Squalene: this biomolecule essential to the body
Omnipresent, squalene is a little-known molecule.
Belonging to the oil family, this biomolecule is one of the main lipids in human sebum at 12 to 20%.
This high concentration thus plays a pivotal role in hydrating our skin.
Found naturally in the body, squalene is a unique and powerful antioxidant.
As a result, it supports the regeneration of skin damaged by exposure to the sun, pollution and prevents the peroxidation of lipids in the skin.
Since the 1950s, this emollient has been considered irreplaceable in cosmetics;
used in its stabilized form, squalane gives a velvety and silky appearance to creams thanks to its unique sensoriality.
If this ingredient has long been listed in small numbers in the INCI list of skincare products, it is starting to appear on the front of the label.
This has been the case in Japan and the United States for some time now.
Sophim: the specialist in the production of olive squalane
But then, how to make this miracle ingredient?
Since 1996, the family business Sophim has specialized in the manufacturing of natural ingredients for the cosmetic industry, particularly squalene.
The company even claims to be a leader in the production of this powerful ingredient.
Sophim's major strength is to have developed its own technology from olives.
Olive oil contains 0.7% squalene.
When purifying olive oil, the idea is to extract a by-product, thus becoming the raw material.
It is this raw material that the company buys from Spanish refiners-bottlers and the Mediterranean basin.
More than simply offering a portfolio of products to its customers, Sophim supports companies in their transition towards more naturalness.
Considerable development across the world
In 2010, Sophim obtained a patent, before being honored with the Pierre Potier Prize in 2011, rewarding its chemical innovation in favor of sustainable development.
What follows is an acceleration in the company's development;
industrialization of its processes in its factory in the Alpes de Haute Provence, launch of a second factory in Andalusia in 2014, as well as a doubling of its capacities in progress with 75% of products intended for export.
Today, Sophim benefits from a circular economy model unique in the world, with the valorization of several thousand tons of by-products into olive biodiesel through certified natural and sustainable processes.
The company has been supplying prestigious clients for years.
Sophim thus contributes to French excellence by promoting an innovative, efficient and dynamic natural cosmetics industry throughout the world.
Sophim
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