Research explores new makes use of for an underused by-product

As sustainability continues to drive innovation within the cosmetics sector, researchers are investigating underutilized agro-industrial byproducts as potential beauty components. A latest research printed within the Worldwide Journal of Beauty Science examines cork powder, a byproduct of the cork {industry}, as a viable, multifunctional uncooked materials for private care and make-up formulations.

We spoke to Sandra Mota and Ana Torres, PhD college students who carried out the sensible work on the research, in addition to the research’s principal investigator, Isabel Martins de Almeida, and senior researcher, Paulo Silva. These authors of “Overcoming challenges within the improvement of beauty formulations with agro-industrial by-products: The case of cork powder” shared their insights into the research’s key takeaways and sensible functions for beauty and private care product producers and suppliers.

Research overview

Carried out by a multidisciplinary crew primarily based in Portugal, the research targeted on evaluating the bodily, chemical, microbiological, and beauty suitability of cork powder. The analysis addressed the fabric’s processing necessities, security parameters, and potential functions in completed merchandise.

The crew subjected cork powder to a collection of remedies, together with sieving, washing, filtration, and warmth remedy, to satisfy cosmetic-grade requirements. It was examined for particle dimension, pH, oil absorption, moisture content material, and heavy steel concentrations.

The cork powder demonstrated excessive oil absorption, acceptable ranges of hint metals, and remained steady over a 90-day interval each as a uncooked materials and in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion make-up formulations. The researchers concluded that whereas viable, “remodeling by-products into beauty components is a stepwise course of that have to be rigorously carried out to make sure optimum efficiency.”

Key takeaways and creator commentary

The research highlights cork powder’s potential as each a sustainable and multifunctional beauty ingredient. “Portugal is the biggest producer of cork on the earth, a renewable useful resource,” mentioned Mota. “Cork powder is an underused by-product of the cork {industry} and yearly, giant volumes are generated,” she defined, “most of that are generally burned to provide power inside the {industry}.”

Additional, she added, “whereas this presents some worth, it doesn’t totally capitalize on the fabric’s potential.”

Mota defined that cork powder presents distinctive advantages past sustainability, together with the addition of purposeful advantages to beauty formulations reminiscent of “mild exfoliation, antioxidant exercise, solar safety issue boosting impact, and pure pigmenting properties.”

From a formulation standpoint, Torres famous that a number of hurdles needed to be overcome. “By-products reminiscent of cork powder, apart from presenting variable composition, inherently carry a microbiological burden and will comprise contaminants from industrial processing,” she mentioned. “To beat these obstacles, we standardized procedures to make sure batch reproducibility.”

As a part of the analysis course of, she added, the powder was additionally subjected “to thermal processing to realize microbiological compliance with authorized necessities, with out affecting its high quality.”

Torres emphasised the significance of formulating with suitable emulsions, as “incorporating cork powder right into a make-up formulation poses challenges.” Subsequently, she defined, “incorporation in O/W emulsions needs to be carried out utilizing an ample oily section to make sure product homogeneity.”

Concerning performance, Torres added that cork powder’s “excessive oil absorption capability makes it additionally best for beauty merchandise designed for shiny pores and skin, offering a mattifying impact.” Moreover, she continued, “since cork powder has a color much like pure pores and skin shades, it may be included into ornamental cosmetics reminiscent of foundations and concealers.”

To satisfy security requirements, the researchers used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate heavy metals. “Every batch was examined for steel content material utilizing extremely delicate strategies,” mentioned Mota. “The outcomes are documented in a Certificates of Evaluation supplied with each batch of cork powder, making certain transparency and serving to beauty manufacturers meet their regulatory obligations in the course of the security evaluation of beauty merchandise.”

Wanting forward, Isabel Martins de Almeida, principal investigator and Paulo Silva, senior researcher, emphasised the significance of provide chain improvement and cross-industry collaboration. “The cork firm Dimas & Silva is at the moment optimizing the method and the economic construction to acquire a high-quality materials,” mentioned Martins de Almeida.

Silva added that “establishing an ample provide chain is required to advance cork powder to market,” and concluded that “partnerships with beauty {industry} suppliers are key” transferring ahead.

Supply: Worldwide Journal of Beauty Science 2025;00:1–12. doi.org/10.1111/ics.13066. “Overcoming challenges within the improvement of beauty formulations with agro-industrial by-products: The case of cork powder.” Authors: S. Mota, et al.