Beautility in Scalp Care: Designing Skinified Hair Products with Postbiotic Performance

When Hair Care Meets Skin Science

In the modern beauty market, the boundaries between skincare and haircare are disappearing. Consumers are no longer satisfied with a shampoo that simply cleans or a conditioner that softens—they want scalp care that mirrors the sophistication of facial skincare. This shift, known as the “skinification” of hair care, is being driven by increased awareness of the scalp’s biology, its microbiome, and its direct role in hair health.

For cosmetic formulators, this demand presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Delivering results that can compete with the rigor and consumer trust of skincare requires not just any active ingredient, but one that is substantiated by science and designed to work with the scalp’s complex ecosystem. This is where ProRenew Complex CLR™—a postbiotic active—offers a compelling advantage.

The Scalp as Untapped Skin

The scalp is unique skin, thicker and more sebaceous than most facial areas, with hundreds of thousands of hair follicles creating a vastly increased surface area. This structure creates a highly specific environment—warm, often occluded, and susceptible to microbial imbalances. Consumers are increasingly aware of scalp concerns like dryness, flaking, oiliness, or sensitivity, and they are seeking products that deliver noticeable improvements without disrupting the delicate balance of the scalp ecosystem.

For formulators, the challenge is that the scalp, much like facial skin, is constantly under stress—UV exposure, pollution, styling chemicals, frequent washing, and heat treatments all strain its barrier. But the real formulation difficulty comes from consumer expectations: scalp care products must be effective yet convenient. Leave-on treatments may be ideal from a technical perspective, but consumers overwhelmingly prefer rinse-off products, meaning actives must deliver measurable benefits in short contact times. Achieving this without compromising safety, stability, or sensory profile is a recurring hurdle in product development.

Engineering Scalp Resilience with ProRenew Complex CLR™

ProRenew Complex CLR™ (Lactococcus Ferment Lysate) is a postbiotic active produced via controlled fermentation of Lactococcus lactis. Postbiotics are inactivated microbial cells and their metabolites that can confer health benefits similar to probiotics, but with greater stability, safety, and formulation compatibility in cosmetics. They interact with skin cells to improve barrier function, modulate the skin’s immune responses, and promote balanced microbial ecosystems without introducing live microorganisms (Prajapati et al., 2025).

For scalp care, ProRenew Complex CLR™ strengthens the skin barrier, enhances moisture retention, and supports the scalp’s ability to adapt to stress. In in vivo studies, shampoos containing 3% ProRenew Complex CLR™ significantly improved scalp condition, reduced oiliness, and relieved itching and flaking compared to placebo shampoos—even when used in short, rinse-off contact timesProRenew Complex CLR – …. This positions it as a rare active that meets both the performance needs of formulators and the convenience demands of consumers.

Efficacy in Focus: What the Data Confirms

The efficacy of ProRenew Complex CLR™ is rooted in measurable biological effects. Postbiotics can influence the expression of skin-relevant proteins such as filaggrin, involucrin, and antimicrobial peptides—key markers of barrier function and resilience (Liang et al., 2023). ProRenew Complex CLR™ has been shown to increase the production of these proteins, improve keratinocyte cohesion, and accelerate desquamation. This helps restore scalp barrier integrity, which is critical for managing dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.

In scalp-specific testing, volunteers using a ProRenew Complex CLR™-containing shampoo reported a 90% reduction in itching and flaking, with significant improvements in perceived scalp health within just one week of use. Objective measurements confirmed reduced oiliness and improved hydration. These results are particularly relevant to formulators working with rinse-off formats, where rapid, perceivable results are necessary to drive repeat consumer purchase.

Beautility in Practice

The “Beautility” trend—where beauty meets utility—demands actives that perform on multiple levels: sensory appeal, proven efficacy, and sustainability. ProRenew Complex CLR™ aligns perfectly with this shift. As a biotechnologically produced postbiotic, it is manufactured without depleting natural resources and meets certifications such as COSMOS and NATRUE for natural cosmetics.

For formulators, this means they can create scalp care products that satisfy eco-conscious consumers without compromising on clinical performance. By bridging the sophistication of facial skincare with the practicality of haircare formats, ProRenew Complex CLR™ enables the creation of scalp products that are more than “just shampoo.” They are targeted treatments for scalp health—offering measurable, perceivable results that fit into the consumer’s daily routine.

Moving Scalp Care Forward

The skinification of hair care is more than a passing trend—it’s a redefinition of how consumers think about scalp health and beauty. As formulators work to meet these evolving expectations, actives like ProRenew Complex CLR™ offer a proven, sustainable, and formulation-friendly path forward. With its clinically backed ability to restore barrier function, balance the scalp microbiome, and deliver perceivable results even in rinse-off applications, it stands out as a high-performance solution for the next generation of scalp care products.

To explore how ProRenew Complex CLR™ can elevate your scalp care formulations, contact your Deveraux Specialties sales manager or submit a request through our website for technical documentation, formulation support, and sample requests.

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