Azeco Cosmeceuticals

What Azeco Cosmeceuticals does

Azeco Cosmeceuticals B.V. is a Dutch B2B specialty ingredients supplier founded in 2014 by John Herfs and headquartered in Herten, the Netherlands. The company manufactures and distributes cosmetic-grade active ingredients — most notably Azepur99®, a vegetable-derived azelaic acid with greater than 99% purity produced from European-origin raw materials — to cosmetics formulators targeting acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and hair-loss indications. Its portfolio has expanded beyond azelaic acid into two microalgae-derived actives: Lady Purple®, an upcycled extract from Porphyridium cruentum produced through an enzymatic process by partner Active Cells Biotechnology s.r.l., and TetraGold®, a bioactivated complex from Tetraselmis suecica fermentation enriched with Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic yeast. These ingredients are positioned for dermoprotective, hydration, sebum-control, and hyaluronic-acid-stimulating applications, with clinical efficacy claims including 13.6% wrinkle-depth reduction and a 33% hydration uplift after 28 days for Lady Purple®.

Azeco sells in bulk (1kg to 100,000kg order sizes) on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go model, offering 1KG and 10KG packaging, free sample kits to qualified industry buyers, and technical support across formulation development. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales backed by a multilingual (English, Spanish, French, German) website, sample-and-quote online forms, YouTube educational video series, a VIP Library of technical content, and active participation in In-Cosmetics Global and NYSCC Suppliers' Day trade shows. The customer base is horizontally segmented across large international cosmetics manufacturers and smaller indie brands focused on natural and clean beauty, with documented reach across more than 40 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Oceania. Distribution is primarily direct B2B from the Netherlands warehouse, supplemented by a UK distributor to address post-Brexit friction. Commercial operations carry ISO 9001:2015, COSMOS, Halal, Non-GMO, TSE/BSE, and vegan compliance certifications, and the company has received the 2024 Oranje Handelsmissiefonds (Dutch export support) and 2025 Pure Global Beauty Awards Gold for Lady Purple®.

The business remains founder-led (John Herfs as owner) with Claudie Kessels as CEO and a small management team, operating without disclosed external equity or debt financing. Recent strategic emphasis has shifted to US market entry, supported by the 2024 Dutch export award, capacity expansion via a November 2024 move to larger premises, and trade show investments targeting New York and Paris in 2026. Sister company Azelaic Products operates alongside Azeco with a shared azelaic acid focus.

Name

Azeco Cosmeceuticals

Legal name

Azeco Cosmeceuticals B.V.

Website

https://azeco-cosmeceuticals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Azeco Cosmeceuticals is a Dutch B2B supplier of cosmetic-grade active ingredients — including high-purity azelaic acid and microalgae-derived extracts — selling in bulk to international cosmetics manufacturers and indie brands across more than 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Active Ingredients

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Spice and Extract Manufacturing (311942)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments) (CRADANAE), Sensitive Skin & Barrier Repair (CRABAAAG)

Keywords

• Cosmetic active ingredients
• Azelaic acid supply
• Microalgae extracts
• Skincare raw materials
• B2B cosmetic ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Herten

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bulk Ingredient Sales: B2B bulk sales of cosmetic active ingredients (Azepur99®, Lady Purple®, TetraGold®) to cosmetics manufacturers. Products sold in quantities from 1kg to 100,000kg. Revenue generated through direct B2B transactions with personalized customer service and technical support throughout development process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Azeco Cosmeceuticals is a B2B supplier that manufactures and distributes high-purity cosmetic active ingredients for skincare, haircare, and scalpcare formulations. Its portfolio includes the trademarked Azepur99® (>99% purity azelaic acid from vegetable-based European-origin materials), Lady Purple® (upcycled microalgae extract from Porphyridium cruentum), and TetraGold® (bioactivated microalgae fermentation complex with probiotic yeast). Products are sold in bulk (1kg to 100,000kg) to cosmetics manufacturers worldwide, supported by technical documentation, sample kits, and personalized customer service.

Product overview

Azeco Cosmeceuticals is a B2B supplier of cosmetic active ingredients, offering a portfolio of three branded products: Azepur99® (the core high-purity azelaic acid ingredient for skin/hair care applications), Lady Purple® (an upcycled microalgae extract from Porphyridium cruentum for skincare with microbiome-balancing properties), and TetraGold® (a fermented microalgae complex for hydration and sebum control). The company operates as a raw ingredient supplier to cosmetic manufacturers rather than a consumer product brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Azepur99®: Cosmetic grade azelaic acid for skin- and haircare products, with purity levels above 99%
• Lady Purple®
• TetraGold®

Products and services

• Azepur99® A cosmetic-grade azelaic acid active ingredient (>99% purity) supplied as a micronized free-flowing powder for use in skincare, haircare, and scalpcare formulations targeting acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and hair growth. Sold to cosmetics manufacturers in bulk quantities from 1kg to 100,000kg with technical documentation and formulation support.
• Lady Purple® An upcycled microalgae extract produced from Porphyridium cruentum via a sustainable enzymatic upcycling process, rich in phycobiliproteins (phycoerythrin) and functional polysaccharides, with dermoprotective and microbiome-balancing properties. Distributed by Azeco and produced in partnership with Active Cells Biotechnology s.r.l. Clinical data: 13.6% reduction in wrinkle depth and 33% increase in hydration after 28 days.
• TetraGold® A bioactivated phytocomplex produced via advanced fermentation of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica and enriched with probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Designed to stimulate hyaluronic acid production, inhibit hyaluronidase, and reduce epidermal sebum production in skincare formulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lady Purple® clinical study: 13.6% reduction in wrinkle depth after 28 days
• +3 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

One partnership is on record.

• Active Cells Biotechnology s.r.l.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Cells Biotechnology s.r.l. produces Lady Purple® using the latest biotechnology. The ingredient is obtained through a sustainable upcycling process and distributed by Azeco Cosmeceuticals. Lady Purple® harnesses the potent benefits of microalgae for advanced skincare protection.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Givaudan Active Beauty: Largest fragrance and beauty ingredients house, offering biotech-derived and naturally sourced cosmetic actives. Comparable because it sells trademarked, clinically validated specialty actives (e.g., microbiome, hyaluronic acid-related systems) into the same cosmetics-manufacturer channel as Azeco, but at much greater scale and portfolio breadth.
• Croda International: Global specialty chemicals company with a large Personal Care business selling botanical extracts, bioactives, and claim-supported cosmetic ingredients. Closely comparable to Azeco's B2B cosmetic active ingredient model, but with vastly greater scale, R&D investment, and global sales coverage.
• Evonik Personal Care: Specialty silica-, biotech- and fermentation-derived actives and delivery systems for skincare and haircare. Overlaps with Azeco's biotech fermentation (TetraGold) and microalgae-derived positioning, while competing for the same formulators on sustainability and efficacy claims.
• Clariant Active Ingredients: Specialty chemical company with a personal care active ingredients business focused on natural and sustainable cosmetic actives. Comparable as a supplier of branded cosmetic actives with sustainability and efficacy positioning to formulators worldwide.
• Symrise (Diana Food & Cosmetic Ingredients): Diversified B2B ingredients supplier with cosmetic actives and natural extracts targeting skincare and personal care brands. Comparable in selling botanical- and biotech-derived ingredients to cosmetics manufacturers, but with significantly broader portfolio and geographic reach.
• DSM-Firmenich Personal Care & Aroma: Major ingredient house combining DSM's personal care actives (vitamins, UV filters, biotech ingredients) with Firmenich's fragrance and sensory portfolio. Comparable as a B2B supplier of branded, efficacy-validated cosmetic actives to global cosmetics manufacturers.

Direct peers

• Lucas Meyer Cosmetics (IFF): IFF's cosmetic actives business supplies phospholipid-based and biotechnology-derived ingredients to skincare and haircare brands globally. Directly comparable as a B2B supplier of branded, claim-supported specialty cosmetic actives sold into the same indie and large-brand customer base as Azeco.
• Seppic (Air Liquide): Supplies specialty cosmetic ingredients, including polymer-based and biotech actives, with strong clinical claim support for skincare and haircare formulators. Directly comparable as a mid-sized B2B specialty active supplier that uses clinical data and trade-show marketing to win formulation slots in the same accounts.

Emerging players

• Active Cells Biotechnology s.r.l. Italian biotech startup that produces Lady Purple® via an upcycling enzymatic process and supplies it to Azeco for distribution. Comparable because it operates in the same microalgae-derived cosmetic active ingredient space and is tightly connected to Azeco through its core partnership.

Others

• BASF Care Chemicals: Largest diversified chemical company's personal care division, offering a broad portfolio of cosmetic actives, UV filters, and polymers. Comparable as a B2B supplier of cosmetic actives to global cosmetics manufacturers, but at vastly greater scale and with internal R&D and manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9iscNt7-vwONLrug5DvIPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/azeco.cosmeceuticals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/azeco-cosmeceuticals
• Instagraminstagram.com/azeco_cosmeceuticals

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Azeco Cosmeceuticals