What Ultra Chemical does

Ultra Chemical is a privately held, family-owned supplier of customized ingredients and specialized services for the personal care industry, headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey with a European regional headquarters in Amsterdam (Ultra Chemical BV). The company serves personal care brands of all sizes, from emerging start-ups to established multinational manufacturers, across skin care, hair care, scalp care, sun care, and color cosmetics. Its core proposition is acting as a regional — and in some cases global — exclusive distributor for upstream specialty ingredient manufacturers, combined with formulation support, technical documentation, and complimentary sample fulfillment.

The product portfolio consists of 41 ingredients organized into three categories: Actives & Biofunctionals (24), Functional Naturals (16), and Film Forming Polymers (1). The technical centerpiece is the Bicosome® dual encapsulation delivery platform — originally developed by Bicosome Company (a 2012 spin-out of the IQAC/CSIC in Spain) — which uses internal smart discs enclosed in external lipid vesicles to target active ingredients to specific skin layers. The brand extends this platform into Bicoalgae, Bicohair, Bicobiome, Bicomide, Bicosome FS, Bicowhite, and Bicotene lines. The remainder of the portfolio is sourced and re-supplied from partners including Algenol (algae extracts), EverZinc/EverCare (Zano® zinc oxide, Xperse® dispersions), Gobiotics by Sweetch (skin microbiota prebiotics), Jojoba Desert (jojoba oils), and Sappi (Valida cellulose), with multiple ingredients certified COSMOS, NaTrue, ECOCERT, Halal, and Kosher.

Go-to-market is direct to B2B customers via the ultracem.com website (with a $0.00 sample ordering system), supported by LinkedIn, email newsletters, and technical webinars. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified (2023) and earned a 2024 Bronze EcoVadis rating alongside SBTi target approval and CDP disclosure. With 11-50 employees, no disclosed funding, no parent company, and two jurisdictional entities, Ultra Chemical operates as a focused, profitable specialty distribution and formulation-support business with no public revenue, headcount, or unit economics data.

Name

Ultra Chemical

Legal name

Ultra Chemical, Inc.

Website

https://ultrachem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ultra Chemical is a privately held, family-owned specialty ingredient distributor supplying customized actives, biofunctionals, and functional naturals to personal care brands in the US, Canada, and Europe, with anchor technology in the patented Bicosome® dual encapsulation delivery platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Care Specialty Ingredients

NAICS

Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends) (CRADAOAO)

Keywords

• Personal care ingredients
• Cosmetic actives
• Functional naturals
• Skincare formulation ingredients
• Specialty ingredients distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Bank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ingredients and Biofunctional Sales: Sale of actives, biofunctionals, functional naturals, and specialized ingredients to personal care and cosmetics manufacturers. Products include Bicosome-based delivery systems, algae extracts, natural oils, emulsifiers, and performance ingredients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ultra Chemical supplies and distributes a portfolio of 41 customized ingredients and biofunctional actives for the personal care industry, spanning Actives & Biofunctionals, Functional Naturals, and Film Forming Polymers. The company supplies both proprietary Bicosome®-based delivery technologies and partner-manufactured ingredients (Algenol algae extracts, EverZinc/EverCare zinc oxides, Gobiotics prebiotics, Jojoba Desert oils, Sappi Valida cellulose), serving skin care, hair care, scalp care, sun care, and color cosmetics manufacturers.

Product overview

Ultra Chemical is a supplier of ingredients for the personal care industry with a portfolio of 41 products spanning three main categories: Actives & Biofunctionals (24 products), Functional Naturals (16 products), and Film Forming Polymers (1 product). The company's products are science-based ingredients targeting skin, hair, scalp, and sun care as well as color cosmetics. Key technology platforms include Bicosome® delivery systems (Bicoalgae, Bicohair, Bicosome, Bicotene, Bicowhite, Bicobiome, Bicomide) that enable targeted delivery of active ingredients to specific skin layers using lipid-based nanostructures. The portfolio also includes Jojoba-based ingredients (JD Jojoba Oil, JD Lusteris, JD Phyto-OR), Vitamin C derivatives (K3 Vita-C, K3 Vita-CG, K3 Vita-Bright), hyaluronic acid (K3 HA), prebiotic ingredients (BIOLIN/P, preBIULIN products), functional naturals (Gosulin, Inutec, StabiCare, Valida), and mineral sunscreen actives (Zano zinc oxides, Xperse dispersions). Ultra Chemical operates as a distributor for partner manufacturers including Bicosome, Algenol, EverCare, Gobiotics by Sweetch, Jojoba Desert, and Sappi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bicosome® FS Natural origin delivery system restoring the skin's lipid matrix structure via biomimetic filler, reducing water loss and improving skin elasticity and firmness with a 7-day long-lasting effect. Sold to personal care formulators targeting skin care applications.
• Bicoalgae® Blue Designed for senescent skin, combining blue microalgae (Spirulina Platensis) and red fruit polyphenols (Resveratrol) in a Bicosome smart nanostructure to defend against effects of senescent cells, clinically proven to improve hydration and elasticity. Supplied in the U.S. and Canada.
• Bicoalgae® γ3 (Omega-3) Natural origin delivery system providing targeted delivery of two microalgae extracts rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), clinically proven for barrier function, melanin reduction, and disorders related to chronically inflamed skin. For personal care skin formulations.
• Bicoalgae® XT Natural origin delivery system providing targeted delivery of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus Pluvialis algae, clinically proven for wrinkle reduction, blue light protection, accelerated cell renewal, and increased brightness. For personal care skin formulations.
• Bicobiome® Multi-component system delivering Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, and Lactobacillus Ferment using Bicosome technology, clinically proven to reduce sebum production, desquamation, and combat oiliness in mature skin and oily scalp. For personal care skin and scalp care.
• Bicohair® HP Novel Bicosome system protecting hair from heat tool damage, restoring hydration, controlling static charge flyaway effect, and offering wash-off resistant thermal damage protection. For hair care formulators.
• Bicohair® UP Shield protector against urban pollution damages, preventing metal deposition, protecting hair proteins and color from UV light, and reducing color loss from sun and daily washing. For hair care formulators.
• Bicomide® Delivery system providing targeted delivery of Niacinamide to epidermis and follicles for sebum control, reducing appearance of large pores and improving acne-prone skin. For personal care skin formulations.
• Bicotene® Natural Natural origin delivery system for beta-carotene (precursor to pro-retinol) that prevents oxidative stress, DNA and collagen damage from sun exposure, and stabilizes delivery of beta-carotene with 8x more effective skin penetration than liposome systems. For sun care and skin care formulations.
• Bicowhite® Complex Natural origin delivery system with targeted delivery of 5 different whitening ingredients for clinically proven dark spot reduction, with no photosensitivity for year-round use. For skin brightening personal care formulations.
• ALRedux Purified extract of sulfated polysaccharides from the red microalgae Porphyridium cruentum, offering anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and inhibiting hyaluronidase and elastase enzymes that break down HA and elastin. For skin care actives formulations.
• ALRenue PS Extraction of sulfated polysaccharides from Porphyridium cruentum red microalgae that acts as a line of defense against inflammation, oxidation and enzymes that break down the dermal matrix. For skin care actives formulations.
• Assure+ Booster for mineral-based sunscreens made from Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, providing 20-40% SPF and UVA-PF boosting properties while maintaining UVA-PF to SPF ratios. For sun care formulations.
• JD Lusteris Jojoba-based ingredient providing silky sensorial effect for skin and hair care, improving sebum control, soothing skin, and offering hair breakage improvement and scalp hydration. For skin and hair care formulations.
• JD Phyto-OR 1% Oil soluble anti-aging active featuring JD Jojoba Oil and concentrated Phytoene from non-GMO fungi, protecting from ROS from pollution and UV while improving skin elasticity and firmness. For anti-aging skin care formulations.
• K3 HA Effective moisturizing agent available in multiple molecular weight grades (3-10 kDa or 10-200 kDa) for various skin hydration applications. For skin care moisturizing formulations.
• K3 Vita-Bright Stable, water-soluble skin brightening agent (Aminopropyl Kojyl Phosphate) for ease of use in formulations. For skin brightening personal care formulations.
• K3 Vita-C Highly stable water-soluble Vitamin C derivative (Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate) effective in collagen synthesis at very low usage levels without discoloration. For skin care anti-aging formulations.
• K3 Vita-CG Stable Vitamin C derivative (Ascorbyl Glucoside) that helps fight free radicals and brightens skin. For skin care antioxidant formulations.
• BIOLIN/P Natural prebiotic based on inulin from chicory root that helps rebalance the skin's microbiota and has been clinically proven to prevent reoccurrence of severe skin conditions. For skin care prebiotic formulations.
• preBIULIN AGA Natural prebiotic based on inulin from chicory root, sun root, and agave that outperforms hyaluronic acid for skin hydration and helps restore skin microbiota after UV exposure. For skin care hydration formulations.
• preBIULIN FOS Natural prebiotic based on inulin from chicory root that selectively supports protective organisms to restore microbiota layer after disruptions. For skin care prebiotic formulations.
• Xperse® Range of stable, well-dispersed zinc oxide and titanium dioxide dispersions for superior UVA/UVB protection, available in multiple variants with different particle sizes and carriers. For sun care formulations.
• Zano® Zinc oxide mineral sunscreens with superior UVA/UVB protection, natural, non-penetrating, and photostable. Available in multiple variants (Zano 10, Zano 20, Zano M) with different transparency and protection profiles. For sun care formulations.
• JD Jojoba Oil Natural moisturizer mimicking human sebum with multiple product variants (Golden, Colorless, Organic versions), offering cell proliferation potential and anti-inflammatory properties. For skin and hair care formulations.
• Gosulin Agave Unique sensorial film former derived from Agave Tequilana nectar, acting as a natural alternative to silicone elastomers with improved spreadability and long-lasting skin softening effect. For skin care formulations.
• Gosulin IL Vegetable-based emollient from renewable sources (Sugar and Coconut) with silicone-like functions offering excellent spreadability and acting as a dispersing agent. For skin care formulations.
• Gosulin® Cloud Natural hair styling polymer imparting strong film while leaving hair flexible, soft, and flake-free, performing well in mist sprays without ethanol. For hair styling formulations.
• Gosulin® Hold Synergistic blend of natural polysaccharides combining styling and conditioning benefits with lasting hair hydration, using upcycled cellulose and Agave Tequilana. For hair styling and care formulations.
• Gosulin® Rice New generation rice starch from Mediterranean organic rice for purifying oily skin, with ideal amylose/amylopectin ratio for non-sticky ultra-small uniform particle size. For skin care formulations targeting oily skin.
• Gosulin® Style Blend of natural polysaccharides from sustainable agave and upcycled fermentation of molasses providing natural and flexible hair feel with curl retention. For hair styling formulations.
• Inutec® H25P Highly purified inulin-based skin and hair conditioner forming smooth film on skin and hair, particularly effective in rinse-off products and retaining perfume and oil components. For skin and hair care formulations.
• Inutec® SL1 Natural O/W emulsifier made from inulin extracted from chicory root and lauric acid from coconut oil, robust and versatile with hot and cold processing compatibility. For skin care emulsification.
• Neocare P3R Natural W/O emulsifier that is fully biodegradable and COSMOS certified, working in cold or warm formulation (-18°C to 50°C) with skin barrier hydration benefits. For natural skin care formulations.
• preBIULIN C90 Prebiotic emulsion stabilizer and thickener based on purified native inulin from chicory root, natural replacement for acrylate-based thickeners with SLS-free system compatibility. For skin care formulations.
• Remytec F-1 Native rice starch micro abrasive cleanser with perfect round shape for gentle scrubbing and cleaning, removing dead skin cells while leaving protective lipids. For exfoliating skin care formulations.
• StabiCare™ BLOOM Easy-to-use natural emulsifier compatible with all oils, optimized to reduce surface tension of water for emulsion formation at minimal energy. For skin care formulations.
• StabiCare™ COLD Natural cold process O/W emulsifier functioning in wide variety of applications with light after-feel on skin. For skin care cold-process formulations.
• Ultrapure Bamboo Exfoliator Natural exfoliant made from bamboo stems, green alternative to PE beads with silica content over 75%, biodegradable and compostable. For exfoliating skin care formulations.
• Valida Highly fibrillated cellulose stabilizing particles in suspension and O/W emulsions without emulsifier, with thixotropic properties for sprays and wrinkle-filling blurring effect. For skin care and color cosmetic formulations.
• Ultrapure Polymer 2055 Water-dispersed Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) polymer micro-emulsion providing film formation with fast-drying, water-resistant, crystal clear and smudge-proof properties. For color cosmetics and film-forming personal care applications.
• Specialized technical support and formulation guidance services Technical guidance, application support, and customized ingredient solutions provided to personal care manufacturers for product development and formulation optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bicotene Natural provides 8x more effective skin penetration of beta-carotene compared to liposome systems
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bicosome CompanycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2012Bicosome Company develops and commercializes advanced skincare ingredients based on a patented proprietary platform, the Bicosome® technology. Founded in 2012 by scientists specializing in skin tissue, biophysics of lipids, lipid structuration and surfactants. The company was created in the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Ultra Chemical is the supplier of Bicosome® products in parts of the US and Canada.
• AlgenolcoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal biotechnology company that develops all-natural algae products and customized biology solutions. Uses fundamental science paired with revolutionary technology to convert algae into high purity commercial products. Algenol developed an advanced R&D facility enabling product development from benchtop through manufacturing all in one location. Ultra is the global supplier for Algenol products including ALRedux and ALRenue PS.
• EverZinc/EverCarecoreTechnology or IntegrationEverZinc is a global leader in production of zinc chemicals with four product lines: fine zinc powders, zinc oxide, zinc powders for batteries and Zano®, an ultrafine zinc oxide. EverCare was established to have dedicated focus on innovation, supply, and service for Zano® and Xperse® product lines for sun and skin care, cosmetics and packaging. Ultra is the supplier of Zano® and Xperse® products in parts of the US and Canada.
• Gobiotics by SweetchcoreTechnology or IntegrationInnovative company with focus on skin microbiota since 2002. Develops sustainable solutions to protect skin and make cosmetic products milder and safer through skin microbiota. Produces natural and vegan raw materials for personal care using only renewable vegetable sources. Product offerings include natural and functional prebiotics, natural conditioners, emulsifiers, emollients and cleansers. Ultra is the supplier of Gobiotics in parts of the US.
• Jojoba DesertcoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld's leading jojoba oil manufacturer, based in the Israeli desert. Provides various jojoba oil-based products with innovative products, stable supply and responsible leadership. As a cooperative settlement (Kibbutz) owned entity, they leverage over 25 years of experience. Products include JD Jojoba Oil, JD Lusteris, and JD Phyto-OR 1%. Ultra is the supplier of Jojoba Desert in parts of the US.
• SappicoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal diversified wood fiber group focused on dissolving pulp, paper-based solutions, and high-quality functional biomaterials. Committed to sustainability and building a bio-based circular economy. Produces Valida, a highly fibrillated cellulose for personal care formulations. Ultra is the supplier of Sappi in certain regions of the US.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coast Southwest: Specialty distributor of personal care ingredients serving brand manufacturers in North America with a comparable hybrid model of exclusive supplier partnerships, formulation support, and direct sales to indie and mid-market customers.
• Centerchem: Specialty ingredient distributor focused on personal care, food, and industrial markets with a similar partnership-driven model supplying bioactives, naturals, and functional ingredients to brand manufacturers.
• Azelis: Global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with a substantial personal care vertical, offering exclusive supplier partnerships and technical formulation support across naturals, actives, and functional ingredients.
• Seppic (Air Liquide): Specialty ingredients supplier for personal care with comparable focus on bioactives, emulsifiers, and formulation support, serving brand manufacturers with science-backed specialty ingredients.
• Charkit Chemical: Specialty distributor of personal care and cosmetic ingredients with a similar partnership-based sourcing model and focus on differentiated actives and naturals for personal care formulators.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Global specialty chemicals leader with a large Personal Care division offering actives, botanicals, and delivery technologies that overlap with Ultra Chemical's portfolio, but at vastly greater scale and with owned manufacturing.
• Ashland: Diversified specialty chemicals company with a Life Sciences / Personal Care portfolio spanning biofunctionals, rheology modifiers, and preservation — overlapping Ultra Chemical's actives and functional naturals categories.
• Evonik (Care Solutions): Global specialty chemicals group with a Care Solutions business supplying specialty actives, silicones alternatives, and delivery systems to personal care brand manufacturers across multiple categories.
• Symrise (Cosmetic Ingredients): Major fragrance and flavor house with a Cosmetic Ingredients division supplying bioactives, botanicals, and functional naturals to personal care brands, competing with Ultra Chemical across actives and naturals.
• Lubrizol Life Science (Beauty): Diversified specialty chemicals business with a Beauty and Personal Care division offering polymers, actives, and formulation ingredients that overlap with Ultra Chemical's film-forming polymers and biofunctional categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ultra-chemical
• Xx.com/ultrachemical

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ultra Chemical