in-cosmetics Global announces 2026 awards shortlist

in-cosmetics Global has unveiled the highly anticipated shortlist for this year’s awards.

The awards celebrate the industry’s most innovative ingredient launches, with high-calibre entries competing across fiercely contested categories.

The 2026 awards promise to be one of the most closely fought yet, with the bar set higher than ever. Entries demonstrate remarkable advances across personal care science from breakthrough actives and high-performance functional ingredients to what’s shaping the future of formulation.

Categories include the following:

• Innovation Zone Best Active Ingredient Award
• Innovation Zone Best Functional Ingredient Award
• Green Ingredient Award
• Rising Star Award
• Kenvue Trusted Science Award
• Make-Up Bar Award
• Sensory Bar Award
• Scent Bar and the Taste Bar Award.

New for 2026

The Scent Bar Award and Taste Bar Award will be judged live on-site, recognising creativity, sensory excellence and outstanding execution in fragrance and beauty-from-within. Introduced alongside the new Scent Bar and Taste Bar in the Inner Beauty Zone, these awards reflect the show’s growing focus on nutricosmetics and scent as a strategic ingredient.

The in-cosmetics Global Awards will take place on 14 April from 18:00 in the Marketing Trends Theatre, where winners will be unveiled during an evening dedicated to recognising excellence in cosmetic science.

INNOVATION ZONE BEST INGREDIENT AWARD

Shortlisted in the Active Ingredient category is:

• Active Peptide Company – APderma® CollaCyclic
• ALGAKTIV – ALGAKTIV Vitalys
• Antarka – ANKros-CPD
• Biocogent – RNActivate W
• Chemyunion – Peptid4® Light MB
• Croda Beauty – Malvallin
• dsm-firmenich – GLYCARE® SK RENEW
• dsm-firmenich – EXOVIVE LIFT
• Givaudan Active Beauty – VectorHyal
• Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant – AlgaSurge
• NAEMOS – SHISOME
• NAEMOS – SYNATIS
• RAHN AG – CALNEURIN®-SENSE
• Uniproma GmbH – RJMPDRN® REC / Recombinant PDRN
• Vytrus Biotech – Ignilyte – Bioelectric power for your skin

Shortlisted in the Functional Ingredient category is:

• Colonial Chemical, Inc – Suga®Citrate L1C MB
• Evonik – RHEANCE® Soft GO
• Evonik – TEGO® FILMSTAR BST1
• MINASOLVE SAS – O-Leen 26
• Pilot Chemical – UpSyCal® BA17
• PolymerExpert (part of Solabia Group) – ViscoPure®
• SAES Chemicals – ZeoSAES® DeoPrecision
• Sappi – Valida BC+
• SEPPIC – Solagum X+
• Sonneborn – SonneNatural Fluidity 40P (SN-F-40P)

GREEN INGREDIENT AWARD

Shortlisted in this category is:

• Ashland – eternight biofunctional
• Bloomage Biotechnology Corp., Ltd. – PDRN from synthetic biology
• COLIP – Climate Oil; Climate Fat
• dsm-firmenich – ALPAFLOR® NEUROSOOTH
• Evonik – ECOHANCE® Soft BOL
• Givaudan Active Beauty – PrimalHyal NeuroYouth
• Lipoid Kosmetik AG – Cashew Apple Pro
• Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant – AlgaSurge
• Mane Kancor Ingredients Pvt Ltd – PURAKAN – Natural Scalp Care Elixir

RISING STAR AWARD

Shortlisted in this category is:

• Activ’Inside
• ÄIO (äio tech OÜ)
• Antarka
• Artha Research
• Dr.PONG+ Skin Research Lab Company Limited
• Eggnovo
• Mediterranean Algae
• NAEMOS
• Nordic Bioproducts Group
• Valdera

An industry driven by creativity

Andy Mather, Event Director of in-cosmetics Global, said: “We are proud to reveal this year’s shortlist. It showcases the exceptional level of scientific expertise and creativity driving the personal care industry forward. The quality of entries this year has been outstanding, demonstrating how suppliers continue to push the boundaries of innovation.

We extend our sincere thanks to our judging panel for dedicating their time and expertise to carefully review each submission. The shortlisted ingredients represent some of the most exciting advancements in cosmetic science today, addressing evolving consumer needs through performance-led, sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions.

We look forward to welcoming the industry to celebrate these achievements together at what promises to be an inspiring evening, recognising excellence across the sector.”