HAIR CARE
Natural proteoglycans for superior hair care
Chris Valencius - Evolved By Nature
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In the highly competitive world of the personal care industry, consumer expectations continue to evolve, demanding smarter and more sustainable beauty solutions. For hair care, this means pushing beyond traditional polymers, silicones, and synthetic fixatives to create ingredients that unlock new performance benefits, without compromising on ingredient safety or environmental impact. The hair care market is undergoing a big
shift. The industry is currently estimated to be worth over $90 billion,1
and consumer interest
is rising around products that are free from endocrine disruptors or fossil fuel-derived ingredients, pushing brands to rethink how they formulate. Phthalates and parabens used in hair care
products have come under scrutiny after being linked to various health concerns,2
including
hormone-related cancers, reproductive issues, and early puberty. Silicones, once considered indispensable for smoothness and shine in hair care products, are also being reassessed since they are not biodegradable and can build up and persist in the environment. Traditional fixatives and emollients are
increasingly viewed as unsustainable, with regulatory pressure in Europe,3
backlash in North America accelerating
www.personalcaremagazine.com and consumer
the trend toward more sustainable, safer alternatives. At the same time, demand for high
performance, multifunctional hair care products is rising. Consumers now expect their hair care to style, protect, condition, and treat without buildup or ingredient overload. This is where Activated Silk™ Hydrogels
(INCI: Fibroin Glycoside) truly shine. As a naturally derived, multifunctional solution, this ingredient checks all the boxes that consumers are asking for. Hydrogels mark a significant expansion of
our biotechnology platform into the hair care category. We like to call them ‘multi-multi- multi-function’ ingredients, thanks to their innovative molecular structure, which can be used for hair care, skincare, and emulsifying needs. Activated Silk Hydrogels are naturally
derived — just like every other ingredient that is developed on our Activated Silk biotechnology platform — but also has unique hair penetrating capabilities that offer formulators a single, powerful way to achieve split-end repair, curl definition, frizz control, heat protection, moisture retention, and formulation stability without relying on legacy ingredients. This article explores the science,
functionality, and formulation potential of Activated Silk Hydrogels, and why this novel ingredient represents a new standard for high- performance hair care.
From biotechnology to beauty Our ingredients are developed with our proprietary Activated Silk biotechnology, a platform derived from natural silk protein. Through our proprietary technology, we re-engineer upcycled silk fibroin into custom peptides that have been optimized for various use cases and industries, including personal care, hair care, and skin care. Hydrogels mark a new milestone for our
platform — they were originally designed to have twice the water-binding power of mid and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid; then we happily realized that they were also a highly effective ingredient for hair care as well. Hydrogels are novel, naturally derived proteoglycans with the ability to bind to water, oil, and keratin. This unique ingredient provides superior 24-hour hydration, long-lasting hair repair, and advanced emulsification properties. With such versatile functionality, Hydrogels
give formulators the ability to simplify product development. Instead of relying on multiple single-function ingredients, brands can
September 2025 PERSONAL CARE
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