Our selection of 7 botanical ingredients to create modern, on-trend formulations
At Croda Beauty, we know that enhancing wellbeing is no longer a secondary thought in cosmetic products — it’s a core expectation. Consumers today seek formulations that not only deliver visible results, but also foster emotional balance, reinforce skin health, and respect both people and the planet. This growing demand for holistic, sensorial, and sustainable beauty experiences has inspired us to curate an extensive portfolio of botanical ingredients designed to address the main trends of the cosmetic industry.
Our EffiSense™ collection, a range of performance botanicals with proven properties, perfectly answers this call. By combining efficacy, authenticity, and sustainability; these natural ingredients offer unique sensorial stories and on-trend benefits that bring modern cosmetic formulations to life. Here’s a closer look at six formulation concepts where our ingredients make all the difference.
Daily defence cream: The new age of skin protection
Consumers today are embracing prejuvenation — acting before visible signs of skin ageing appear — while also shielding skin from modern aggressors like environmental stress aggravated by climate change. Daily defence creams respond to this by combining skin barrier reinforcement, hydration, and even anti-fatigue properties, for radiant, resilient skin.
Our ingredient picks:
- Phytessence™ Osmanthus: Protects against thermal ageing, ideal for formulations designed to shield skin from heat and environmental stress.
- Phytessence Wassai: A prejuvenation hero, rich in antioxidants to help delay the appearance of early ageing signs and reinforce the skin barrier.
- Phytessence Green Coffee EC: Provides energising, anti-fatigue benefits for a fresh, tonified skin.
Body balancing spray: The rise of microbiome-friendly beauty
Balancing the skin’s microbiome has become a leading trend, with consumers increasingly aware of the link between skin health and microbial diversity . This growing awareness is reflected in the rising demand for skincare products that support a balanced and diverse skin microbiome, which is recognized as crucial for maintaining skin barrier function, hydration, and resilience (as mentioned in an article by Dr Katerina Steventon found on the National Biofilms Innovation Centre's website). Body sprays designed to rebalance and hydrate skin can become go-to products for their versatility and feel-good factor.
Our ingredient picks:
- Crodarom™ Cider Vinegar EC: Promotes a balanced microbiome, supporting beneficial bacteria for a healthier skin ecosystem.
- Zanthocare™: Combines anti-malodour and soothing properties, aligning with inclusive, body-positive formulations that celebrate natural skin.
Protecting serum: Targeted protection for resilient, balanced skin
Modern consumers are increasingly concerned with shielding their skin from daily aggressors such as pollution, stress, and environmental changes, as mentioned by Cosmetic Business in the magazine’s 2025 top 5 skin care trends review. Protective serums have become essential in skin care routines, offering targeted solutions to strengthen the skin barrier, support microbiome balance, and maintain skin comfort. These high-performance formulas deliver visible benefits while staying aligned with clean, conscious beauty expectations.
Our ingredient picks:
- Phytessence Wassai: Protects elastin fibres while offering antioxidant benefits to fit effective yet natural formulation. This ingredient, launched in autumn 2024, is ideal for holistic concepts, aligned with in-and-out beauty and the expectations of Gen Z for global fulfilment.
- Heliami™ Sea Fennel EC: A marine-sourced extract that fortifies the skin’s natural defences, bringing a fresh marine narrative and the concept of extremophile plants to formulations.
- Crodarom Cider Vinegar EC: Hydrates the skin while enhancing microbiome balance for visibly calmer, more resilient skin, with a local, responsibly sourced ingredient well-known in traditional French beauty routines.
Hair scalp enhancer: Scalp care as part of self-care
Scalp care has officially entered the beauty mainstream, with consumers recognising that healthy hair starts with a balanced scalp. An article by GCI reports that the scalp care market is projected to reach $20.79 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1%, signaling a major commercial opportunity and widespread industry investment by both major beauty conglomerates and indie brands.
Ingredient innovation for modern scalp enhancers focus on hydration, sebum control, personalised care, odour management, and soothing benefits.
To answer the market shift towards natural and effective, science-backed scalp solutions, our ideal ingredient :
- Crodarom Cider Vinegar EC: Our go-to scalp balancing ingredient, supporting microbiome balance and shine enhancement.
- Zanthocare: Provides anti-malodour action and soothing care, promoting scalp comfort while embracing body-positive, inclusive positioning.
- Heliami Ginseng EC: this oil-soluble extract offers the best of the ginseng root, recognised for its energising effects, in an organic high-oleic sunflower oil with barrier protection enhancing and proven hydrating effects. Using it can create a formulation that richly connotes heritage and vitality.
Emotional wellbeing: Beauty designed to uplift
The connection between skin and mood is a growing focus, with neurocosmetics capturing consumers’ imagination. Formulations that actively promote positive emotions, relaxation, and confidence are reshaping beauty rituals.
Our ingredient picks here contains 3 botanicals that have a demonstrated via electroencephalogram (EEG) study in the Croda labs in France and Singapore to help evoke positive emotional responses. The ingredients all proved their ability to instantly and statistically significantly increase the participants’ positive emotions during application (compared to a placebo).
- Phytessence Green Coffee EC: this feel-good ingredient fits perfectly into glimmer-inspired, mood-lifting formulations, and offers anti-fatigue benefits to the skin.
- Phytessence Osmanthus: Evokes sunny, comforting emotions through its floral image. When associated with the delicate perfume of the osmanthus flower, it is ideal for emotional wellbeing claims, awakening all senses.
- Zanthocare: Supports body-positive concepts, reminding consumers that their unique skin is worth celebrating.
Sensitive skin care: Gentle, authentic, and inclusive
As awareness around skin sensitivity rises, consumers seek gentle, effective products that soothe and protect without compromising on efficacy or natural credentials. Inclusive, multi-functional formulations suitable for all genders and skin types are key.
We’ve picked 3 botanicals that have been tested on volunteers with sensitive skin and demonstrated to be non-irritating (48H semi-occlusive patch under dermatological control):
- Crodarom Cider Vinegar EC: Locally sourced, microbiome-friendly, and hydrating — a natural fit for sensitive skin routines.
- Phytessence Osmanthus: Offers soothing, protecting, floral care with a feel-good, natural fragrance.
- Zanthocare: Adds value to men’s care and body-positive concepts, supporting skin comfort and wellbeing.
A selection of botanicals for 6 on-trend formulation concepts
Watch now and get inspired!
Final thoughts: Wellbeing, performance, and sustainability in perfect balance
Through these formulation concepts, our EffiSense botanicals address some of the most sought-after cosmetic claims: anti-fatigue, skin barrier protection, positive emotions, prejuvenation, microbiome balance, and anti-malodour effects.
Beyond their performance, our ingredients are carefully selected to meet sustainability expectations, with many offering a mix of organic certification, up to 100% natural origin content, responsible or local sourcing, and compatibility with cold-process formulations. This ensures your products can deliver both results and responsible beauty stories your customers will love.
Discover our ingredients
Visit each ingredient’s page on our website to learn more about their properties, claims, and sourcing stories. You can also browse our botanicals catalogue for more inspiration!
Ready to co-create your next formulation? Reach out to your Croda Beauty representative — we’ll be delighted to help you design your next well-being beauty concept.