Seppic: Pioneering Cellular Longevity & Bio-Inspired Resilience in Skincare
Berlin – The personal care industry is undergoing a “profound paradigm shift,” moving away from simply treating the visible signs of aging toward a focus on maintaining vitality and resilience at a cellular level, according to Seppic, a key supplier of ingredients to the beauty industry. The company highlighted a growing demand for substantiated claims of longevity, backed by biological and biophysical data, rather than relying solely on visual assessments of wrinkle reduction.
Speaking at the SEPAWA Congress 2025 in Berlin, Claire Liu, global market and digital manager for Beauty Care at Seppic, explained that next-generation innovation is rooted in a deep understanding of the “12 Hallmarks of Aging,” biological markers that allow for addressing the fundamental mechanisms governing long-term skin health. This represents a move beyond surface-level aesthetics, according to Seppic.
Seppic is focusing on two strategic pillars: cellular senescence and intercellular communication. The company’s ingredient, Aspar’age, is designed to regulate the communication of ‘zombie cells’ – cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active and secrete inflammatory signals – to protect healthy cells. Juvenessence specifically targets progerin, a primary aging marker, to slow down cellular decline.
Addressing the weakening dialogue between cells and their environment as skin ages, Seppic is likewise working to restore the mechanotransduction pathway, which links the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Sagacious, a bio-inspired seaweed extract, reconnects aged fibroblasts to the ECM via integrins, restoring mechanical tension typical of younger skin, according to the company.
The shift towards “longevity” claims necessitates a new level of substantiation, Liu stated. “Credibility today depends on moving from purely visual clinical scores to a biological and biophysical demonstration of the mode of action,” she said. Seppic substantiates these claims by restoring the youthful phenotype of cells, demonstrating that ingredients can create mature cells behave like younger ones, and by reinforcing tissue architecture through high-resolution technology measuring physical restoration of cell mechanical properties.
Biotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in Seppic’s advancements, providing access to potent molecules without depleting natural ecosystems. The company utilizes plant cell culture and macroalgae cultivation, through technologies like Celtosome and Celebrity, to ensure sustainable sourcing. Celtosome isolates undifferentiated native cells from plants, rich in active molecules and exosomes – nano-vesicles that facilitate cell communication and repair. Celebrity technology uses photobioreactors to isolate specific life stages of macroalgae, yielding higher concentrations of antioxidants.
Seppic’s research is expanding into the exposome, focusing on adapting skin to environmental stressors like pollution and blue light. The company is also intensifying its study of the skin’s structural layers to maintain firmness and anchoring, and translating survival mechanisms found in resilient organisms into skincare solutions.
According to a report from Personal Care Insights, anti-aging skincare remains consistently sought after, but cosmetic injections are also becoming increasingly popular, even among younger consumers. This trend is driving a focus on “ethical aesthetics,” emphasizing sustainability, transparency, and natural ingredients, as discussed by Personal Care Insights with both Seppic and Puredia.
Seppic released updated sensory characterization data for its ingredient ranges, including emulsifiers, emollients, and rheology modifiers, in May 2025, providing formulators with detailed insights into ingredient behavior in cosmetic formulations. Marine Pasquier, market and digital manager of Beauty Care at Seppic, stated that this data serves as a decision-making tool for formulators, facilitating precise ingredient selection based on formulation briefs and desired sensory profiles.