Analysis Report on the Filing Status of New Cosmetic Ingredients in China-April 2026

To help stakeholders stay informed of the latest developments and gain insights into market trends, CIRS Group has conducted a systematic review and in-depth analysis of the cosmetic ingredient filings published by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in April 2026. The report mainly covers the number of new ingredient filings during the month, basic information about the filing enterprises, the regional distribution of domestic filers, ingredients that have been filed multiple times, and interpretations of selected ingredients. It aims to offer valuable data support and information references for the cosmetics industry.

I. Number of New Cosmetic Ingredient Filings in China-April 2026

According to data from the NMPA, a total of 22 new cosmetic ingredients were filed. As of now, the relevant technical specifications for these ingredients have not yet been disclosed, and none of them have entered the post-filing monitoring period. For detailed information, please refer to Table 1 below.

Compared with the same period last year (16 filings in April 2025), the number increased by 6. As of the end of April 2026, a cumulative total of 73 new cosmetic ingredients have been filed in 2026.

Table 1

Note: The English names of the companies listed above are for reference only. Please refer to the official registered or commonly used names for formal use.

II. Overview of Enterprises Filing for New Cosmetic Ingredients

(I) Distribution of Domestic and Overseas Filing Entities

Among the 22 cosmetic new ingredients that obtained filing numbers in April 2026, 19 were filed by domestic entities, accounting for 86.4%. Three were filed by overseas entities (one from Switzerland and two from Korea), representing 13.6%. The number of domestic filers significantly exceeds that of overseas filers.

(II) Analysis of Domestic Enterprises

Based on the analysis of new ingredient filing data, the 19 new cosmetic ingredients filed by domestic entities were filed by 17 companies. Among them, Lishui Gumu Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and Novotech (Kunming) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. each filed 2 new ingredients, as shown in Table 2 below. All other companies filed 1 new ingredient each.

Table 2

III. Distribution of Domestic Enterprises Filing for New Cosmetic Ingredients by Province

According to the analysis of new ingredient filing data, 19 new cosmetic ingredients were filed by domestic enterprises, involving 17 companies across 7 provincial-level regions, including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangdong, Xinjiang, and Chongqing.

As shown in Figure 2, among all domestic provinces and regions where the filing companies are located, Zhejiang and Shanghai recorded the highest number of new cosmetic ingredient filings, with five each, together accounting for 45.5% of the total filings in April 2026.

Figure 1

IV. Frequently Filed New Cosmetic Ingredients

According to the statistics, among the 22 new cosmetic ingredients that obtained filing numbers, Cyclocarya paliurus Leaf Extract, Chimonanthus salicifolius Leaf/Stem Extract, and Ceramide EOS were each filed twice by different entities at different times. Acer truncatum Seed Oil has been filed a total of 3 times, Dihydroxyphenylethanol a total of 6 times, and β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) a total of 14 times.

V. Interpretation of Selected Ingredients

Acer truncatum Seed Oil is a woody plant oil processed from the seeds of Acer truncatum, a tree species endemic to China (named for its samaras that resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots, known as "yuanbao"). On March 22, 2011, it was approved as a novel food by China’s Ministry of Health. The oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids and contains a special fatty acid component known as nervonic acid, a long-chain fatty acid that plays an important role in the development and repair of the nervous system.

Horse Oil Ethyl Ester is a novel fatty acid ethyl ester mixture prepared from natural horse fat (abdominal and dorsal adipose tissue) sourced from Yili, Xinjiang, through processes including low-temperature rendering, ethyl esterification modification, and molecular distillation purification. As a natural oil derivative, it offers advantages such as a fine texture, strong lipid solubility, and minimal insoluble residue when compounded with other ingredients. It is the first specialty lipid ingredient from Xinjiang to be included in the China National Institute for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC)’s Guiding Variety List for Innovative Cosmetic Ingredients, and the first approved new cosmetic ingredient in China’s horse oil deep-processing sector. (Source: Jieyou Princess WeChat Official Account)

Cyclocarya paliurus is a deciduous tree in the Juglandaceae family, primarily found in the Lushan Mountains of Shandong, and in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and southeastern Yunnan in China. Research indicates that the bark, leaves, and roots of Cyclocarya paliurus have insecticidal, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and wind-dispelling properties. Previously, Cyclocarya paliurus Leaf Extract was filed by Shanghai Jahwa United Co., Ltd. on November 1, 2024 (Filing No. 20240076).

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive, catalase-negative coccus and a facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacterium. It is a common bacterial species found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals.

Kavain is primarily derived from kava (Piper methysticum), a plant in the Piperaceae family. The main active fraction of kava is found in the lipid-soluble resin portion, which consists predominantly of α-pyrone derivatives known as kavalactones. The principal active compound among kavalactones, kavain, can modulate neural receptors and neurotransmitter release, offering multiple benefits including soothing, calming, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic properties.

Ceramides, also known as cerebrosides, are a class of phospholipids with a ceramide backbone. Phospholipids are the main components of cell membranes, and 40%–50% of the sebum in the stratum corneum is composed of ceramides. At the same time, ceramides are the most important and most abundant components of intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum, with a strong capacity to bind water molecules.

Ceramides are naturally present in the skin. As typical natural lipids, their structure and polarity closely resemble those of stratum corneum proteins and hair fibers, making them easily absorbed by the skin and hair while promoting the penetration of other nutrients. Ceramides are often used in combination with linoleic acid, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins in conditioning cosmetics, suitable for skin conditions such as roughness, dryness, and flaking caused by impaired skin barrier function. The specific benefits of ceramides for the skin include reducing water loss, repairing the skin barrier, and providing antioxidant and anti-aging effects.

Cyphomandra betacea (tamarillo), a shrub in the Solanaceae family, is native to South America and has been introduced to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In China, it is cultivated in Yunnan and southern Tibet. Tamarillo is both an edible fruit and a medicinal plant. In folk medicine, it is commonly used to stimulate appetite, aid digestion, clear heat, and detoxify, as well as to treat conditions such as mouth ulcers and sore throat.

Dihydroxyphenylethanol, also known as hydroxytyrosol, is a natural polyphenol compound primarily found in olive leaves and olive oil. It exhibits good lipid solubility, water solubility, and antioxidant activity. Hydroxytyrosol (CAS No. 10597-60-1) is currently listed in the EU CosIng database with intended uses as a skin bleaching agent and skin conditioning agent. 

Nitraria tangutorum is a shrub in the Nitrariaceae family, named for its white branches with thorny tips. It is distributed in northern Shaanxi, western Inner Mongolia, the Hexi Corridor of Gansu, and other areas in China, typically growing in desert and semi-desert lake basin sandy land, river terraces, piedmont plain sandy land, and clay soils with aeolian sand deposits. Nitraria tangutorum has multiple edible and medicinal values. Research indicates that its fruits are rich in a wide variety of nutrients and bioactive compounds. The seed oil is primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid, with linoleic acid content reaching as high as 65%–70%. In addition, the aboveground parts of the plant are rich in alkaloids, which also have significant development value.

Global CosIng, independently developed by CIRS Group, serves as a one-stop search tool for global cosmetic compliance information. You can visit Global CosIng and find out more via the following link: https://globalcosing.chemradar.com/.

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