Speaking during the recent NutraIngredients and CosmeticsDesign-Europe webinar on holistic beauty-from-within trends, Dr. Steffen Wegener, managing director at the German functional and beauty nutrition brand HECH, said that while the beauty category has historically been perceived as superficial, his goal was to reinterpret it through a multi-level approach where beauty is reflective of overall health.
“For me, beauty is the visible result of a healthy body, so we set out to create a product that addresses both beauty and metabolic aspects on different levels,” he said.
HECH’s product Emerald Elixier, which took home the 2025 NutraIngredients Beauty-from-Within Product of the Year award, was formulated to boost cellular energy, support collagen production and protect skin health to optimize metabolism, reinforce dermal resilience and enhance beauty and longevity from within.
It includes NADH to drive ATP synthesis and cellular repair, saffron for UV defense and pigmentation control, chasteberry to balance hormones and calm stress-related skin issues and multi-density collagen peptides to fortify skin structure.
“Protecting the body, the skin and even DNA is just as important as rebuilding what has been lost,” Dr. Wegener said. “The extracts help the body cope with stress and support mental balance—something our modern society needs more than ever. Because, in the end, beauty is the result of many interconnected factors.”
Mind and body connection
Dr. Wegener also highlighted the the connection between metnal state and physical appearance, emphasizing the importantce of “mental balance” for beauty from within.
“Products that only address a single facet will struggle in the future,” he said, noting that consumers now want convenient solutions that cover multiple daily needs. “For example, that’s why we’re working on products that target both mental balance and skin health.”
He explained that the mind-skin connection is strongly linked to hormonal balance, and that mental imbalance often leads to elevated stress hormones—for example cortisol or adrenaline—being released into the body and activating emergency metabolic pathways.
“When stress is chronic, the body stays in this heightened state,” he said.
“Essential regeneration processes are suppressed, energy metabolism is overactivated and the system isn’t working as it should. Over time, this shows up in the skin. For example, acne is often linked to mental imbalance alongside other physiological factors. That’s why it’s so important for modern beauty-related products to also address mental balance.”
Dr. Wegener noted that the ingredient saffron is particularly good in formulating for holistic beauty and backed by a strong body of scientific evidence showing its effects on “settling the mind and restoring balance.”
Emerging ingredients in nutricosmetics
Aside from the holistic connection between mental and physical health, Dr. Wegener noted that some bioactives are showing real promise in the emerging neurocosmetic space.
Spermidine, the naturally occurring polyamine found in living cells and tissues, was identified as a biogenic amine and neurotransmitter. It is often derived from plant-based extracts such as wheat germ extract or soybean extract.
“It activates certain metabolic pathways related to regeneration,” he said.
Another key ingredient noted was creatine, with research showing its strong potential for neuroprotective applications as well as its well-studied use in supporting muscle function and performance.
“This dual role—supporting both muscular and mental health—makes it particularly relevant as we age,” Dr. Wegener said.
Watch on demand: Trends in holistic beauty-from-within
This free editorial webinar explored how the BFW trend is reshaping skincare and wellness, covering nutricosmetics, neurocosmetics, the gut-skin axis and more.
Catch it on demand now to hear from HECH MD Steffen Wegener as well as Unilever’s Jason Harcup, Gallinée founder Marie Drago and Mintel analyst Shiyan Zering.
