With 67% of global consumers now seeking eco-conscious beauty products, personal care brands are under growing pressure to deliver more than just performance.
One of the most innovative ways the industry is responding to this demand is through upcycled ingredients. Repurposed from food and agricultural waste, these powerful ingredients reduce environmental impact and cut down on raw material waste.
Whether it’s citrus peels, imperfect avocados, or chestnut shells, these humble leftovers are being turned into high-performance ingredients that deliver on both efficacy and sustainability.
Here are six standout upcycled ingredients available now from HARKE UK & Ireland.
Dermalcare® Avolia MB by Syensqo
Upcycled from imperfect avocado oil
INCI: Isoamyl Laurate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
A natural, 100% upcycled alternative to non-volatile silicones. Dermalcare® Avolia MB delivers lightweight conditioning and shine with a soft, non-greasy finish. It is suitable for all hair types, providing excellent combability in both wet and dry stages without buildup.
- Derived from upcycled avocado oil
- Provides softness, conditioning, and shine
- No build-up over time, suitable for daily-use formulas
- COSMOS-approved and readily biodegradable
- Ideal for waterless or concentrated haircare formats
Up-Citrus Extract by Sinerga
Upcycled orange and mandarin peel
INCI: Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
A multifunctional extract from upcycled Italian orange and mandarin peel waste. In skincare, it revitalises skin with energising, illuminating, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects. In haircare, it detoxes hair from metals, reduces frizz, and conditions. For the scalp, it rebalances the microbiome and provides soothing benefits.
- Natural extract from upcycled food waste
- Multifunctional: skin, hair, and scalp care
- Detoxifies, conditions, and fights pollution
- Illuminating, energising, anti-aging, and soothing
- Enhances microbiome balance and reduces frizz
Up-Citrus Rheo by Sinerga
Upcycled lemon peel thickener
INCI: Citrus Limon peel powder
An exciting new natural rheology modifier made from lemon peel waste that enhances formulation texture, offers a mattifying effect, and improves skin feel. Perfect for oily or combination skin, Up-Citrus Rheo creates luxurious, velvety textures with formulation flexibility in both hot and cold processes.
- 100% natural and biodegradable
- Mattifies and blurs imperfections
- Improves skin texture and feel
- Hot and cold process compatible
- Ideal for eco-conscious skincare formulations
Carobsoothe by Sinerga
Upcycled carob pulp extract
INCI: Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
Carobsoothe is a zero-waste beauty ingredient derived from upcycled carob pods, designed to counteract inflammaging. It is rich in inositols and stimulates Aquaporin-3, which enhances cellular hydration, boosts autophagy, and protects against oxidative stress. Skin is left soothed, radiant and more resilient.
- Upcycled from food industry by-products
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
- Reduces redness, dullness, and TEWL
- Improves hydration, elasticity, and healthy glow
- Ideal for soft-aging and anti-stress skincare products
APPORE by LABIO
Upcycled apple, chestnut shell, and persimmon leaf
INCI: Pyrus Malus (apple) Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol
This tannic-acid-rich active is designed for pore care and skin elasticity. APPORE combines the power of upcycled fruit and leaf materials to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects, reducing pore area and volume while improving density and elasticity.
- Visibly tightens and refines pores
- Rich in tannic acid for anti-aging and antioxidant benefits
- Clinically proven to reduce pore area by up to 46.5%
- Vegan, hypoallergenic, and skin-friendly
- Perfect for serums and pore-focused formulations
BlockACNE by LABIO
Upcycled apple peel with probiotic ferments
INCI: Lactobacillus Ferment, Bacillus Ferment, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract
BlockACNE offers a total-care solution for acne-prone skin by targeting the four main causes of breakouts: excess sebum, pore clogging, bacterial overgrowth, and inflammation. It combines upcycled apple peel extract with Lactobacillus and Bacillus ferments to soothe skin, promote healing, and prevent recurrence.
- Reduces sebum and prevents pore clogging
- Inhibits C. acnes growth without harming beneficial microbes
- Anti-inflammatory, reducing IL-8 and TNF-α expression
- Promotes procollagen synthesis and skin recovery
- Clinically shown to reduce papules by 63% and nodules by 90% after 4 weeks
Ready to Formulate with Upcycled Ingredients?
These innovative upcycled ingredients show that you can choose sustainability without having to compromise on quality. You can reduce your environmental footprint whilst also solving skincare and haircare challenges for consumers.
If you’d like to find out more about the upcycled ingredients in this blog, or if you’re looking for other ways to incorporate sustainability into your next formulation, get in touch with the team at HARKE UK & Ireland.
