SILAB

What SILAB does

SILAB S.A. is a French, privately-held specialty ingredient manufacturer founded in 1984 in Saint-Viance, Corrèze, that develops, produces, and markets efficacy-validated biological active ingredients of natural origin for the global cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics industry. The company's product portfolio is organized around two business lines — SILAB Cosmetics (active ingredients for healthy skin and hair, including anti-aging, moisturizing, firming, soothing, and scalp care) and SILAB Softcare (dermo-cosmetic solutions for compromised skin, including atopic dermatitis, acne, and wound healing) — supported by a proprietary technology stack spanning SILABSKIN® (skin analysis and ingredient development), SILAFILM® (dry film delivery platform), patented natural peptide extraction processes, FHB technology for chestnut-derived biopolymers, biotechnology platforms, cutaneous microbiota research, digital imaging, and spray drying preservation. All ingredients comply with the ISO 16128 standard for natural origin and are backed by clinical and consumer efficacy studies. SILAB monetizes through direct B2B sales of ingredients to cosmetics manufacturers worldwide, with multi-year contract pricing (specific values not publicly disclosed) and a distribution network spanning wholly-owned subsidiaries in the USA, China, and Japan/Northeast Asia; 60% of revenue is generated internationally. The company employs nearly 400 staff (93% on permanent contracts) on a single 75,000 m² integrated campus that combines laboratories, production, logistics, and an on-site 5-hectare Agronomic Studies and Research Center, and holds AFNOR/ISO standards-setting mandates including leadership of the GT4 Terminology working group on ISO 16128.

Name

SILAB

Legal name

Société Industrielle Limousine d'Application Biologique (SILAB)

Website

https://silab.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SILAB is a privately-held French specialty manufacturer founded in 1984 that develops and markets clinically-validated natural-origin active ingredients for the global cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics industry, supplying B2B customers across skin care, hair care, and dermo-cosmetic formulations from a single integrated site in Saint-Viance, France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Active Ingredients

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

Keywords

• Cosmetic active ingredients
• Natural ingredient manufacturing
• Dermo-cosmetic formulations
• Biotechnology cosmetic ingredients
• Hair care actives

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-viance

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Active Ingredient Sales: SILAB develops, manufactures, and markets efficacy-proved biological active ingredients of natural origin to the cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics industry. Revenue is generated through ingredient sales to cosmetic manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SILAB develops, manufactures, and markets efficacy-proved biological active ingredients of natural origin for the global cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics industry. Its portfolio of more than 100 active ingredients is organized into two business lines—SILAB Cosmetics (skin care and hair care) and SILAB Softcare (compromised skin)—and is built on proprietary extraction and processing technologies including SILABSKIN®, SILAFILM®, and patented natural peptide processes.

Product overview

SILAB develops, manufactures, and markets efficacy-proved biological active ingredients of natural origin for the cosmetics and dermo-cosmetic industry. The portfolio consists of two main product lines—SILAB Cosmetics for healthy skin and beauty applications, and SILAB Softcare for compromised skin—supported by the proprietary SILAFILM® technology platform. Key active ingredients include LIFTILIENCE® (phytopolymer for tensor effects), EXFOLACTIVE® (nopal-derived exfoliant), NEOLIPYL® (moisturizer), LONGEVICELL® (anti-aging), SENEVISIUM® (senescent cell clearance), EPIGENOMYL® (epigenetic anti-aging), and CICACTYL® (wound healing). All ingredients comply with ISO 16128 natural origin standards and international cosmetic regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SILAFILM®: Dry films from a unique technology combining naturalness and performance for cosmetic applications
• SILABSKIN®
• Actively Caring
• Fondation d'entreprise SILAB Jean Paufique

Products and services

• LIFTILIENCE® Natural active ingredient composed of chestnut functionalized helical biopolymers with triple action combining film-forming effect, retractation capacity, and adhesion properties. Used in skin care and hair care formulations for textured hair.
• EXFOLACTIVE® Natural active ingredient derived from Tunisian nopal flowers, designed for scalp exfoliating and hair care applications with demonstrated dandruff reduction, hydration, and comfort benefits.
• NEOLIPYL® Natural active ingredient providing a bulwark against skin dryness, designed for moisturizing and repairing skin care formulations.
• LONGEVICELL®

Quantifiable outcome

• LIFTILIENCE® reduces frizz surface area by 30% and immediately improves curl definition for up to 8 hours with mean satisfaction score of 8.0/10
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UEBT (Union for Ethical BioTrade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB has been a member of UEBT since 2021, reaffirming its commitment to respectful sourcing of humans and biodiversity. The company uses UEBT's standard for guaranteeing strong ethics in botanical raw material supply chains, addressing social and environmental impacts while placing biodiversity at the heart of priorities.
• RFAR (Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Relations Charter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB signed the RFAR Charter in 2024, joining over 3,000 signatories around 10 commitments dedicated to sustainable purchasing approach, combining economic rigor, mutual respect, and integration of environmental and societal challenges.
• CNA (Conseil National des Achats)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB is part of the National Purchase Council, a national network of nearly 20,000 professionals supporting evolution toward strategic models in favor of sustainable innovation and better practices.
• Cosmetic ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB participates as a key member of Cosmetic Valley. Brigitte CLOSS-GONTHIER serves as Vice-President of the Board. SILAB is a founding patron of the Maison de la Cosmétique project. The company contributes to the development of French cosmetic innovation.
• BeeOdiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for biodiversity monitoring through beehives installed at supplier sites. Analysis of collected pollen maps local plant life and detects potential deficiencies for targeted action plans.
• Save Coastal WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB Inc. (US subsidiary) partnered with Save Coastal Wildlife for Jersey Shore fragile ecosystems protection, including dune plant transplantation and waste collection.
• CDC BiodiversitéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation with CDC Biodiversité (Caisse des dépôts subsidiary) in the Nature 2050 program to adapt territories to climate change by 2050, financing preservation of biodiversity equivalent to constructed surface area.
• Centre National de la Propriété Forestière (CNPF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for reforestation projects in Nouvelle-Aquitaine region as part of sustainable forest management, covering over 4 hectares with potential climate benefit of 800+ tCO2 over 30 years.
• AFNOR and ISOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB holds expert technical mandates with AFNOR and ISO for ISO 16128 standard. Delphine CREEL animates the AFNOR working group (GT4 Terminology) and leads Naturalité representation at AFNOR and ISO.
• Fair for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILAB sources botanical raw materials with Fair for Life certification (nopal flower and meadowsweet) and Fair Trade certification (coconut) even when manufacturing non-certified products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Naolys: Naolys is a France-based specialist in natural cosmetic active ingredients developed through proprietary cellular biotechnologies—directly competing with SILAB as a similarly sized French boutique supplier of bioengineered cosmetic actives for skincare and dermo-cosmetics.
• Solabia Group: Solabia is a French family-owned specialty ingredients producer focused on biotechnologies and plant-based actives for cosmetics, nutrition, and microbiology—directly overlapping with SILAB's biotechnology platforms and natural active ingredient offerings.
• Lucas Meyer Cosmetics (IFF): Acquired by International Flavors & Fragrances, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics develops phospholipid-based and naturally-derived active ingredients for skincare and dermo-cosmetics, directly competing with SILAB's portfolio of scientifically-validated natural bioactives.
• Croda International: Croda's Personal Care division develops and supplies specialty active ingredients and botanical extracts to cosmetic and dermo-cosmetic manufacturers worldwide, competing head-to-head with SILAB in the natural-origin actives category across skin and hair care.
• Seppic (Air Liquide): Seppic, a France-based subsidiary of Air Liquide, develops and markets specialty excipients, active ingredients, and botanical extracts for the cosmetics, dermo-cosmetic, and personal care industries—sharing SILAB's French specialty chemical heritage and B2B ingredient supply model.
• Symrise (Personal Care): Symrise's Cosmetic Ingredients division supplies bioactive and naturally-derived ingredients for skin, hair, and sun care applications to global cosmetics brands, directly competing with SILAB in efficacy-proved natural actives, particularly through its Diana division's botanical expertise.
• Provital Group: Provital is a Barcelona-based specialty ingredient manufacturer producing natural and biotechnology-derived cosmetic active ingredients for skin and hair care—competing directly with SILAB in the natural efficacy-proved actives category across global beauty markets.
• Givaudan Active Beauty: Givaudan's Active Beauty division is the global leader in natural and biotech-derived cosmetic active ingredients for skin and hair care, directly competing with SILAB across anti-aging, moisturizing, and dermo-cosmetic categories with overlapping B2B ingredient supply models.

Broad incumbents

• Evonik Personal Care: Evonik's Personal Care & Hygiene division provides specialty ingredients including bioactive peptides, ceramides, and cosmetic actives—a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities to SILAB but a much wider portfolio spanning non-cosmetic applications.
• BASF Personal Care: BASF's Care Chemicals division supplies a broad portfolio of cosmetic ingredients including actives, UV filters, and surfactants to global cosmetic manufacturers—overlapping with SILAB but operating at a much larger scale across many chemical categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoApIkAv29QwvDSvhRx425w
• Facebookfacebook.com/SILABgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silab
• Instagraminstagram.com/silabgroup
• Xx.com/SILAB_FR

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SILAB