APIOSKIN^®, SILAB's new natural plumping active ingredient, was awarded the innovation prize at the PCHi Fountain Awards evening on February 15, as part of the Chinese PCHi exhibition.

For the development of this active ingredient, SILAB focused on Apiogalacturonans (APGs) derived from the water lentil (Spirodela polyrhiza), an aquatic plant that has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine for its benefits on the metabolism of water. The company thus developed a novel approach combining molecular modeling and Raman microspectroscopy, which allowed to demonstrate for the first time the highly hygroscopic potential of these APGs, giving APIOSKIN^® its intrinsic capacity to take up and retain water in the skin. These remarkable hydrating properties concentrated in a natural active ingredient have been recognized and rewarded by the Chinese market.

Brigitte Closs-Gonthier, chairwoman of the management board and general manager for R&D, quality and communication at SILAB, gratefully welcomes this reward: “We are delighted to receive this award, which demonstrates our ability to offer global solutions that meet the expectations of consumers in the global cosmetics industry.”

As a reminder, 60% of SILAB's turnover comes from exports. With this new active ingredient, the company provides a specific response to the needs of dehydrated skin by providing effective and long-lasting skin hydration favoring a plumping effect.