Top 10 Companies in the Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Industry (2026): Innovation Leaders Driving Beauty & Skincare

In Business Insights
February 07, 2026


The Global Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market was valued at USD 9.8 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 16.2 Billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.6% during the forecast period (2026-2034). This robust growth is fueled by rising global demand for advanced skincare, the proliferation of anti-aging products, and the accelerating shift towards clean, natural, and sustainable formulations across all beauty and personal care segments.

As the beauty industry evolves to meet consumer demands for efficacy, safety, and environmental responsibility, the focus intensifies on the ingredient suppliers who are pioneering new technologies and sourcing methods. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Industry—a mix of global chemical giants, specialty innovators, and bio-technology leaders shaping the future of skin and hair hydration.


🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Hyaluronic Acid, Lamesoft® (mild surfactants), Plantasens® (natural emulsifiers)

BASF SE stands as a global powerhouse in cosmetic ingredients, offering one of the most extensive portfolios for skin and hair care. Their Care Creations division develops advanced moisturizing agents, including high-purity humectants, emollients, and sensory enhancers for a wide range of applications from mass-market lotions to premium serums.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Strong focus on bio-based and renewable raw materials

  • Pioneering biodegradable conditioning polymers and natural origin ingredients

  • Commitment to carbon-neutral growth and sustainable sourcing

Download FREE Sample Report: Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: ECOLLENCE™ (sustainable emollients), ACQUA™ (film-forming polymers), Sensory Enhancers

Dow’s Consumer Solutions division is a leading supplier of high-performance ingredients that improve the feel, efficacy, and sustainability of cosmetic products. Their technologies enable long-lasting hydration, enhanced spreadability, and appealing textures that are highly valued by formulators.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of sustainable and biodegradable emollients derived from bio-based feedstocks

  • Investment in water-soluble polymers that reduce the need for silicones


8️⃣ 3. Evonik Industries AG

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: TEGO® Natural Beauty (plant-based ingredients), Amino Acids, Specialty Surfactants

Evonik is a specialty chemicals leader with a strong focus on cosmetic active ingredients. Their portfolio includes high-efficacy moisturizers, skin-identical lipids, and natural actives designed to repair the skin barrier and provide deep, lasting hydration.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expansion of the TEGO® Natural Beauty line with certified natural and organic ingredients

  • R&D in biotechnology for sustainable production of active ingredients


7️⃣ 4. Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Natrulon™ (hydration polymers), Perfectha® (Hyaluronic Acid), Structured Moisturizers

Ashland specializes in bio-functional ingredients that deliver proven performance. Their offerings include advanced humectants, film-formers, and sensory modifiers that are critical for creating high-performance moisturizing creams, serums, and lotions.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on eco-conscious and biodegradable polymers

  • Development of multi-functional ingredients that simplify formulations

Download FREE Sample Report: Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Gattefossé

Headquarters: Saint-Priest, France
Key Offering: Emulium® (emulsifiers), Lipophilic Actives, Shea Butter Derivatives

Gattefossé is a French family-owned company renowned for its expertise in lipid-based cosmetic ingredients. They are a key partner for brands developing high-quality emulsions, providing innovative emulsifying systems and natural-derived emollients that ensure superior skin feel and hydration.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Strong commitment to green chemistry and sustainable sourcing, particularly for shea butter

  • Development of cold-process emulsifiers to reduce energy consumption during manufacturing


5️⃣ 6. Lucas Meyer Cosmetics

Headquarters: Décastar, Toulouse, France
Key Offering: Ceramides, Phospholipids, Natural Oils, and Butters

A division of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF), Lucas Meyer Cosmetics is a world leader in high-purity active ingredients for skincare. They are particularly known for their skin-identical lipids, such as ceramides, which are essential for restoring and maintaining the skin’s natural barrier and hydration levels.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expertise in upcycled ingredients and natural lipid purification

  • Focus on clinically proven actives for efficacy-driven skincare


4️⃣ 7. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Plant-based Emollients, Sensocare® (sensory ingredients), Mild Surfactants

Clariant’s Business Unit Care Chemicals provides a wide array of ingredients focused on natural origin and performance. Their offerings include gentle, sulfate-free surfactants and a growing portfolio of emollients derived from renewable resources, catering to the demand for mild yet effective cleansing and moisturizing products.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • “TRUEPLANT” designation for ingredients with high natural content

  • Investment in green chemistry to reduce environmental footprint


3️⃣ 8. Nouryon

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Key Offering: Ethylene Oxide Derivatives, Guar Derivatives, Rheology Modifiers

Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) is a leading global producer of essential chemistry for everyday life. Their broad portfolio includes key building blocks for moisturizing formulations, such as thickeners and conditioners that enhance product stability and sensory properties.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of eco-premium and sustainable solution products

  • Commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes


2️⃣ 9. Croda International Plc

Headquarters: Snaith, East Yorkshire, UK
Key Offering: Crodamol® (emollients), Incromectant™ (humectants), Naturals Portfolio

Croda is a specialty chemical company with a stellar reputation in the personal care market. Their ingredient slate is renowned for its purity, performance, and commitment to sustainability. They offer a comprehensive range of emollients, humectants, and delivery systems for advanced moisturizing products.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Ambitious target to become Climate, Land, and People Positive by 2030

  • Significant portion of revenue from products with sustainable advantages

Download FREE Sample Report: Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market – View in Detailed Research Report


1️⃣ 10. Innospec Inc.

Headquarters: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Key Offering: Silicone Alternatives, Conditioning Agents, Mild Surfactants

Innospec’s Performance Chemicals business provides innovative ingredients for personal care, focusing on enhancing the sensory profile and moisturizing efficacy of formulations. They are known for developing alternatives to traditional ingredients that offer improved environmental profiles.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of readily biodegradable alternatives to PEGs and certain silicones

  • Focus on creating high-performance ingredients with a reduced environmental impact

Get Full Report Here: Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Moisturizing Ingredients Is Natural, Smart, and Sustainable

The moisturizing cosmetic ingredients market is undergoing a profound transformation. While traditional synthetic ingredients remain crucial for performance and cost, the industry is heavily investing in bio-based alternatives, precision fermentation technologies, and ingredient systems that support personalized beauty.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated R&D in bio-fermented ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides

  • Growing demand for multi-functional ingredients that offer hydration plus anti-aging or barrier repair benefits

  • Rising importance of water-soluble, biodegradable polymers to replace conventional silicones

  • Increased collaboration between ingredient suppliers and beauty brands for co-development of sustainable solutions

Get Full Report Here: Moisturizing Cosmetic Ingredients Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying the building blocks of beauty—they’re pioneering the sustainable and scientifically advanced future of skincare and personal care worldwide.