“We strive to replace environmentally harmful raw materials with natural, sustainable alternatives. This shared conviction and our commitment to an environmentally friendly future are at the heart of everything we do.”
EURO COSMETICS: Can you give us an overview of Cosphatec, the products, and services that you offer?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: Cosphatec is a specialist in the stabilisation of modern and natural cosmetics with sustainable and skin-friendly raw materials that ensure the stability and efficacy of formulations. Our expertise lies in the areas of microbial, oxidative, emulsion, and viscosity stability, which are essential for the longevity and performance of cosmetic products. We offer plant-based solutions that meet the highest quality and safety standards. In addition to our high-quality products, we also place a high priority on exceptional customer service. We work closely with our customers to understand their individual needs. We offer customised solutions and full access to our expertise in research and development, quality management, regulatory support, and more. For example, we closely support our customers in all aspects of challenge testing because nothing is more important to us than working with our customers to ensure the best microbiological stability for their products. We do not only perceive ourselves as a supplier, but as a kind of innovation partner that helps its customers develop products that meet their exact requirements.
CEO of Cosphatec Paris SAS
EURO COSMETICS: Cosphatec recently launched Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free, a new palm oil-free raw material as a natural preservative. What does it mean to be palm oil-free?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: Due to a growing demand for palm oil over recent years, global palm oil production has been exhausting natural resources in Asia, South America, and Africa, where the palm oil tree is mainly grown. Deforestation, threats to climate and wildlife, and human rights issues are concerns associated with the growing and harvesting of the plant. By switching to palm oil-free alternatives, consumers can contribute to a more sustainable future where personal care products do not need to rely on ingredients that potentially jeopardize the wellbeing of our planet and its inhabitants, in a way that palm oil-derived raw materials do.
EURO COSMETICS: What criteria do you use to select your raw materials?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: When selecting raw materials, we prioritise sustainability, skin compatibility, and naturalness. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all our ingredients are safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. We choose biodegradable materials that come from sustainable and natural sources to ensure that they align with our commitment to the environment. We also ensure that our raw materials are vegan and GMO-free. In addition, almost all of our core products fulfil the COSMOS and NATRUE standards, reflecting our commitment to high quality and ethical sourcing. Our selection process is rigorous and focuses on both the functional performance of the raw materials and their compliance with our sustainability goals.
EURO COSMETICS: Can you briefly explain the advantages of Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free is a pure, transparent, and colourless diol. Its polar character allows unlimited water-solubility. This property is highly relevant to its popular cosmetic use as a moisturizer and humectant. As a non-sticky alternative to glycerol, it can also be applied as an emollient or solvent. Produced by fermentation of corn and used as a substitute for propylene glycol, it is an ideal solution for creating formulations without petrochemical or palm oil ingredients. At the same time, it can help protect a formulation from uncontrolled microbial growth by boosting the efficiency of the preservative system.
EURO COSMETICS: For which applications can these be used?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free offers remarkable versatility, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of cosmetic formulations. Its strong moisturizing properties, coupled with its ability to enhance the absorption of other nourishing ingredients, make it especially sought after in face, body, and hair care products. Thanks to its non-irritating and skin-soothing nature, Cosphaderm® Propanediol is also well-suited for sensitive skin. It improves texture and provides a light, non-sticky feel, making it an excellent addition to sun care and makeup products. Fully water-soluble and pH-independent, it’s an optimal choice for acidic formulations like peelings or toners. All in all, Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free is the optimal solution for all water-containing formulations—whether as a humectant, sensory enhancer, active ingredient penetration promoter, or solubilizer. This sustainable and versatile raw material solution offers safe and innovative possibilities for modern cosmetics.
EURO COSMETICS: What additional benefit does Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free offer for skin care?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: In addition to its main characteristics, Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free helps protect cosmetic formulations from uncontrolled microbial growth by enhancing the efficiency of their preservative system. Combining our product with other natural preservative alternatives, for example, our other Cosphaderm® Diols or Cosphaderm® GMCY, boosts their antimicrobial effect and lowers the use concentration necessary to antimicrobially safeguard the formulation—and therefore the skin—from undesired pathogens.
EURO COSMETICS: Can you explain the science/research behind Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: Propanediol is a cosmetic ingredient whose use has long been established in personal care products. For the sustainability-related reasons mentioned above, the thought process behind Cosphaderm® Propanediol natural palm-free was to meet customer demands for a palm oil-free version of this ubiquitously applied raw material. By finding a way to manufacture Propanediol via the fermentation of corn, we succeeded in offering our customers this palm oil-free alternative.
EURO COSMETICS: What’s the secret to being an innovative company like Cosphatec?
Yassine Ibn Slimane: [smiles] It is not a secret, but rather a question of authenticity, proximity, and transparency in our dealings with our customers and partners. It is precisely these values that make Cosphatec special. We do everything we can to build a close and trusting relationship with our customers and partners. This closeness is reflected not only in the quality of our products but also in our first-class service, which our customers can rely on. Our vision at Cosphatec is clear: we strive to replace environmentally harmful raw materials with natural, sustainable alternatives. This shared conviction and our commitment to an environmentally friendly future are at the heart of everything we do. Everyone in our team shares this vision and works to turn it into reality. Especially our R&D team, which works daily to find new innovative ways to replace synthetic raw materials with natural ones and to find solutions for our customers. That’s why our partners and customers feel this passion and dedication in every interaction with us. This shared focus creates a solid foundation for long-term, trusting relationships and makes Cosphatec a particularly reliable and innovative partner in the industry.
EURO COSMETICS: Thank you for the conversation.
Yassine Ibn Slimane
Born and raised in Paris, Yassine has extensive expertise in chemistry and a deep understanding of the commercial dynamics of the cosmetics and perfume industry. He gained valuable experience at renowned companies such as Yves Saint Laurent, where he worked as a formulator. Now, as CEO of CosphatecParis SAS, Yassine continues to drive innovation and lead market trends.
