Calling our active ingredients by name: this section is dedicated to BASF Personal Care’s active ingredients that set themselves apart from the competition. It all starts with a superfruit. From a project comes products that will conquer the market.

Research and development is an ongoing process that never stands still. The aim is to always look for improvements, to make changes. Trends and requirements evolve over time. Whereas it used to be the performance of a product alone that mattered, the focus gradually expanded to include sensory properties. Today, nature conservation, environmental compatibility and sustainability also play a major role when it comes to whether consumers will love and use a product or simply avoid and ignore it. 

BASF is also constantly looking to make improvements. Our efforts have led us in quite a "hair-raising" direction. We mean that in a positive sense: because Nephelium lappaceum is a tree that bears hirsute fruit known as rambutan. Rambutan has enjoyed great popularity in many parts of Asia for a very long time – whether as fruit/food or as a tried-and-tested medicinal plant in Asian medicine. It contains minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron along with plenty of vitamin C. 

Rambutan is a true star, and one that is now making its way into the world of personal care. Skin and hair benefit from the use of rambutan. That is for sure. And that’s not all. 

At a time when sustainability is becoming increasingly important, BASF is going one step further with the Rambutan project. Nature must be protected and respected. The cultivation and processing of rambutan does exactly this. Local partners and workers benefit from this, too. We work hand in hand with the people on site. Increased income, qualification opportunities, training in organic farming, better health care and free meals are just some of the positive aspects of growing rambutan for personal care products. 

Protection, respect and acting responsibly – rambutan has more benefits than you think.