The Cosmetic Victories 2026: spotlight on sustainable innovation

The 11^th edition marks a turning point with a theme dedicated to ʺscientific progress in the service of a sustainable cosmetics industry.ʺ For this edition, The Cosmetic Victories assembled an international jury of researchers to select six finalists from 93 applications across 21 countries.

These projects span the entire value chain, from biomass utilization to the regulation of immune memory. The selected innovations focus on eco-design, biodegradability, biomimicry, and the optimization of energy resources. This selection confirms the alignment of global research with the regenerative strategy promoted by Cosmetic Valley.

In the Academic Research category, the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal) presents Emulig, a high-performance lignin-based emulsifier designed to replace fossil-derived ingredients. Osaka University (Japan) introduces a novel approach targeting primary cilia to regulate cutaneous immune memory using botanical actives. Finally, the University of Pau (France) is developing a biomimetic photoprotection solution inspired by plant leaf defense mechanisms.

In the Industrial Innovation category, French start-up Lemna Labs has developed bio-based functional agents derived from locally sourced duckweed as a sustainable alternative to soy and palm. Portuguese company Surfactinnov uses microorganisms and agro-industrial residues to produce highly biodegradable biosurfactants. Lastly, Danish company Cellugy offers biofabricated microbial exopolysaccharides to eliminate petrochemical polymers and microplastics from formulations.

The final jury, composed of 17 industry leaders such as L’Oréal, Chanel, and LVMH, will announce the two winners on April 13, 2026, in Paris. Each winner will receive a €10,000 prize along with support from Cosmetic Valley.