Raw material safety is the “lifeline” of cosmetics. Since the implementation of the “Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations” and related regulations, both regulatory authorities and the market have unprecedented attention to the safety of cosmetic raw materials.
In Guangzhou, there is a local raw material trading company that has embedded raw material safety, quality, and innovative efficacy in its corporate DNA since its inception. This company is Guangzhou Jizhou Trading Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Guangzhou Jizhou” hereinafter). It is reported that Guangzhou Jizhou, starting from the agency of cosmetic raw materials, has advanced all the way, not only achieving independent research and production of cosmetic raw materials but also making several breakthroughs in raw material technology. Its dedication to product innovation is also a significant force supporting the high-quality development of domestic cosmetic raw materials.
From agency to independent research and development and production, Guangzhou Jizhou has focused on active ingredient efficacy for 14 years.
Public information indicates that Guangzhou Jizhou was officially established in 2009, with Lin Zhufeng as the company’s founder. Guangzhou Jizhou is a professional importer of innovative active ingredient raw materials. In 2012, to better serve its customers, Guangzhou Jizhou established a high-standard efficacy care laboratory equipped with testing instruments for efficacy ingredients and stability tests.
With the continuous development and growth of the company, in 2016, Guangzhou Jizhou further promoted foreign research and development cooperation, university-industry collaboration, and formed a team for safe innovation in high-efficiency raw materials, officially beginning the path of independent research and development of cosmetic raw materials. In 2019, Lin Zhufeng established Guangzhou Jizhou’s first self-owned factory in Zhengzhou, Henan Province: Zhengzhou Coma Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and the early-stage research projects were also industrialized. Thus, step by step, Guangzhou Jizhou completed a splendid transformation from a cosmetic raw material trading company to independent research and production of cosmetic raw materials.
It is understood that since its establishment, Guangzhou Jizhou has been focusing on the research of high-quality, innovative, and highly effective active ingredients. Currently, the company sells over 50 types of cosmetic active ingredients. Their popular products like PLANT 21 Soothing Repair Agent (relieves redness and itching in ten minutes) and Plant Acne Remover EG (fully removes acne in 2-4 days) have been used by many top brand OEM factories in the industry and have received high market recognition.
Based on the accumulation and precipitation in the industry over the past 14 years, Guangzhou Jizhou has earned a good market reputation, receiving praise from many industry professionals for its effectiveness and safety of ingredients as well as its services. It is reported that some brand clients have been cooperating with Guangzhou Jizhou for up to 10 years.
Guangzhou Jizhou innovates in research and development and production technology, breaking through technical barriers in raw materials.
It is well known that in recent years, due to various factors such as the pandemic, weak consumer demand, and new regulations, many enterprises have been phased out of the market. However, Guangzhou Jizhou’s sales performance has continued to increase year by year, and from 2021 to the present, the company has held large industry exchange meetings every year. The company’s efficacious active ingredients have been sold to over 3,000 enterprises nationwide, with cooperative clients including top domestic and international enterprises and well-known brands.
The reason Guangzhou Jizhou has gained recognition from numerous cosmetics companies is closely related to the company’s consistent focus on innovative research and development and continuous breakthroughs in raw material technology.
Taking the common cosmetic ingredient salicylic acid as an example, Guangzhou Jizhou has successfully prepared supramolecular salicylic acid using advanced biomimetic encapsulation technology. This has improved the application drawbacks of salicylic acid in formulations, such as instability, tendency to precipitate, high irritability, and low bioavailability. They have achieved sustained, gentle, non-irritating, and stable release of salicylic acid, significantly enhancing its compatibility in formulations and efficacy.
In the preparation of supramolecular encapsulated salicylic acid, Guangzhou Jizhou utilizes advanced biomimetic encapsulation technology, including biomimetic-driven self-assembly technology, ONIOM algorithm for molecular simulation, and low-temperature supercritical fluid rapid expansion crystallization. By linking the acid functional group of salicylic acid and the functional group of amino acids in the same proportion through covalent bonds using molecular coupling technology, they have created a salicylic acid with a unique chemical stereostructure. This positioning of salicylic acid within its linear structure reduces its irritability. Through molecular simulation, they efficiently found the optimal encapsulation method, ensuring stable encapsulation of salicylic acid by cyclodextrin. Finally, through low-temperature supercritical fluid rapid expansion crystallization, they obtained encapsulated salicylic acid with smaller particle size, higher solubility, and purity.
According to Lin Zhufeng, the biomimetic encapsulation technology employed by Guangzhou Jizhou controls molecular assembly and release, achieving gradual penetration, slow release, and reduced irritation, thereby presenting different functions under specific conditions.
Another example is the 4D biological enzyme “Enzyme Artifact,” hailed as a flagship topical skincare black technology material. The 4D biological enzyme intelligently identifies obsolete keratin below pH 5.5 on the skin without damaging new cells, making it suitable for sensitive skin. By hydrolyzing the bridging peptide of arginine/lysine carboxylic acid, it disrupts the cornified cell layer to peel off obsolete keratin without damaging the dermis, renewing the skin with enzymes and offering a sustainable whitening scientific solution.
In enhancing the enzymatic activity preservation of papain and improving compatibility and stability in formulations, Guangzhou Jizhou has ingeniously constructed a sustained-release framework using their exclusive processed small nuclear gel triple helix structure. This allows papain to be regularly spatially arranged in a unique matrix environment, combining in a “rotating ladder-like” manner with the action sites of the small nuclear gel, forming a stable, unique perfect three-dimensional spatial structure that ensures the enzyme activity density in the system. Through this exclusive technology, the preserved enzymatic activity of papain post-curing is more complete and enduring, the formulation system is more stable, and compatibility is stronger.
It is reported that this black technology has garnered widespread market recognition and unanimous praise for its gentleness, immediacy, effectiveness, and formulation compatibility, addressing pain points in the enzyme field. Especially under the implementation of standard acid brushing regulations, it has introduced new trends and directions to the industry such as “enzyme skin renewal, acid-free brushing, enzymatic skin renewal.” This has led many emerging brands, top domestic brands, and international brands to incorporate this 4D biological enzyme material from Guangzhou Jizhou into their products.
To Lin Zhufeng, “Cosmetics is an industry that requires continuous updating and iteration, a perfect combination of technology and art.”
It is evident that in its raw material research and development process, Guangzhou Jizhou has, to enhance its core industry competitiveness, innovatively upgraded raw materials through biomimetic encapsulation technology and sustained-release framework technology, breaking through technical barriers in stability, solubility, and biological activity of materials. Undoubtedly, such technological innovations have further expanded Guangzhou Jizhou’s influence within the industry. The company’s steadfast dedication to raw material innovation for 14 years is a key factor in China’s domestic raw materials breaking through international raw material bottlenecks.
Of note, Lin Zhufeng has also established several companies including Donglianhai (Guangdong) Innovative Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Advanced Regenerative Medical Technology Co., Ltd., and Guangzhou JizhouCosmetics is an industry that requires continuous updating and iteration, a perfect combination of technology and art. Guangzhou Jizhou, through its innovative research and development efforts and breakthroughs in raw material technology, has gained recognition from numerous cosmetics companies.
For example, they have developed supramolecular salicylic acid using advanced biomimetic encapsulation technology, which addresses the instability, irritability, and low bioavailability issues associated with traditional salicylic acid formulations. This technology enables sustained and stable release of salicylic acid, enhancing its compatibility and efficacy in cosmetic formulations.
Additionally, Guangzhou Jizhou has introduced a 4D biological enzyme called “Enzyme Artifact,” which intelligently identifies and removes obsolete keratin on the skin without damaging new cells. This enzyme offers a sustainable whitening solution and has been well-received for its gentleness, effectiveness, and formulation compatibility.
Furthermore, the company has innovated in the preservation of enzymatic activity of papain by constructing a sustained-release framework using a unique processed small nuclear gel triple helix structure. This technology ensures the enzyme’s activity density in the system, leading to improved stability and compatibility in formulations.
Overall, Guangzhou Jizhou’s focus on technological innovation and breakthroughs in raw material development has not only enhanced its competitiveness in the cosmetics industry but also positioned it as a leader in introducing cutting-edge solutions to the market.
Guangzhou Jizhou regards raw material safety as its “lifeline”.
In addition to technological breakthroughs and product innovation, Guangzhou Jizhou’s regulation of product raw material safety is also very stringent, considering it as the “lifeline” of the company’s development.
It is worth noting that Guangzhou Jizhou not only actively responds to regulations but also leads the industry, and even new industry regulations, in conducting third-party efficacy evaluations of raw materials.
The company’s core raw materials, such as PLANT 21 soothing repair agent, plant acne factor EG, 4D biological enzymes, and plant oil-control and pore-tightening agents, have been actively subjected to third-party comprehensive targeted efficacy testing reports since as early as 2016. They have now completed a full set of safety assessments, including acute skin irritation tests, acute eye irritation tests, skin sensitization tests, skin phototoxicity tests, skin photoallergy tests, subchronic dermal toxicity tests, and genetic toxicity tests. This pioneering move has helped in the implementation of new regulations, assisting brand clients in smoother completion of filing-related work, and has also spurred a trend among domestic raw material suppliers to provide efficacy testing reports, promoting the industry’s healthy development.
Although the full implementation of safety assessments has been slightly delayed, the execution of this policy is imperative. Industry experts have previously stated that “the landing of full safety assessments will trigger a reshuffle among raw material suppliers, with companies that have the ability to provide complete safety assessments having a greater competitive advantage.” Clearly, Guangzhou Jizhou has been prepared for the implementation of this significant new regulation, gaining an advantage for further development.
It is noteworthy that on July 14 of this year, the third-party organization Zhongjian Kejian randomly sampled two different batches of raw materials from Guangzhou Jizhou’s warehouse for inspection. The test results showed that the PLANT 21 soothing repair agent and the plant acne factor EG raw materials were safe and compliant, including testing for 63 hormone items and other risk substances. It is understood that Zhongjian Kejian is a testing institution designated by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for cosmetics registration and filing testing, and is also the Tianjin branch of the China Academy of Inspection and Quarantine Sciences. Its testing capabilities and technical expertise are beyond doubt, and the test results once again confirmed the safety and compliance of Jizhou’s raw materials.
Undoubtedly, clear efficacy of cosmetic raw materials is more beneficial for downstream factories and brand enterprises to conduct third-party efficacy testing of cosmetics, and having a complete safety assessment report also helps brand companies smoothly carry out cosmetics filing work. It is evident that Guangzhou Jizhou has always put its 12-word corporate motto of “Helping customers achieve mutual success and grow together” into practice.
Safe, efficient, and compliant cosmetic raw materials are the “core” of the industry’s flourishing development. For a company focused on innovative active ingredient products, innovation is the core vitality for sustainable development. Guangzhou Jizhou’s steadfast commitment to the safety of cosmetic “cores” and its dedication to high innovation for 14 years not only safeguard cosmetic raw material safety but also set a benchmark for the development of local cosmetic raw material enterprises.
