Cosmetic Valley's 2026 Cosmetic Victories competition shines a spotlight on the scientific advancements driving a more sustainable cosmetics industry. This year's event, the 11th edition, featured two categories: Academic Research Award and Industrial Innovation Award. The competition aims to recognize and support projects that push the boundaries of sustainability in the beauty industry.
The Academic Research Award went to two joint winners, showcasing groundbreaking scientific achievements. Ms. Giovana Colucci from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal, received recognition for her work on EmuLig, a multifunctional lignin-based emulsifier. This innovative process transforms lignin, a renewable by-product of the pulp and biorefinery industries, into a powerful emulsifier with stabilizing, antioxidant, SPF-boosting, and thickening properties. By offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based ingredients, EmuLig represents a significant step towards a greener cosmetics industry.
Ms. Manami Toriyama from the Laboratory of Advanced Cosmetic Science, University of Osaka, Japan, was also honored for her research. Her project focuses on targeting primary cilia for better regulation of immune memory, which can lead to chronic skin inflammation. Botanical active ingredients, such as silymarin and cucurbitacin IIA, have been identified to suppress ciliogenesis while strengthening the skin barrier. This approach represents a paradigm shift in skincare, targeting the underlying immune memory rather than just the symptoms, which can reduce the chemical, medical, and cutaneous load.
The Industrial Innovation Award was presented to Ms. Joana Almeida, co-founder of SurfACT, a young Portuguese company. SurfACT's success lies in its development of sustainable, multifunctional biosurfactants derived from circular bio-resources. By utilizing microorganisms as factories, SurfACT produces biosurfactants with low ecotoxicity, high biodegradability, and excellent potential for cosmetic applications.
Each of the three winners received a EUR 10,000 prize and support from Cosmetic Valley. The competition's next edition, set to launch in October, will focus on the digital transition in the service of cosmetics, addressing another critical challenge in the industry. This ongoing competition serves as a testament to the commitment of Cosmetic Valley to fostering innovation and sustainability in the cosmetics sector, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the beauty industry.
