Probiotic-based cosmetics: Symrise and Probi partner on Lactobacillus skin care products

25 Feb 2019 --- Symrise and bioengineering company Probi are cooperating to deliver probiotic-based cosmetic ingredients. The companies will seek to develop cosmetic products with the Lactobacillus strain which could hold particular potential for the sensitive and dry skin market, with the partnership hoping to spur a finished product within the coming year, a Symrise spokesperson tells NutritionInsight. The partnership will combine the probiotic expertise of Probi with Symrise’s experience in manufacturing cosmetic raw materials with functional benefits.

“In our joint project, Probi brings extensive know-how about the development and production of probiotic bacteria as well as a library of unique bacterial strains. Symrise brings the expertise of its cellular, molecular and micro-biologists as well as cosmetic formulation know-how,” says Gerhard Schmaus, Vice President Global Innovation Cosmetic Ingredients at Symrise. “We are convinced that this interdisciplinary collaboration will result in innovative cosmetic ingredients with many benefits, especially for sensitive skin.”

The probiotic-based products could also hold potential in atopic prone skin care, baby care and body care, Imke Meyer, Senior Global Product Manager, Cosmetic Ingredients Division Symrise, tells NutritionInsight.

In the collaborative research, the scientists led by Dr. Holmgren and Dr. Larson from Probi and Dr. Schmaus and Dr. Stuhlmann from Symrise, are currently focusing on the bacterial genus Lactobacillus. These bacteria are naturally occurring in dairy products, plants, the gastrointestinal system and on the skin of humans and animals. 

One of the researchers’ goals is to develop cosmetics based on Lactobacilli for consumers with sensitive and dry skin. “From several bacterial strains, Probi’s Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL19 proved to be the most suitable to strengthen the skin barrier,” says Meyer. “We are now working to make a product based on this specific Lactobacillus strain available for use in cosmetics.”

“We have already been able to demonstrate the effect of Lactobacilli on human health in numerous studies,” says Holmgren. “We are now looking forward to seeing how the application of probiotic-based products affects the skin.” 

Experimentation with other bacterial genus and the development of combination products will depend on further learnings gained from Symrise’s life sciences and microbiome R&D platforms, Meyer notes.

Symrise owns a majority stake in Probi –  51.4 percent. Speaking to The World of Food Ingredients in the December issue, Jean-Yves Parisot, President of Diana (Symrise Nutrition Division) noted how the company is combining some capabilities in raw materials from Diana in polyphenols with the subsidary that they have in Probi. “Here we are combining these ingredients which constitute some raw materials as prebiotics and working on a symbiotic effect.”

In another recent investment that signals the potential growth of this field, DSM Venturing, the venture investment arm of DSM Nutrition, made an equity investment in skin microbiome company S-Biomedic NV to complete S-Biomedic’s latest Series A financing round.

The skin company is a Belgium-based life sciences company that is pioneering “a new approach to the cosmetic and therapeutic potential of the skin microbiome.” This investment underlines DSM’s interest in the skin microbiome, an area it has identified as having significant growth potential. DSM already holds a strong position in gut microbiome research and solutions with its Culturelle product range, according to the company.