C16 Biosciences builds palm-free beauty toolkit with biotech ingredient trio

C16 Biosciences is strengthening its beauty portfolio by expanding its Palmless series with three sustainable ingredients for skin care and cosmetics. The expanded lineup transforms Palmless from a single-ingredient solution into a full platform, which the company says can help replace traditional, environmentally harmful ingredients such as palm oil and silicones. 

The new offerings, TorulaSilk, Torula Butter, and Torula Carotenoid Complex, join the company’s existing Torula Oil to give beauty brands a complete, palm-free lineup to formulate products.

“Torula Oil has become a go-to ingredient for formulators across skin care, sun care, body care, and color cosmetics,” says David Heller, founder and COO of C16 Biosciences.

“These three new ingredients provide those same brands a full biotechnology-derived toolkit, from high-potency actives to functional emollients and butters.”

Improved performance and sustainability

According to C16 Biosciences, the new ingredients help beauty brands overcome two common challenges in formulations. First, they offer a way to avoid the environmental destruction linked to palm oil production, such as deforestation.

With upcoming EU and UK laws barring the importation of products tied to deforestation, ingredients with no proven link are likely to grow in demand.

Secondly, the company claims the expanded lineup of alternative ingredients offers improved performance benefits compared to the traditional ingredients.

Formulators are increasingly seeking products that do not contribute to environmental harm amid regulatory and consumer demands for sustainable beauty.TorulaSilk, for example, acts as a fermentation-derived replacement for D5/D6 silicones. It delivers a lightweight, fast-absorbing feel without the regulatory and consumer concerns surrounding synthetic silicone compounds.

Torula Butter further provides skin conditioning without the heavy waxiness or strong scent often found in traditional butters. It is said to melt at skin temperature, allowing for a smooth application.

Function-driven line

C16 Biosciences explains that each ingredient in the expanded lineup serves a specific purpose. TorulaSilk is available in multiple grades and features a broad fatty acid profile that enhances products’ spreadability and leaves a dry-touch finish.

Torula Butter conditions the skin and also contains naturally occurring sterols that help support the skin barrier.

Meanwhile, the Torula Carotenoid Complex boasts a powerful blend of antioxidants. It uses fungal-specific carotenoids to defend both the product formula and the skin against UV and environmental damage.