The Science of Hyper-Personalization
Personal care products are no longer one-size-fits-all. Consumers are shifting away from generic skincare and beauty solutions, seeking products that address their unique skin concerns, lifestyles, and even environmental conditions. This movement is driven by advancements in AI-powered skin diagnostics, microbiome research, and modular formulation systems, all of which are pushing brands to rethink how products are developed and delivered.
Market research shows that 62% of U.S. beauty and personal care (BPC) buyers are interested in hyper-personalized formulations, while 28% are willing to pay more for products tailored to their needs (Mintel, 2025). From adaptive skincare that responds to real-time environmental factors to DNA-based beauty solutions, the industry is evolving rapidly. However, despite the rising demand, formulators face a set of technical and logistical challenges that make personalization difficult to scale.
Among the most pressing challenges are:
- Stability and Compatibility – How do you ensure customizable ingredients remain effective when mixed in different combinations?
- Preservation and Safety – Can fresh, mix-in, or modular products be preserved effectively without compromising skin health?
- Scalability and Production Efficiency – How can brands offer personalized solutions without overcomplicating manufacturing?
- Sensorial and Aesthetic Consistency – How do you maintain a product’s texture, feel, and appearance across multiple personalized variations?
- Sustainability in Customization – Can brands provide personalization without excessive waste or overuse of resources?
At Deveraux Specialties, we recognize the formulation challenges that come with personalization: stability, preservation, scalability, and efficacy. Let’s examine the science behind addressing these challenges and the ingredient technologies that make customization possible.
Challenge #1: Stability in Modular and Customizable Formulations
One of the biggest challenges in hyper-personalized beauty is ingredient stability and compatibility. Personalized formulations often require modular systems where different actives can be mixed at the point of use or adjusted to suit an individual’s needs. However, when various ingredients interact in real-time, the risk of oxidation, phase separation, or degradation increases significantly.
► Solution: Adaptive Emulsion & Delivery Systems
To ensure stability while maintaining flexibility, formulators can leverage:
🎯 Encapsulation Technologies – Encapsulated actives protect sensitive ingredients from oxidation and degradation, ensuring efficacy upon application.
🧪 Multi-Phase Formulations – Structured emulsions allow different ingredient phases to remain separate until activation, preventing premature interactions.
💧 Waterless Systems – Powdered actives or concentrated oils eliminate the risk of microbial growth and oxidation, improving stability in customizable formats.
At Deveraux Specialties, we offer advanced emulsifiers, bioactive complexes, and innovative ingredient carriers that help formulators design adaptable systems without sacrificing performance.
Challenge #2: Preserving Personalized Products Without Compromise
Personalized skincare often means fresh, made-to-order, or consumer-mixed formulations. However, these products require effective preservation to prevent microbial contamination while maintaining skin compatibility. Traditional preservatives can be too harsh for sensitive formulations or may not work efficiently in waterless or modular systems.
► Solution: Multifunctional Preservation Strategies
Personalized skincare often means fresh, made-to-order, or consumer-mixed formulations. However, these products require effective preservation to prevent microbial contamination while maintaining skin compatibility. Traditional preservatives can be too harsh for sensitive formulations or may not work efficiently in waterless or modular systems.
🌱 Bio-Based Preservative Boosters – Natural antimicrobials such as fermented extracts or botanical-derived systems can provide broad-spectrum protection while aligning with clean beauty trends.
☀️ Chelators & Antioxidants – Supporting preservation with antioxidants like tocopherol (Vitamin E) or chelating agents can enhance stability and prevent oxidative degradation.
🦠 Microbiome-Friendly Alternatives – Preserving products without disrupting the skin’s microbiome is crucial for personalized beauty, especially for barrier-supportive formulations.
With Seqens’ AdvensProtect line and other multifunctional preservation solutions, formulators can balance efficacy and safety in hyper-personalized beauty.
Challenge #3: Personalization at Scale – Maintaining Efficiency in Production
Customization often increases complexity, creating manufacturing and supply chain challenges. Unlike traditional mass-market formulations, hyper-personalized beauty requires flexibility in ingredient combinations, small-batch production, and quick adaptation to consumer demand.
► Solution: Versatile, Plug-and-Play Ingredients
🔄 Pre-Optimized Blends – Multi-benefit actives that address multiple skin concerns can help reduce formulation complexity while maintaining efficacy.
🧴 Modular Base Formulations – Using a single base formula that can be adjusted with different active components allows for personalization without overhauling production.
♻️ Functional Powders & Biodegradable Microspheres – Powder-based formulations allow for easy mixing while eliminating water, reducing bulk storage, and improving stability.
Deveraux Specialties offers customizable pigment dispersions, biotechnology-driven actives, multifunctional bases, sensorial enhancers, and innovative preservation systems, providing formulators with versatile solutions to streamline personalized formulation processes without overwhelming production lines.
Challenge #4: Sensorial Consistency Across Variations
A significant hurdle in customization is maintaining a consistent consumer experience across multiple product variations. Texture, absorption rate, and feel on the skin can change when switching out different active ingredients, oils, or emulsifiers. Consumers expect personalized products to feel luxurious, regardless of customization.
► Solution: Intelligent Texturizing Agents
🌊 Smart Polymers – These allow viscosity and feel to be adjusted while maintaining stability across multiple formulations.
☁️ Silicone Alternatives & Lightweight Esters – Offering a sensory experience without heaviness or stickiness ensures consumer satisfaction.
🍃 Biodegradable Film-Formers – Enhancing ingredient delivery while preventing pilling or residue improves the final user experience.
We offer sensorial enhancers, texturizing agents, and multifunctional emollients that help formulators create personalized products with a consistent, premium feel across various formulations.
Challenge #5: Sustainable Personalization – Reducing Waste in Custom Beauty
Personalization should not come at the cost of sustainability. Single-use packaging, excessive product waste, and resource-heavy production are potential downsides to hyper-personalized beauty. Consumers want tailored solutions, but they also expect brands to maintain an eco-conscious approach.
► Solution: Eco-Conscious, Customization-Ready Ingredients
💦 Waterless Formats – Solid or powder-based skincare allows for on-demand personalization while reducing the need for preservatives and packaging waste.
🌸 Bio-Based Thickeners & Emulsifiers – Using plant-derived ingredients improves sustainability without compromising performance.
🔬 Postbiotic & Prebiotic Actives – Minimalist formulations that enhance skin barrier function with fewer ingredients provide sustainable, high-performance solutions.
By incorporating our portfolio of natural emollients, probiotic-based skin health solutions, and sustainable actives, brands can create customizable yet eco-conscious beauty products that align with consumer expectations.
Meeting the Demand for Hyper-Personalized Beauty
Personalized beauty isn’t just a passing trend—it is reshaping the future of cosmetic formulation. With the rise of AI-driven recommendations, microbiome-focused skincare, and sustainable customization, brands and formulators must innovate while balancing efficacy, safety, scalability, and sustainability.
At Deveraux Specialties, we provide cutting-edge ingredient solutions to help formulators navigate the complexities of hyper-personalization. Whether it’s adaptive emulsifiers, preservative boosters, or sensorial enhancers, we offer the tools to make tailored beauty a reality—without compromise.
Looking to develop the next generation of high-performance, personalized skincare? Let’s collaborate. Contact us for more info or explore our innovative ingredient portfolio.
