 inhabitants). Okinawan centenarians are physically independent thanks to their daily physical exercise but they’re also emotionally secured thanks to the concept of “moai” (meeting for a common purpose in Japanese) where support groups highlight the positive impact of social interactions. The “Traditional Okinawan Diet”, rich in plants, is also often mentioned in order to explain the healthy longevity of the Okinawan population. This traditional diet includes the consumption of certain local plants. After our ethnobotanical investigations on the Japanese island, our team returned with one such plant: Getto.

Obtained from organic Getto leaf extraction, SEQENS Personal Care created Celebr’age™ Getto. This well-ageing active ingredient, inspired from an exceptional longevity source, enhances the beauty and the health of aging skin.

CELEBR’AGE™ GETTO IS A

• Slow aging enhancer 
• Cell connection booster 
• Skin complexion perfector

Inspired by the microbiota of the Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica), the giant exopolysaccharide synthesized by bacteria from this marine animal plays a role on our skin and our emotions. The active ingredient developed from this XXL sugar interacts with skin receptors by improving skin moisturization, skin complexion but also by enhancing emotional perception

Being part of French Polynesia, the island of Moorea is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and its exceptional biodiversity. Our R&D experts were interested in Heteractis magnifica also called “the magnificent anemone”. It is the only species of sea anemone living in Polynesian waters.

Prospering in clear, bright waters with strong currents, the magnificent anemone co-exists with various fish and invertebrate species. When exploring the bacterial flora of the Heteractis magnifica, our experts isolated a micro-organism of interest: Alteromonas sp. Mo 2.78. The microorganism releases exopolysaccharides into its surrounding environment, that act as a source of nutrition for its underwater partners.

Inspired by this harmonious association, SEQENS Personal Care has developed Glycuron™ 2.78, a 4MD exopolysaccharide. This marine bio-active obtained from Alteromonas sp. bio-fermentation, shows very strong biological properties of brightness enhancement, together with sensory feeling impacting self-image perception and projected allo-perception.

GLYCURON™ 2.78 IS A

• Skin surface perfector
• Skin moisturizer
• Well-being enhancer

Anti-pollution active ingredient based on marshmallow root, inspired by skinification, which prevents the adhesion of polluting particles to the skin and hair during the day. The skin is protected from external aggressions and the hair is shinier, softer, and healthier

Since COVID-19, people are more focus on their self-care & beauty routines. This has brought the birth of the skinification concept which leads to apply skincare routines and claims to other beauty products category such as body, make-up, hair…. Skinification can also be considered as the skincare mimicry.

Hair is as affected as skin; this is why brands major skincare routines are moving to the haircare product category. Consumers are migrating to formulas and routines that resonate with their hair issues. We enter so into a new era: 360° hair care routine. Customizable diagnostics designed to decipher the need of each consumer’s scalp and hair is perceived as an upgrade in the beauty market. This will help delivering more personalized solutions to consumers. Haircare claims & trends are now mirroring skincare: exfoliate, moisturize, protect, sheet mask, micellar water…. 

In line with the skinification trend and with the objective to pamper ourselves, the self-care idea of cocooning came to our mind. SEQENS Personal Care has developed the perfect ingredient to pamper and envelop our skin and hair just like a cocoon. Discover Glycuron™ Marshmallow, rich in polysaccharides, this marshmallow root-based active ingredient forms an invisible and protective film on skin and hair to prevent and repair damages done by an urban lifestyle. 

GLYCURON™ MARSHMALLOW IS

• Urban skin & hair protector 
• Protein carbonylation inhibitor
• Hair porosity minimizer 
• Hair glow enhancer

Inspired by the gorilla’s zoo pharmacognosy case, this active ingredient will relieve irritated skin and boosts the resolution of inflammation. By rebalancing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators’ expression, it reduces the visible signs of skin inflammation (redness and vascular intensity to restore healthy skin with a reinforced skin barrier.

Phyt’anim™ Grains of Paradise is an active inspired by the gorilla’s zoo pharmacognosy case. Living in tropical forests, this big primate’s regular diet consists of mainly plants and sometimes insects. Scientists have observed that from time to time, the gorilla diverges from its regular diet and looks for a special grain from the plant Aframomum melegueta. Also known as “alligator pepper” or “grains of paradise”, this plant is originated from subtropical Africa where it grows in the lowland rainforest.

A study conducted in 2007 compared captive Western lowland gorillas from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago and wild gorillas. These captive gorillas are susceptible to a heart condition known as fibrosing cardiomyopathy, which is linked to inflammation of the heart muscle. It was observed that captive gorillas died more frequently from fibrosing cardiomyopathy than the wild ones.

This difference in death rate can be explained by their diet. Indeed, wild gorillas regularly consume the grains of A. melegueta contrary to captive gorillas. It was proven that this plant had powerful anti-inflammatory activity and wild gorillas may be using this plant as a preventive medicine against cardiomyopathy.

This observation led us to develop the first active of our new Etho-phytology™ platform: Phyt’anim™ Grains of Paradise, the inflamed skin hero and inflammation’s resolver. Our active comes from the heat extraction of grains of melegueta from the Ivory Coast, concentrated in 6-gingerol and polyphenols. 

PHYT’ANIM™ GRAINS OF PARADISE IS

• Skin barrier booster 
• Skin inflammation resolver 
• Skin redness reducer

POSITIONING SKIN CARE​

• Anti-ageing​
• Astringent​
• Keratolytic & anti-seborrheic​
• Skin-lightening​
• Antimicrobial​
• Exfoliating​

Inspired by Beauty Rx and Skinimalism,

this pure and purifying molecule is the perfect solution for acne-prone skin

Relying on pharmaceutical heritage, SEQENS Personal care has developed a new 100% pure active molecule, a supercharged ingredient suitable for acne-care routines, inspired by Beauty Rx and Skinimalism.

Beauty Rx is a new trend that has emerged in the last few years relying on science and efficacy. Rx is a terminology used in the US for drug prescriptions. The acronym is said to come from latin word recipere (recipe, to take). Another meaning would come from ancient Egypt “eye of Horus” that represents wellbeing, healing and protection. Beauty Rx highlights the medicalization of beauty. This is leading to more demand for proof behind claims with an increase in claiming “clinical tested”, creating value through ingredient-led products and driving the market for active ingredients.

We were also interested in the Skinimalism trend. It’s the contraction of the words “skin” and “minimalism” (meaning “less is more”). In the beauty industry, it translates into reducing the ingredient list (minimalistic formulas) by choosing multifunctional ingredients or effective ingredients, abolishing controversial ingredients but also about simplifying beauty routines and the growing demand of multi-use products.

Beauty Rx and Skinimalism together become the perfect combo for acne skincare as they are complementary trends: serious, safety & efficacy with a more medicalized beauty that will become multifunctional with minimalized routines.

Inspired by those two trends, SEQENS Personal Care developed a pure molecule dedicated to acne prone skin & imperfections: AdvensClear Q73.

ADVENSCLEAR Q73 IS

• Highly pure molecule, which is easy to formulate,
• With a supercharged efficacy at very low concentrations,
• Inspired by medical science and pharmaceutical knowhow.

POSITIONING SKIN CARE

• Anti-microbial
• Deodorant
• Lightening

POSITIONING HAIR CARE

• Anti-dandruff

Dedicated to acne-prone skin

In line with the Beauty Rx and skinimalism trends. Serious, safety & efficacy with a more medicalized beauty that will become multifunctional with minimalized routines.

ADVENSCARE UDA IS

• Bio-sourced
• Water soluble white powder
• Biobased versatile cosmetic ingredient
• Anti-microbial, cleansing and emulsifying agent