Microbiome-friendly formulation: Synergio debuts botanical preservation system to boost naturality

26 Oct 2021 --- Israeli start-up Synergio is seeking to disrupt the skin microbiome space with the launch of its botanical preservation system for personal care products which boasts skin microflora-benefitting properties.

“BiomEco 94 is a synergistic combination of botanical extracts: soapnut, benzoin and sugarcane ferment extract,” David Hart, vice president, sales and business development manager for Synergio, tells PersonalCareInsights.

“The standard antimicrobial preservation systems currently on the market tend to be harsh on the skin and by nature destroy all the microbes,” says Itamar Levy, CEO of Synergio.

The company says it can offer cosmetic formulators and brands new abilities to deliver clean and sustainable, better-for-you products without forfeiting on shelf life or the sensorial experiences that personal care products bring. 

David Hart, vice president, sales and business development manager for Synergio.The range of 100% botanically sourced broad-spectrum antimicrobial components can target specified microorganisms at low concentrations.

The start-up’s novel technology is slated to fill one of the industry’s most gaping white spaces of delivering a better-for-you, sustainable and wholly natural preservative for toiletries and cosmetics. 

“Over the years, we have developed direct relationships with local suppliers of benzoin and soapnut. This allows us to source high-quality botanical feedstocks, ensure an ethical supply chain and comply with international standards and treaties,” Hart explains. 

Protecting the microbiome
Synergio’s vice president, R&D manager, Tami Dvash, tells PersonalCareInsights that while providing full product protection and competing with common synthetic products, the company’s fully natural BiomEco products are gentle and leave the microbiota unharmed. 

“We believe these properties arise from nature, which can balance activity by multiple bioactive ingredients acting in various mechanisms. This special property allows our system to act in a timely manner – when the ingredient is applied short term on skin it spares microbiota modification.”  

“Meanwhile, it remains long term within the product and provides the absolute elimination of microorganisms. We believe our products should not interfere with customers’ skin but should allow the natural balance to remain,” Dvash says.

Currently Synergio’s products best fit emulsion-based NPD, which are mostly leave-on products. 

“Since these types of products are in contact for a few hours with consumers’ skin, we decided to focus on microbiome analysis to study the effect on the natural habitat of the skin and make sure we keep it as natural as possible.”

Synergio’s vice president, R&D manager, Tami Dvash.Dvash says that the skin microbiome is an emerging field and it will most probably follow the gut microbiome trend and keep “exploding” in the coming years. 

“The skin microbiome will drive new developments in cosmetics by identifying natural skin microorganisms to support positive skin phenotypes and treatment through the microbiome to deal with skin dysbiosis.”

“Additionally, it is most likely that a trend toward personalized skincare products will emerge with a better understanding of skin microbiota, its metabolism and consequent skin phenotype effects,” Dvash notes.

Avoiding synthetic chemicals
Due to increasing consumer backlash to the use of synthetic chemicals, the industry is seeking to move toward more natural solutions. 

One of the greatest challenges facing cosmetic formulators is finding a regulatory valid preservation technique that can align with consumer demand for holistic skincare products. 

Until now, the use of synthetic antimicrobial agents such as parabens and aldehydes has been largely necessary, Synergio supports.

Cosmetic manufacturers are also having to strike the balance between striving to produce botanically derived, sustainable eco-supportive products without hindering the performance and pleasure aspects of skincare products such as smell, texture and shelf life. 

Moreover, the bioactivity of the natural actives is often compromised by the need to include preservatives.

For instance, manufacturers of trending probiotic-infused skincare concepts are currently exploring antimicrobial preservative solutions that can exert minimal impact on probiotic activity.

Botanical synergies
Taking inspiration from the natural self-protection mechanisms of the plant world, the company leveraged its EcoDato chemistry-based computational platform to garner a deep understanding of plant synergies and emulate these interactions in a lab setting. 

Synergio says it uses EcoDato to develop botanically sourced bio-active synergies that can deliver the desired antimicrobial effects without any side effects. 

The actives are assembled in tailored combinations to serve the life extension needs of specific cosmetic formulations without modifying their innate biochemical structures.

“The micro-targeting of microbes is the core of our technology,” adds Levy. “We found a way of targeting and destroying specific harmful bacteria while keeping the friendly bacteria intact. This awards the added advantage of protecting the delicate microbiome of the skin without hampering their natural immune functions.”

“Our goal is to reshape the global CPG skincare space with more holistic functional components and to transform the perception of preservatives from being an unavoidable liability into becoming an asset,” adds Dr. Rachel Lutz, technical sales director of Synergio.

By Kristiana Lalou