SPHINOX® Vively the new product presented by Evonik at PCHI 2026
It is a sphingolipid-based bioactive, developed through advanced biotechnology and mainly derived from renewable feedstocks. SPHINOX® Vively is the name of the new product presented by Evonik at PCHI 2026, the Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients event, which brings together international ingredient suppliers, formulators, and manufacturers to showcase industry innovations and market trends, which was held in Hangzhou, China, from March 18 to 20. We at HPC Today were also there, as Media Partners, and we took the opportunity to ask Dr. Stefan Liebig, Technical Manager Hair Care & Cleansing Care Solutions, about Evonik’s news.
“We are presenting a wide range of quite different ingredients, we have our strong actives portfolio. We have SPHINOX® Vively which is introduced to the market. Besides that, we also have our functional portfolio, which includes original products based on both food and chemistry. But we are also highlighting our key technologies grounded on biotechnology. We are increasingly adopting this technology to move more of our developments in this direction. And here we are promoting our biotech portfolio, which is also my area of expertise,” says Dr. Liebig speaking about the ingredient SPHINOX® Vively, which combines sustainability with high-performance skin benefits. SPHINOX® Vively relies on a novel phytosphingosine structure that incorporates a salicyloyl moiety, creating a novel, non‑naturally occurring sphingolipid architecture. This design enhances skin penetration and bioavailability, enabling targeted activity at the cellular level. This ingredient targets visible signs of aging and skin stress.
‘Leading beyond chemistry’ is Evonik’s motto, which makes innovation one of its main characteristics. “It is, of course, a key driver that helps us remain strong in the market. We invest heavily in innovative technologies, so paying attention to biotechnology is particularly important. Investing in innovation means paying attention to market momentum, but it also obviously includes technological advancement, which we constantly advance, such as with these biotech technology ingredients -continues the Technical Manager Hair Care & Cleansing Care Solutions of Evonik. I think that in the past, regulatory factors were sometimes drivers of change or market movement. But for us, currently, it is very important to really focus on biotechnology. So, we also see differences in the approach to examining sustainability. Maybe ten years ago the target was to have a sustainable product, whereas today it’s the basis for every development, and we are searching for technologies like green chemistry solutions, combining chemistry and biotechnology to design biomimetic-active ingredients like collagens & Ceramides, looking into the nature what is available and using these ingredients tailor-made for customer’s applications”
“Building on your long-standing expertise in ceramides and sphingolipids, how does this bioactive ingredient combine sustainability with high-performance benefits for modern skincare? Our whole Ceramide portfolio is based on fermentation supporting our sustainability commitment. Especially in this case our aim was to target differentiated claims with a high-performance molecule. SPHINOX® Vively is globally ready and perfectly suited for modern longevity-focused, age-defying skincare. By activating advanced sphingolipid science, it supports long-lasting beauty that feels youthful and alive.
Interview with Dr. Stefan Liebig, Technical Manager Hair Care & Cleansing Care Solutions – Evonik
