ÄIO and Tilk expand skin care range with fermentation-derived ingredients

Estonian biotechnology company ÄIO and skin care brand Tilk have jointly unveiled a Skin Booster Face Cream containing two ÄIO fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredients, Fermira RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex.

The launch joins a growing list of ingredients sourced from biotechnological origins that have progressed through development, testing, and formulation into market-ready end products. The skin care product combines two ÄIO ingredients in one finished formulation, demonstrating how fermentation-derived lipids can move from biotechnology development into everyday skin care.

According to the companies, the new cream goes “one step further” than their previous launch of the Skin Booster Bio-Fermented Serum, which was slated as “one of the first examples” where fermentation-derived oils from side-streams are integrated into a finished cosmetic product on the market.

Before its commercial launch, the Skin Booster Bio-Fermented Face Cream with ÄIO RedOil, ZymaLipid Complex, and Bakuchiol was shortlisted for the European Natural Beauty Awards 2026, an international recognition program for natural cosmetics.

Building on a solid foundation

The cooperation between ÄIO and Tilk began years before the first product reached the market. Tilk was among the early companies to formulate with RedOil while the ingredient was still under development. 

Tilk founder and CEO Pille Lengi says, “The collaboration required patience as initially only a small amount of the new oil was available for testing.” The first commercial product became available after several years of ingredient development, laboratory testing, documentation, and formulation work.

Lengi stresses the importance of cooperation between science and product development when creating something innovative in the skin care space: “If you want to innovate and create something completely new, you need to work with scientists.” 

Harnessing the power of bioactives

The latest face cream combines Fermira RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex with bakuchiol and plant oils. RedOil is a fermentation-derived active emollient containing naturally occurring carotenoids and other bioactive compounds. ZymaLipid Complex is a high-purity fatty acid complex providing emollience, structure, and sensory properties to cosmetic formulations. 

The new Skin Booster Face Cream brings Fermira RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex together in a commercial skin care formulation.The result is a rich but fast-absorbing face cream designed to support hydration, skin comfort, elasticity, and the skin barrier.

“For a biotechnology company, success is achieved when our partners can formulate with it, manufacture with it, and ultimately create products that people want to use,” says Dr. Nemailla Bonturi, CEO and co-founder of ÄIO.

Expanding internationally

ÄIO is also expanding the commercial reach of its cosmetics business internationally. 

The company currently offers three fermentation-derived COSMOS and Vegan certified cosmetic ingredients: Fermira RedOil, ZymaLipid Complex, and Encapsulated oil. These ingredients are commercially available through a network of distribution partners across key global markets. 

Spanning Europe, the UK, India, South Korea, the US, and Brazil, local distributors provide formulators, manufacturers, and beauty brands with access to ÄIO ingredients, technical expertise, and formulation support. 

This global reach will help move ÄIO’s biotechnology from ingredient development into real formulations and commercial products.