Much research and networking effort with various partners were necessary for the launch of important Natura products in 2016. Today, you will recall a bit of this history, with a retrospective of some assets and products that gained prominence on the Natura Campus blog for their innovative character.
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Chronos and the assets of Brazilian biodiversity
To begin, let's talk about the new Chronos. The relaunch of Natura's iconic skincare brand involved so many tests and studies that it deserved a series of articles on the blog. The use of computational biology and 3D fabric in research on skin behavior and the challenges faced by the formulation team to create a product with a pleasant sensory experience received special coverage. (Click here to learn more)
Also noteworthy is the discovery and use of new assets from Brazilian biodiversity.
One of the new assets presented by Chronos was the jatobá seed, a plant from the Brazilian cerrado that features in the new Chronos 45+ Firmness and Radiance.
To obtain the extract, the Bioagriculture, Ingredients, and Advanced Cosmetic Technology teams worked together. “After several tests and improvements, we were able to confirm our hypothesis that jatobá can increase collagen, elastin, and reduce glycation, a biological process that damages skin proteins during aging,” highlighted Juliana Lago, researcher in Advanced Cosmetic Technologies.
Another anti-aging asset that involved extensive research by Natura and partners was casearia, which features on the label of the Anti-Aging Filling and Revitalization Cream 60+. (Click here to learn more)
It was after diving into the literature, searching for Brazilian biodiversity assets with potential for cosmetic use, that the team involved in the Chronos project found a single reference to a molecule that would be present in casearia and could bring benefits to the skin. After much effort from the Ingredients and Cosmetic Technology areas, confirmation came. “The extract helps protect the elastic fibers in our skin from breaks caused by sun exposure. It also intensifies the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid, a molecule that greatly contributes to filling the skin's volume,” summarized Kelen Fabiola from the Cosmetic Technologies area.
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The essential oil of pataqueira
Another pioneering and highly relevant work was carried out for the extraction of essential oil from pataqueira. The challenge was to produce at least 16 tons of this plant, typical of flooded areas of the Amazon, which until then had no defined cultivation system, for the launch of a new line of Ekos products. The field research, conducted with local communities, yielded results beyond expectations. “We did it. We delivered to Natura's perfumery an exclusive, naturally Brazilian essential oil, produced in an agroecological and organic system,” celebrated Daniel Oliveira, agronomist at Natura. Here you can check the complete story.
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Perfumery reveals the secret of an Amazon flower
Another innovative project carried out was the Flor do Luar, another launch from Natura Ekos. The flower that gives its name to the perfume blooms only once a year, during a full moon night, at which time it exudes a very expressive aroma. Several researchers from around the world were enchanted by the species, with white flowers and red stems, that grows along the banks of the blackwater rivers of the Amazon. Much research and a touch of art enabled the launch of an exclusive fragrance inspired by the aroma known to few.
