BASF ushers in a new era of collagen science with precision peptide and bio-identical collagen III

• NeoHelix^™ Regenerate delivers adaptive collagen rejuvenation for visible improvements in wrinkle appearance and skin tonicity.
• SkinNexus™ Collag3n offers next-generation collagen banking through advanced biotechnology.
• The new products will be showcased for the first time at in-cosmetics Global in Paris.

Paris, France – April 9, 2026 – BASF is set to unveil a new chapter in collagen science at in-cosmetics Global in Paris. With the launch of two cosmetic actives, NeoHelix^™ Regenerate and SkinNexus^™ Collag3n, the company is emphasizing a comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation. NeoHelix Regenerate is a high-performance precision peptide that enhances the skin’s natural self-repair mechanisms for adaptive collagen renewal. It adapts concepts from the collagen-hybridizing peptide (CHP) technology of the U.S. start-up 3Helix into the world of cosmetics. SkinNexus Collag3n redefines collagen banking with a bio-identical Collagen III fragment. This ingredient leverages the advanced bioengineering of Bota Biosciences, a global leader in physical AI-driven biomanufacturing. “Both ingredients are impressive examples of the innovative power that strong partnerships can unleash. By working with the skin’s own biology, we are moving from traditional collagen-support claims to more advanced renewal and preservation across multiple levels,” said Lucilene Veira Nunes, Business Management BASF Beauty Care Solutions.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin and provides a supportive scaffold that maintains skin integrity. With collagen levels naturally decreasing with age, BASF’s innovations offer novel strategies to support and preserve this structural integrity. Visitors to the BASF booth can experience a unique installation highlighting the company’s new advancements in collagen research.

NeoHelix^™ Regenerate: the first intelligent peptide for targeted collagen renewal

NeoHelix^™ Regenerate is a biomedical-inspired peptide that marks a new milestone in precision-guided skin rejuvenation. This cosmetic active ingredient is engineered to not only support collagen, but to enhance the skin’s natural communication and self-repair, boosting the renewal processes that time and daily stressors have diminished. It is especially bioavailable to areas of damage, delivering deep cellular renewal exactly where the skin needs it most. In an in vivo study, several skin biopsies were taken from five female subjects aged 60-70 at the beginning and end of the application period. After 56 days of using NeoHelix Regenerate, results demonstrated a 41% reduction in damaged collagen. Additionally, these biopsies showed an ability to support the body’s own hyaluronic acid levels, rising by 65% over the study period. In a separate in vivo study, BASF researchers further confirmed that NeoHelix Regenerate’s adaptive collagen rejuvenation delivered visible improvements in the appearance of skin thickness, tonicity, and forehead wrinkles. Notably, the new ingredient outperformed the comparative peptide benchmark in all measured parameters.

NeoHelix Regenerate is the first outcome of BASF’s innovation partnership with the U.S.-based start-up 3Helix, innovating for personal care inspired by concepts from the proprietary CHP technology. This technology is based on short, single-stranded collagen-like peptides enabling extraordinary anti-aging claims.

SkinNexus™ Collag3n: a Collagen III fragment advancing the future of collagen banking

With SkinNexus™ Collag3n, BASF introduces a recombinant Collagen III fragment in line with growing consumer interest in proactive collagen banking to support healthy skin. Produced through biotechnology by vegan yeast fermentation, the new ingredient stands apart from traditional collagen offerings through its 100% human-identical sequence and biomimetic effects supporting the skin’s extracellular matrix.

In a 3D dermis model, the ingredient was shown to support a healthy environment for full-spectrum collagen homeostasis (+48% Collagen I, +82% Collagen III, +71% Collagen V), supporting the foundation and appearance of the skin. In clinical studies with female subjects aged 53-70, topical application of SkinNexus Collag3n demonstrated measurable improvements in skin tonicity and sagging appearance, and a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after four weeks, outperforming a collagen market benchmark ten times higher in concentration. Unlike conventional ingredients, SkinNexus Collag3n is engineered for industrial scalability and cost accessibility, making high-performance biotech solutions available to a broader market.

The discovery and biomanufacturing process of SkinNexus Collag3n were enabled through the collaboration with Bota Biosciences, a global leader in physical AI-driven biomanufacturing, dedicated to making biotechnology a reliable and scalable engine of productivity. Their SAION AI Platform enables end-to-end experimental design and execution and continuously optimizes biological discovery and biomanufacturing processes.

About the Care Chemicals division at BASF
The BASF division Care Chemicals offers a broad range of ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are a leading global supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry, and support our customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division’s high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets. Further information is available online at www.care-chemicals.basf.com.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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