COSMETICS & PERSONAL CARE
Seppic
La Garenne-Colombes, France · Founded 1943 · Part of Air Liquide since 1986
Formulation architecture, engineered as carefully as the active.
Seppic designs the parts of a formula that decide whether it works: the polymer that holds the chassis together, the emulsifier that builds the interface, the emollient that carries the sensory signature, and the active that carries the claim. Few suppliers cover all four with the same depth.
Founded in 1943 and part of the Air Liquide group since 1986, Seppic works across personal care, pharmaceutical excipients, nutrition, and vaccine adjuvants. That breadth matters to formulators: the same rigour that governs an injectable adjuvant governs the polymer going into a face serum.
- Cosmetics & Personal Care
Over 400 mineral salts and more than 7,000 specifications. The specification count is the more meaningful number: it is the measure of how far a grade can be tailored.
ABOUT THIS PRINCIPAL
Eight decades of chemistry for skin.
Seppic was founded in 1943 by French chemist Andre Bondouy and grew through the acquisition of chemical manufacturing at Castres, then through a sustained programme of proprietary polymer and emulsifier development. In the 1990s it produced Montanov 65, an early example of green chemistry in cosmetic emulsification, and later Sepigel 305, the first pre-neutralised polymer supplied as an inverse emulsion, which made gel-cream textures routine rather than difficult.
The active side of the business was built by acquisition and integration: BiotechMarine in 2013 brought marine biotechnology and plant cell culture, and Serdex in 2017 brought botanical actives for skin treatment. The result is a supplier that can answer a rheology question and a claim substantiation question in the same meeting.
Seppic is unusual because it treats the excipient as a performance decision, not a filler decision. The polymer, the emulsifier, and the emollient are where most reformulation projects actually succeed or fail.
ADCHEM distributes the Seppic personal care range with formulation support from our own laboratories. Customers receive the raw material together with a tested starting formulation, so a Sepimax Zen chassis or a Montanov emulsion system arrives as a working prototype rather than a datasheet.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY
Four technology platforms that show up in almost every brief.
Seppic's portfolio is easier to navigate as platforms than as an alphabetical product list. Most projects draw on two or three of the following.
POLYMER PLATFORM
Inverse emulsion polymerisation
Pre-neutralised liquid and powder polymers that thicken, stabilise, and texturise in one addition. Sepigel 305 pioneered the approach; Sepinov and Sepiplus extended it; Sepimax Zen added electrolyte resistance for formulas loaded with difficult actives.
EMULSIFICATION PLATFORM
Alkyl polyglucoside chemistry
The Montanov range builds naturally derived O/W systems with liquid crystal structure, covering everything from sprayable milks to rich butters. Natural origin without the stability compromise usually attached to it.
SENSORY PLATFORM
Plant-based non-polar emollients
Emogreen and Emosmart grades give the spreading profile and dry finish formulators previously reached to silicones for. This is the practical answer to a silicone-free brief that still has to feel premium.
ACTIVE PLATFORM
Marine and plant biotechnology
Plant cell culture, algae fractions, and botanical actives from the BiotechMarine and Serdex heritage, supported by in vitro and in vivo studies suitable for claim substantiation files.
Portfolio
The Seppic portfolio, by function.
A working selection across the polymer, emulsifier, emollient, and active platforms.
SEPIMAX ZEN
What it is
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 powder polymer with high associative behaviour and maximal electrolyte resistance
Primary Use
Transparent gels, formulas carrying difficult or high-electrolyte actives, velvety chassis
SEPINOV EMT
What it is
Powder thickener-stabiliser-texturiser effective across a wide pH range
Primary Use
Aqueous gels, cream gels, emulsions, baby and immature skin products
SEPINOV WEO
What it is
Powder polymer with a quick-break sensory profile
Primary Use
Fresh-feel emulsions and gel systems where break and release matter
SEPIGEL 305
What it is
The original pre-neutralised liquid inverse emulsion polymer
Primary Use
Gel creams and rapid-formulation systems across a wide pH range
SEPIPLUS 400
What it is
Concentrated liquid polymer produced by a solvent-free process
Primary Use
Thickening and stabilising where concentration reduces transported water
MONTANOV range
What it is
Alkyl polyglucoside O/W emulsifiers of natural origin, several grades
Primary Use
Milks, lotions, creams, and butters with liquid crystal structure
SOLAGUM range
What it is
Natural gum systems including acacia and xanthan blends, tara gum, and glucomannan
Primary Use
Natural rheology control and suspension in certified formulations
EMOGREEN and EMOSMART
What it is
Plant-based non-polar emollients across several spreading profiles
Primary Use
Silicone-alternative sensory design in skin care, sun care, and colour
AQUAXYL
What it is
Patented sugar-derived hydration complex acting on the skin's water circulation and reserves
Primary Use
Skin and scalp hydration, barrier and moisturisation claims
SEPICALM range
What it is
Soothing active systems
Primary Use
Sensitive skin, calming and comfort claims, post-exposure care
SEPILIFT DPHP
What it is
Lipoaminoacid hydroxyproline biovector
Primary Use
Firming, wrinkle reduction, and skin restructuring claims
CERAMOSIDES HP
What it is
Ceramide-rich active mimicking stratum corneum lipid architecture
Primary Use
Barrier repair, elasticity, and dry skin positioning
ANTILEUKINE 6
What it is
Oil-soluble microalgae active
Primary Use
Post-sun soothing and protection in oily and anhydrous systems
APPLICATION AREAS
Where Seppic chemistry performs.
Face care and anti-ageing
Sepilift DPHP and Ceramosides HP carry the claim; Sepimax Zen and Montanov build the texture around them.
SEPILIFT DPHP
CERAMOSIDES HP
SEPIMAX ZEN
Sensitive skin and post-procedure
Sepicalm systems and Sepinov EMT 10, which has demonstrated tolerance on immature skin, for compromised barrier and recovery formats.
SEPIMAX ZEN
SEPINOV EMT 10
Sun care and after-sun
Emogreen and Emosmart emollients for filter solubilisation and spreading, with Antileukine 6 for post-exposure soothing claims
EMOGREEN
ANTILEUKINE 6
Hair and scalp
Aquaxyl for scalp hydration positioning, with Sepigel and Sepiplus polymers for conditioning and styling rheology.
AQUAXYL
SEPIGEL 305
Cleansing and hygiene
Electrolyte-tolerant polymers for surfactant systems and hydroalcoholic gels where conventional carbomers fail.
SEPIMAX ZEN
SEPINOV EMT 10
Certified natural formulation
Montanov emulsification with Solagum natural rheology gives a COSMOS-compatible route that does not sacrifice stability.
MONTANOV
SOLAGUM AX
SOLAGUM TARA
DOCUMENTATION TO BE HELD
Documentation that supports your submission, not just your specification.
Seppic products are supplied with a documentation package designed for use in cosmetic product safety reports, product information files, and market registration dossiers. Study data for the active range is available in summary and full report form for claim substantiation.
This principal supplies into both segments, so both documentation sets apply. Which set is required depends on the grade being purchased and the dosage form or product type it is going into.
COSMETICS AND PERSONAL CARE GRADES
Technical and quality
- Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
- Product specification sheet with agreed release limits
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA), batch specific
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS) in the language of the destination market
- Stability data and formulation compatibility guidance
- Recommended use levels, incorporation and processing instructions
- Physical characterisation data: appearance, pH, viscosity, particle size where relevant
Composition and safety
- Full INCI declaration with composition breakdown and percentage ranges
- Toxicological summary and safety data suitable for the CPSR safety assessment
- Allergen declaration covering the EU listed fragrance allergens
- Heavy metals and trace impurity statement
- Nanomaterial status statement
- Microbiological specification, and preservative efficacy data where applicable
- 1,4-dioxane, nitrosamine and other process impurity statements where the chemistry requires it
Efficacy and claim support
- In vitro study reports
- Ex vivo and in vivo study reports for actives
- Claim substantiation package mapped to the claims the brand intends to make
- Mechanism of action summary
- Marketing concept and formulation starter material
Certification and origin
- COSMOS and Ecocert certificates for certified grades
- NATRUE certificate where held
- Vegan declaration
- Halal certificate
- Kosher certificate where required by the market
- RSPO certification for palm-derived material
- ISO 16128 natural origin index calculation
- Country of origin declaration
- GMO-free statement
- BSE / TSE-free declaration
Regulatory and market access
- ISO 22716 cosmetic GMP certificate for the manufacturing site
- REACH registration status statement
- China compliance and IECIC listing statement
- Compliance statement against the restricted and prohibited substance annexes of the destination market
- Microplastic-free statement
- Animal testing position statement
- Change notification and supply continuity commitment
PHARMACEUTICAL GRADES
Product and quality
- Product specification sheet
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA), batch specific
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS)
- Compendial compliance statement against USP/NF, Ph. Eur., JP or BP as applicable
- Analytical methods and method validation summary
- Physical characterisation data: particle size distribution, bulk and tapped density, loss on drying
- Stability data with retest period or shelf life justification
Regulatory filings
- Drug Master File number with Letter of Access
- Certificate of Suitability (CEP / COS) where filed
- Written Confirmation for API import into the European Union
- Manufacturing licence and site registration details
- Open part documentation for inclusion in the applicant’s submission
- Regulatory support commitment for market registration and variations
GMP & quality system
- GMP certificate for the manufacturing site
- Excipient GMP statement aligned to IPEC-PQG or EXCiPACT, for excipient grades
- ISO 9001 certificate
- Quality Agreement
- Change control and prior notification commitment
- Most recent regulatory inspection outcome summary
- Completed supplier questionnaire or audit report
Impurities & biological safety
- Elemental impurities risk assessment (ICH Q3D)
- Residual solvents data (ICH Q3C)
- Genotoxic and mutagenic impurity assessment (ICH M7)
- Nitrosamine risk evaluation
- Related substances and impurity profile with named and characterised impurities
- Microbiological limits and bioburden data
- Bacterial endotoxin data where the grade or route requires it
Origin & declarations
- Manufacturing process flow chart and route of synthesis summary
- Starting material identity and origin statement
- TSE / BSE-free declaration
- GMO-free statement
- Allergen statement
- Residual antibiotic and cross-contamination control statement
- Latex-free and melamine-free statements
- Country of origin declaration
- Halal and Kosher certificates where required by the market
- Packaging and container closure specification
WORKING WITH ADCHEM
What ADCHEM adds to the Seppic relationship.
SAMPLE PLUS PROTOTYPE
Formulation integration in our own labs
Our formulation teams work with the Seppic polymer and emulsifier ranges directly. A customer can receive the raw material and a tested starting formulation in the same engagement.
DOSSIER-READY
Chassis-first reformulation support
Most reformulation briefs stall on rheology and stability rather than on the active. We start there, then bring the active in once the chassis holds.
SUBSTITUTION TESTING
Claim substantiation files
Study summaries, mechanism explanations, and supporting publications compiled for the active you are actually using, in the format your regulatory reviewer expects.
AUTO-ATTACHED VIA COSMO
Full documentation with every sample
TDS, SDS, CoA, INCI statement and applicable certificates dispatched with the sample as standard, via COSMO, our digital platform.
On this page
Quick facts
HEADQUARTERS
La Garenne-Colombes, France
FOUNDED
1943
PARENT
Air Liquide (Healthcare activity), since 1986
SEGMENT
Cosmetic excipients and active ingredients
ADJACENT BUSINESSES
Pharmaceutical excipients, nutrition, vaccine adjuvants and injectables
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
More than 140 patent families
CERTIFICATIONS
COSMOS and Ecocert grades, vegan-suitable lines, China-compliant grades
Excipient science and active science, from one technical team.
Three ways to start: a sample, a technical data sheet, or a conversation with a specialist who will ask about your chassis before they ask about your volumes.
Request a Sample
Any product in the portfolio
Download a TDS
Full technical library
Talk to Our Specialist
Someone who knows the chemistry first
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