ACTIVES WORLD – A new way to explore actives

Start with a development goal

Cosmetic product development often begins with a question rather than a particular raw material: What should the formulation deliver? A skincare concept might focus on intensive hydration, the skin barrier, sensitive skin or a contemporary age-well approach. That starting point shapes decisions about actives, texture, product format and the way individual components work together.

ACTIVES WORLD makes this perspective on ingredients accessible online. It is designed for brands, product developers and other B2B customers looking to define a product idea or explore new formulation approaches. Instead of searching only for a familiar ingredient name, visitors can start with an area of application and discover relevant active concepts from there.

Seven worlds to guide exploration

The seven active worlds provide a structure for that first step. Each has its own focus, yet all share a formulation perspective. They are not sealed categories: a cosmetic concept can combine several development goals, and an ingredient may be relevant in more than one context.

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  HydrationHydration concepts across multiple levels.
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  BarrierSkincare concepts centred on the skin barrier.
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  LongevityActive concepts for contemporary age-well and longevity-oriented formulations.
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  RenewalIngredients and concepts for a refreshed, cared-for complexion.
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  MicrobiomeIngredients in the context of microbiome-oriented skincare concepts.
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  SoothingFormulation approaches for sensitive and stressed skin.
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  ProtectionProtection-oriented ingredient and skincare concepts.

ACTIVES WORLD thus connects the application area with the active, its formulation relevance and product development. The worlds help visitors put possibilities into context and identify questions for a development project. That is what distinguishes the platform from a simple ingredient dictionary or raw material catalogue.

37 profiles, a broad formulation perspective

At launch, ACTIVES WORLD features 37 selected active profiles covering different raw material groups and formulation ideas. Hydration, for example, distinguishes between long-chain, short-chain, oligo and crosslinked hyaluronic acid. This separation illustrates why the broad term “hyaluronic acid” alone is not enough to guide a specific raw material choice.

Ceramides and niacinamide provide starting points for barrier-focused skincare concepts. NAD+ is presented in the context of research-inspired longevity concepts; its suitability depends on factors including the raw material form, stability and the specific formulation. Peptides share a single profile linked to both Longevity and Soothing. The selected peptide sequences and the evidence available for them matter more than the group name alone.

Further examples include bakuchiol and retinol in Renewal, Inulin / Prebiotic Complex in Microbiome, panthenol in Soothing and ectoin in Protection. This selection shows the breadth of the platform without blurring the differences between ingredients. Bakuchiol is not treated as equivalent to retinol, and ectoin is not a substitute for a tested UV filter system. The profiles provide orientation, not blanket performance promises for finished products.

An active is not yet a formulation

At artefactum, an ingredient is never considered in isolation. Its relevance emerges through its interaction with other components and the requirements of the product. Raw material quality, use level, pH, solubility and distribution between phases can be as important as texture, stability, preservation and tolerability. An approach that makes sense in a serum therefore cannot automatically be transferred unchanged to a cream or another product format.

ACTIVES WORLD connects ingredient knowledge with this formulation perspective. The profiles offer context on cosmetic and formulation relevance, together with possible application areas. Specific selection, combinations and evaluation are addressed within the development project. Claims about the performance of a finished formulation require appropriate supporting evidence. This helps turn an initial idea into an informed conversation about the product to be developed.

Making the interplay visible

We also want to make these relationships visible. Formulations take shape through the interplay of materials, phases, structures and actives. The artefactum swirls developed in recent months translate that work into a visual language: liquid, creamy and transparent forms move together, connect and retain their distinct material qualities.

The swirls express materiality, movement and connection. They evoke formulation architecture and the journey from an individual raw material to a coordinated system. They are not literal depictions of chemical mechanisms. Instead, they make a way of working tangible: components are not simply placed side by side, but developed in relation to one another.

One visual language, different purposes

This language remains adaptable. In ACTIVES WORLD, different colours and materials reflect the seven active worlds. Cream-in-Gel focuses on the interaction between cream and gel. CosVention provides space for experimental formulation architectures, while FastTrack connects directional movement with a structured route towards a product.

The swirls are intended to become a recurring visual element across different areas of artefactum. Their role is not to look identical everywhere or to decorate every piece of content, but to establish a meaningful connection with the subject. ACTIVES WORLD makes another step in this development visible. artefactum is gradually evolving its visual identity, while formulation expertise and our customers’ requirements remain at the centre of what we communicate.

Find your next starting point

Whether you already have an ingredient in mind or want to explore a development goal first, ACTIVES WORLD offers an entry point into cosmetic formulation possibilities. Discover the seven worlds, take a closer look at individual profiles and use the platform as a starting point for your next product concept.