Circular beauty has shifted significantly from niche to mainstream in recent years. The Business Research Company valued the circular beauty products market at $2.7 billion in 2025 and forecasts $3.74 billion by 2030. Innova Market Insights reports that new personal care launches featuring upcycled ingredients grew by an average of 110% a year between 2021 and 2025. It’s no longer just eco-conscious start-ups leading the way either. Upcycled claims are increasingly turning up across mainstream and premium brands.

Shoppers are also starting to look for the claim. The same Innova research found that 16% of consumers say they especially search for upcycled claims when choosing beauty products. We’re highlighting seven upcycled ingredients available from HARKE UK & Ireland, from citrus peel and carob pods to apple waste and coffee grounds. 

 

Re2 Coffea Arabica Peptide by Syensqo

Upcycled coffee grounds, AI-designed for scalp care

INCI: Water, Butylene Glycol, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone

The newest addition to our circular beauty range, developed by Syensqo and derived from coffee grounds sourced from a Rainforest Alliance-certified plantation in Pu’er, Yunnan. AI-guided screening identified peptide sequences targeting key scalp biomarkers, produced through enzymatic digestion. 

•       Reduces scalp inflammation, redness, itching and burning
•       Improves scalp barrier function and reduces water loss
•       Increases scalp hydration and softness
•       Reduces hair shedding and improves hair fibre smoothness
•       Fully traceable, Rainforest Alliance-certified sourcing with a natural origin index of 1.00

 

Dermalcare® Avolia MB by Syensqo

Upcycled from imperfect avocado oil

INCI: Isoamyl Laurate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil

Syensqo positions Dermalcare® Avolia MB as a Circular Beauty ingredient, and it’s been a recurring highlight on their innovation stand at in-cosmetics Global, most recently in 2026.

A natural, 100% upcycled alternative to non-volatile silicones. Dermalcare® Avolia MB delivers lightweight conditioning and shine with a soft, non-greasy finish, suitable for all hair types with good combability in both wet and dry stages.

•       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 with energising, illuminating and antioxidant effects. In haircare, it detoxes from metals and reduces frizz, while on the scalp it rebalances the microbiome and soothes.

•       Natural extract from upcycled food waste
•       Multifunctional across skin, hair and scalp care
•       Detoxifies, conditions and fights pollution
•       Illuminating, energising and soothing
•       Enhances microbiome balance and reduces frizz

 

Up-Citrus Rheo by Sinerga

Upcycled lemon peel thickener

INCI: Citrus Limon Peel Powder

Launched alongside two other Sinerga actives under a Skin Longevity meets Upcycled Beauty positioning, Up-Citrus Rheo turns lemon peel waste into a natural texturising ingredient. It enhances formulation texture, offers a mattifying effect and improves skin feel. Well suited to oily or combination skin, creating velvety textures with flexibility across 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 targets inflammaging, low-level inflammation that contributes to visible skin ageing. Derived from upcycled carob pod pulp and titrated in inositols, it stimulates Aquaporin-3  to enhance cellular hydration, boost autophagy and protect against oxidative stress, leaving skin soothed and more resilient.

•       Upcycled from food industry by-products
•       Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
•       Reduces redness, dullness and water loss
•       Improves hydration, elasticity and glow
•       Ideal for soft-aging and anti-stress skincare

 

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

A tannic-acid-rich active designed for pore care and skin elasticity, combining upcycled fruit and leaf materials for 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 shown to reduce pore area by up to 46.5%
•       Vegan, hypoallergenic and skin-friendly
•       Well suited to 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

A total-care solution for acne-prone skin, targeting excess sebum, pore clogging, bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. It combines upcycled apple peel extract with Lactobacillus and Bacillus ferments to soothe skin and support recovery.

•       Reduces sebum and prevents pore clogging
•       Inhibits C. acnes growth without harming beneficial microbes
•       Anti-inflammatory activity
•       Promotes procollagen synthesis and skin recovery
•       Clinically shown to reduce papules by 63% and nodules by 90% after 4 weeks

 

Where Circular Beauty Goes Next

The early wave of upcycled ingredients was mostly about proving a waste stream could be turned into something usable at all. The current wave, especially with AI-assisted ingredient design like that behind Re2 Coffea Arabica Peptide, is about engineering targeted, clinically proven performance from those same waste streams. At the same time, regulatory pressure on packaging circularity means brands are increasingly expected to think about circularity across the whole product. 

 

Ready to Formulate?

Whether you’re building out a wider circular beauty range or looking for one specific solution, our technical team can help. Get in touch with HARKE UK & Ireland today to request a sample or discuss your next formulation.