Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market Trends and Growth Drivers

R&D for Product Innovation Is a Major Market Trend

With time, people are becoming more concerned about their appearance, so they are looking for better alternatives to the traditional cosmetic products in the market. Organizations are delving deeper into all imaginable aspects of beauty and well-being, investigating consumer behavior and beauty aspirations and understanding the biology of the skin and hair. There is an increasing investment in R&D for product innovation as companies are adopting sustainable methods to reduce the environmental footprint of hazardous chemicals. Progressions are being made in biotechnology, green chemistry, and microbial fermentation to manufacture safe, ethical, and high-performance ingredients.

Recently, L'Oréal S.A. entered into a tri-party agreement with Abolis Biotechnologies and Evonik​ Industries AG to advance a new generation of bio-based ingredients. L'Oréal, which invests nearly EUR 1 billion annually in R&D, has invested around EUR 35 million in Abolis. This funding will help Abolis develop microbe-containing, bio-based cosmetic preparations to enable shift toward a more-sustainable business practices.

Companies are exploring alternative ingredients that not only serve individual skin and hair types but are also indicative of their shift toward sustainable and eco-conscious solutions.

Flourishing Cosmetic Products Industry Is Biggest Driver for Market

The market for beauty products is driven by the presence of a large number of cosmetic companies. Leading cosmetics companies, such as L’Oreal Group (France), Avon Products Inc. (U.S.), The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (U.S.), and Oriflame Cosmetics (Luxembourg), are continuously introducing new products, which is expected to increase the demand for bio-based cosmetics ingredients.

Furthermore, the increasing disposable income across the globe has led to high spending on personal care and beauty products. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects around 85% of adolescents in the U.S., particularly women. Recent studies by AJMC suggest that Americans spend approximately USD 150 to USD 200 a year for acne treatment and related products. Moreover, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal disposable income of the U.S. population increased to USD 71.6 billion in September 2024.

With the increase in household disposable income, the buying power of customers increases, thus leading to a growth in the sales of personal care and beauty products. Hence, the growing cosmetic products market, as a result, is propelling the demand for their bio-based ingredients.

Higher Cost than Chemical-Based Ingredients Hampers Market Growth

Bio-based cosmetics and personal care ingredients have multiple environmental benefits, but there are some major drawbacks to them that hamper them from reaching their full potential. The sourcing of the raw materials and the manufacture of organic and bio-based products are more capital-intensive in contrast to those for synthetic options. These chemicals require specialized facilities, skills, and technologies as they are naturally sourced from microbes and plants, mostly via fermentation. This adds to the production cost, making the final product expensive for the masses.

The scalability of bio-based cosmetic and care products is still less, and this, therefore, is a major obstacle for the market growth despite the increasing focus on sustainability and clean-label products. Bio-based products are generally expensive owing to the low yields and high research and development costs. Their limited availability and supply make them exotic and inaccessible, thereby raising their prices for customers.

Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market Analysis

Application Analysis   

Bio-based skin and sun care ingredients’ revenue contribution is around USD 2.1 billion in 2024. These ingredients hold the largest share of the market, and they are expected to maintain the same trend in the coming years. This will primarily be due to the increasing awareness about skin and sun care products among consumers and the active involvement of chemical companies in launching natural ingredients for such cosmetics.

Haircare is the fastest-growing category in the market. Organic, plant-based ingredients, such as proteins, oils, serums, and botanical extracts, are increasingly sought after as customers are becoming more conscious of the harsh and toxic chemicals in conventional products. Plant-based oils, masks, natural silicones, surfactants, and plant-derived polymers, including sclerotium gum, are gaining traction for they are sourced from natural products and cause negligible harm to the environment.

The applications analyzed here are:

• Skin and Suncare (Largest Category)
• Haircare (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Makeup and Color Cosmetics
• Fragrances
• Others

Active Ingredient Analysis

During the forecast period, vitamins and derivatives are expected to most rapidly progress, with over 6% CAGR. This growth is attributed to the increasing use of vitamin-rich cosmetics by baby boomers and Generation X population group, changing lifestyle patterns, and widespread consciousness regarding the enhancement of the overall personality among consumers. According to a World Bank report, 65% of the total population in 2020 was between the ages of 15 and 64. People in these age groups are more inclined toward the use of bio-based cosmetic products containing vitamins and derivatives.

The active ingredients analyzed here are:

• Vitamins and Derivatives (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Ceramides
• Peptides
• Resveratrol
• Potassium Sorbate
• Bio-Succinic Acid
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Glycerin
• Creatine
• Alpha Hydroxy Acids
• Others

Regional Analysis

In 2024, North America leads the bio-based cosmetics and personal care ingredients market with approximately 40% share. The increasing consumer inclination toward multifunctional personal care products, busy lifestyles, and increasing employed population are propelling the growth of the industry in the region. North America is a major market for skincare and haircare products due to the increasing awareness among people on skin and hair care (especially in the male population). The high per capita income in North America also supports the demand for skincare and haircare products, which fuels the demand for bio-based ingredients in the region.

APAC is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, of 8%. This is attributed to the improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing disposable income, and growing cosmetics industry. India and China are creating huge opportunities for the growth of the market in the region. The healthcare expenditure in these countries is still proportionally low when compared to the developed economies of Europe and North America. However, the large population and increasing disposable income are creating a strong demand for personal care products, thus driving the consumption of bio-based ingredients.

The geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market)
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • France (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • South Africa (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • Rest of MEA

Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market Share

The bio-based cosmetics and personal care ingredients market is highly fragmented. This is because of a large customer base, whose preferences are also diverse and based on their hair and skin types. This drives the demand for a variety of makeup and fragrance products and ingredient formulations that are eco-friendly, ethical, and naturally derived.

The customer base is targeted by several large brands and small and medium-sized enterprises producing specialized and tailored ingredients based on regional needs. The variations in regulatory rules also make it convenient for local brands to enter the market, comply with those standards, and serve local needs. With the advances in biotechnology and sustainable farming, there is an acceleration in product production and development. All these factors widen the scope for new entrants, further leading to market fragmentation.

Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market News

In October 2024, Evonik Industries AG entered into a partnership with Kolmar Cosmetics (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. to develop sustainable and eco-friendly suncare and color cosmetics, as well as effective active ingredients for a whole array of personal care products.

In April 2024, BASF SE launched the Everything Is Beauty campaign at NYSCC Suppliers' Day. It displayed an array of digital solutions and ingredients for hair and skincare, including green emulsifier Emulgade Verde OL10, AI-driven dimethicone alternatives, Epispot rosebay willowherb extract, and innovations for textured hair, scalp care, and body care.

In March 2024, BASF SE displayed its sustainable product range from sunscreen, to cleansing and skincare at Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients, held in Shanghai, China. The company also presented its new in microbiome science.

In January 2023, The Dow Chemical Company partnered with LVMH Beauty to develop bio-based plastics for perfume and cosmetics packaging. With recycled and bio-based feedstock, Dow's SURLYN ionomers are being used to make perfume caps and cream jars.