Burt’s Bees Uses Botaneco’s Hydresia™

CALGARY, Alberta—Botaneco, a unit of SemBioSys Genetics Inc., announced Burt’s Bees, the largest U.S. natural personal care company, incorporated its Hydresia™ ingredient into two body washes and a hand soap launched this month. According to Botaneco, Hydresia offers superior hydration, skin conditioning and moisturization when compared to synthetic counterparts. “The superior hydration, moisturization and emulsifying benefits of Botaneca’s Hydresia ingredient infused in our new body and hand washes,” said Camey Reid, senior brand manager, Burt’s Bees.

The patent-protected ingredient is a branded base emulsion naturally derived from seed oilbodies or oleosomes. These oleosomes serve as natural storehouses for emollient oils, antioxidants and natural moisture barriers. When used as the base emulsion in personal care products, the ingredient can replace traditional emulsifiers, such as petroleum and animal byproducts, to provide lasting protection to the skin. “Several major personal care companies are evaluating the performance benefits of the Hydresia ingredient, and we are optimistic that we will expand our sales base significantly in 2008 based on continued consumer demand for performance naturals,” said Andrew Baum, president and CEO, SemBioSys.