SEPAWA Congress 2025: BASF to debut UVA filter and social media-science sensory innovations

BASF will present new concepts and ingredients for personal care at the SEPAWA Congress 2025, held October 15–17, in Berlin, Germany. The company’s program includes the launch of #TextureVibes, a set of formulations designed to link science with social media-inspired textures, and the debut of Uvinul TS Hydro, a water-soluble UVA filter.

The specialty chemicals company will also highlight Verdessence Maize and Lamesoft OP Plus as part of its ongoing focus on sustainability and sensorial innovation.

Social media to science

#TextureVibes introduces product forms such as lotion-to-oil, sprayable butter, peel-off masks, oil gel-to-shower creams, multi-phase conditioners, and lightweight sun serums. The debut is part of BASF’s ongoing “Beyond Beauty: Enduring Vitality” campaign, which emphasizes the critical role of sun protection in maintaining skin vitality over time.

BASF says the concept responds to social media’s influence on beauty routines, especially for Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers.

“Social media influencers play a major role in shaping today’s consumer behavior. To stay relevant, beauty brands must adapt quickly to shifting expectations,” says Anja Stork, senior marketing manager of Personal Care at BASF.

“With #TextureVibes, we offer unique sensory experiences that reflect diverse consumer trends and values.”

Some of the formulations were assessed using BASF’s MindMotion tool, which measures how products affect emotional well-being.

“Consumers are increasingly looking for solutions that cater to a holistic view of their well-being, not only on the physical part, but also taking into consideration their emotions, feelings, and then, of course, sustainability and planetary well-being,” says Boris Gaspar, head of market development at BASF.

Water-soluble UVA filter

BASF will introduce Uvinul TS Hydro (Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid) as a new UVA filter with extended UVB absorption. Due to its water-solubility, it distributes more evenly between oil and water phases.

This reduces the need for oil-soluble filters and heavy emollient content, giving formulators more flexibility to create lighter sun care products.

#TextureVibes is a social media-inspired texture concept.Performance tests showed that Uvinul TS Hydro increases both UVA-PF and SPF, indicating improved broad-spectrum protection.

It is also compatible with a wide range of ingredients and suitable for different application formats, according to the company.

“BASF’s comprehensive approach — from total skin care formulations to the latest UV technology — protects against the harmful effects of sun exposure, proving that smart sun care today endures vitality for the future,” says Brandon Crist, VP of Personal Care North America at BASF.

Personal Care Insights previously reported on how sunscreen is moving beyond being seen as a cosmetic to being acknowledged as a preventive medicine.

Biodegradable styling polymer

BASF will also present Verdessence Maize (Hydrolyzed Corn Starch) at SEPEWA. It is a biodegradable styling polymer made from 100% renewable feedstocks. The hair care ingredient is suitable for natural and organic cosmetics.

According to BASF, Verdessence Maize performs well in mousses with a cloud-like foam texture and in crystal-clear pump sprays.

BASF’s internal testing suggested Verdessence Maize can match or exceed the performance of synthetic polymers in holding power and curl retention when used at specific concentrations. A 7% concentration in mousse showed equal stiffness and better curl retention than formulations containing 2% of conventional polymers.

“Verdessence Maize is a sustainable alternative to PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) and VP/VA (vinyl acetate and vinylpyrrolidone) copolymers, and it’s especially perfect for formulations like pump sprays, pump mousses, aerosol mousses, and other styling applications,” Dr. Natalia Chudinova, market development manager of Polymers EMEA at BASF, previously told Personal Care Insights.

BASF will showcase its sustainable alternatives to synthetic styling and opacifying agents.Wax-based opacifier

The company’s third highlight is Lamesoft OP Plus (Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Oleate). It is a wax-based opacifier dispersion with a natural origin content of up to 98.5%. BASF positions it as an alternative to acrylate-based ingredients.

“It provides a strong opacifying effect and brings additional benefits for rinse-off formulations,”  Chudinova said.

The ingredient is biodegradable, easy to use in cold processing, and offers strong opacifying performance.

According to the company’s performance testing, the opacifier acts beyond appearance and contributes to personal care benefits, such as easier wet and dry combing and reduced hair breakage in rinse-off formulations.

BASF experts will speak at SEPAWA Congress 2025 on October 15–16 in Berlin, with presentations in the Cosmetic Science Conference (Room 15) and the Forum for Innovation (Room 12+13).