The idea that beauty can be maintained from within—through what consumers eat and drink—has moved from niche wellness circles into the U.S. mainstream. Capsules, powders and functional beverages promising skin benefits have proliferated, but so has skepticism. Retailers and regulators are increasingly demanding hard evidence to support claims long driven by marketing.
That shift is reshaping competition in the fast-growing ingestible beauty market. Companies are no longer judged solely on branding or ingredient trends, but on their ability to produce controlled human data that can withstand scrutiny.
Against that backdrop, South Korea’s CJ CheilJedang is positioning itself as a supplier of clinically validated postbiotic ingredients, aiming to differentiate in a crowded field where scientific substantiation is becoming a prerequisite for market access.
Founded in 1953, CJ CheilJedang operates across food manufacturing, bio-based materials and pharmaceutical ingredients. Its CJ BIO division has traditionally focused on fermentation-derived amino acids and feed additives, supplying customers across North America, Europe and Asia. More recently, the company has been shifting toward higher-margin functional bio materials, including ingredients tied to health and beauty outcomes.
The company said it recently published the results of a 12-week human clinical study evaluating its proprietary ingredient, BiomeNrich POST SZ075. The trial involved 111 adults who consumed 500 milligrams daily, with researchers measuring changes in wrinkle indicators, skin elasticity and hydration.
According to the study, participants taking the ingredient showed significant improvements across multiple skin metrics compared with a placebo group, including reductions in wrinkle indicators and gains in elasticity and moisture retention. While the figures represent relative changes, the publication in a peer-reviewed journal provides a level of external validation often lacking in the ingestible beauty category.
BiomeNrich POST SZ075 is a plant-based postbiotic produced by fermenting rice germ with lactic acid bacteria derived from kimchi. Built around the “gut–skin axis” concept linking microbiome health to skin condition, the ingredient is designed for use in supplements, functional foods and cosmetic formulations. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics do not rely on live organisms, offering greater stability and flexibility in manufacturing.
For U.S. brands navigating an increasingly competitive inner-beauty segment, access to placebo-controlled human data may offer a critical edge. As consumers grow more discerning and regulators tighten expectations, the ability to demonstrate measurable outcomes is becoming central to product positioning.
CJ CheilJedang’s push reflects a broader evolution among Korean bio manufacturers. Once known primarily for fermentation expertise, they are now seeking to compete on documented clinical evidence—an approach that could help redefine how beauty is marketed, measured and ultimately consumed.
