At AAK Personal Care, we believe in the power of sustainable, plant-based solutions to shape the future of beauty and skincare. Our blog is your go-to source for insights on innovative ingredients, industry trends, and the latest advancements in sustainable beauty.
Here, we share our expertise, highlight our commitment to responsible sourcing, and explore how collaboration drives meaningful change. If you’re looking for updates on our pioneering work, you’ll find it all right here.
Join us as we continue to make better happen—one ingredient at a time
Water-free formats such as balms, sticks, and solid bars continue to grow in popularity, driven by consumer demand for concentrated products, simplified formulations, and more sustainable packaging solutions. While these...
At in-cosmetics Korea 2026, K-beauty once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most influential forces in the global skincare industry. Known for setting trends that often shape beauty markets worldwide, K-beauty...
For companies with SBTi-aligned climate targets, the biggest emissions challenges often lie beyond their own operations – in the agricultural raw materials that sit upstream in the value chain. For canola, the overall ca...
As the European summer begins, sun protection moves back into daily focus for many consumers. Yet for a growing number of people, suncare is no longer just seasonal — it is part of an everyday skincare routine. Stronger ...
NYSCC Supplier’s Day 2026 once again brought together the personal care industry in New York, highlighting the latest innovations, ingredient developments, and consumer-driven shifts shaping the market. Across two dynami...
Silicones have played a central role in hair care for decades, helping create the smoothness, shine, and control consumers have come to expect. They are polymers made of silicon and oxygen, with variations in chain lengt...
A practical perspective for procurement and sustainability leaders
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We are back from three intense and inspiring days at in-cosmetics Global in Paris, where we met customers, partners, and fellow suppliers across the cosmetics industry. The volume of input was enormous, so we have summar...
PCHi 2026, officially known as the Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients Exhibition 2026, was held from 18 to 20 March 2026 at Hangzhou Grand Convention & Exhibition Center. As a premier professional event serving t...
The global haircare category is entering one of its most transformative eras. Consumers increasingly expect science‑aligned performance, holistic wellness benefits, and responsible ingredient choices — shifting the marke...
Graininess—often referred to as fat bloom—is one of the most common texture issues in cosmetic formulations containing shea butter. A product may feel perfectly smooth at filling, only to develop a gritty or sandy textur...
Understanding how cosmetic ingredients interact with the skin microbiome has become essential for formulators striving to create safe, mild, and truly skin friendly products. At AAK, we set out to investigate whether veg...
If you have been reading our blogposts, and often read us in Linkedin, you probably have seen that we have been having a big focus on liquid shea and what can it do for YOU. The rationale behind itis that, contrary to so...
At AAK, we know that the texture and stability of cosmetic products is essential. Not just for performance, but for the experience they create. Crystallization in fats and butters, such as shea, is a natural process gove...
As we approach 2026, the personal-care landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Skincare and hygiene are no longer viewed primarily through the lens of appearance; instead, they are becoming holistic, tech-enab...
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AAK started the Kolo Nafaso journey back in 2009. Since then, the program has developed into what we believe is the largest direct sourcing program of its kind, directly impacting more than 230,000 women, their families ...
Last month, we had the privilege of attending two major summits that brought together thought leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from across the globe. From São Paulo to Paris, discussions centred on innovation, susta...
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For decades, the beauty and personal care industry has been driven by the promise of antiaging—products designed to reverse the visible signs of time. But today, a profound shift is underway. The focus is moving from “an...
Shea butter is a highly valued and broadly used natural emollient in the personal care industry, known for its natural moisturizing and barrier-protecting properties. It is widely recognized and preferred by consumers fo...
Understanding the melting behavior of solid emollients is crucial for cosmetic formulators aiming to tailor product texture and skin feel. Unlike common assumptions of a single melting point, many plant-based solid emoll...
When working with shea–based formulations, you’ve probably noticed a dusty, grainy layer show up sooner or later.
The New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC) Supplier’s Day took place on June 3 and 4 at the Jacob Javits Center. This event usually happens around May, but this year’s scheduling allowed more breathing space for a...
Shea is the most used plant-based butter in cosmetics. Chances are you are already formulating with shea, but can you truly claim to be a shea master? This is the challenge we put to visitors to In-cosmetics, who we invi...
In 2024, we made tangible progress toward our long-term sustainability targets, reducing our environmental impact while supporting our customers and suppliers in their shift to greener practices. Explore how we’re achiev...
Last month over 10.000 people gathered in Amsterdam for in-cosmetics Global, the most significant date in the calendar for players across the personal care value chain.
Struggling with crystalization and oxidation issues when formulating cosmetics? It’s all down to choosing the right shea butter.
From shine and ‘skinification’, to sustainability, AAK’s LIPEX® SheaLuxe TR™ provides a solution to meet the haircare industry’s leading trends.
With the end of the year approaching, players across the industry are giving their own predictions on what the key personal care industry trends of 2025 will be.
Illipe butter, a lesser known yet highly valued ingredient in the cosmetics and skincare industry, originates from the nuts of the Shorea Stenoptera tree, native to the rainforests of Borneo. This butter is prized for it...
But not prepared to compromise on soft, silky texture and non-greasy after-feel? Then LIPEX® SheaLuxe TR™ – our new, fully traceable shea-derived emollient ester could be exactly what you’re looking for.
The Philippines is one of the world’s leading producers of coconuts, a crop produced from the "Tree of Life", so called due to its incredible versatility and importance to local communities. Indonesia, the Philippines an...
In this article, Elena Genesca Pont examines the resilience of the color cosmetic category in times of economic crises, how the pandemic upset the pattern, and what the future holds for the sector. She also offers insigh...
When formulating sunscreens, getting the emollient wrong can lead to uneven UV protection and white casting on the skin. Nobody wants that ashy, uneven look or a sun cream that isn’t reliable. So how can you make sure th...
It's been nearly two months since we all gathered in Paris for this annual event – the most significant date in the calendar for players in the personal care value chain. The AAK team was present at stand IS110 to introd...
The future is increasingly plant-based. Plant-based oils and fats are key to moving towards sustainable food systems, replacing animal-based fats, and creating sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable products in candle...
Known for their stability and favorable sensory profile, dimethicones have been a mainstay in skincare for over 50 years. However, as consumer awareness and industry pressures grow, the quest for sustainable and responsi...
When working with tropical butters in formulations, you’ve likely been disappointed by the appearance of bloom at some point.
