BUTTER-C
Signature ingredients
Lactobacillus ferment essence OEM/ODM manufacturing
Lactobacillus Ferment Essence · OEM/ODM
The skin microbiome is a story consumers care about, and lactic acid bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus are a familiar name in that story. But the featured ingredient in this product is Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate: the filtrate obtained after Lactobacillus has fermented a culture medium. The bacterial cells are filtered out, and what remains is the fermented medium containing substances the bacteria secreted. The product therefore contains no live bacteria and must not be called “probiotic” or described as containing beneficial bacteria. In 2025 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) concluded that the Lactobacillus ferment ingredient group, including this filtrate, is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration. Efficacy evidence is limited: there is no human study using this exact INCI against a base. That is why this Lactobacillus ferment essence is built as a moisturizing essence for dry and sensitive skin: the filtrate carries the story, while the “moisturizes” and “soothes the feeling of dry, tight skin” claims rest on the formula and on testing of the finished product. Butter-C offers turnkey OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development and testing to labeled finished goods and the notification dossier.
Formula base
Ferment filtrate, humectants and water
An essence is almost entirely water; the ferment filtrate is the featured ingredient, and the humectant group creates the feel and supports the claims.
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate: reading the raw material label correctly
Under the INCI definition cited in the 2025 CIR report, this is a filtrate of the product obtained when Lactobacillus ferments a growth medium; its listed functions are antioxidant and skin conditioning. The material Butter-C holds is the blend “Water (and) Butylene Glycol (and) Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate (and) 1,2-Hexanediol”: the use level refers to the blend, not to the filtrate, and the INCI list on the label shows all four components.
Why it is not called “probiotic”
The bacterial cells are filtered out after fermentation, so the material contains no live bacteria. Under the ISAPP definition (Salminen 2021), a postbiotic must contain inactivated microbial cells or cell components and confer a health benefit; a cell-free filtrate mainly carries metabolites and may not meet this definition. Calling it a “postbiotic” in the scientific sense requires data on the material itself.
The INCI name does not state the strain
Commercial blends reported to CIR under this name are made from L. plantarum, L. reuteri or L. rhamnosus. Different strains and processes mean that materials with the same name cannot be assumed to be the same; the supplier dossier must state the strain, medium, filtration and sterilization process.
Base humectants and soothing agents
Glycerin, butylene glycol (partly already in the blend), betaine, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate and allantoin; the main basis for the moisturizing claim and for soothing the feeling of dry, tight skin.
Key technical points
Use level, carrier glycols, microbiology
Use level: blend versus filtrate
CIR reports the 2022 concentration survey for this INCI: up to 0.09% in leave-on face and neck products (0.0005% in rinse-off products); that is the filtrate concentration in the finished product. The blend level is taken from the TDS; the recommended range in the ERP data has no verified source. The filtrate percentage is calculated from the TDS; above the surveyed level, a separate safety assessment goes into the PIF.
Carrier glycols and the preservative system
Blends reported to CIR contain about 2–2.5% 1,2-hexanediol; Butter-C's blend also contains butylene glycol. These glycols count toward the formula's total glycols but do not replace the preservative system: a water-rich finished product must pass a challenge test to ISO 11930, with phenoxyethanol ≤ 1% (ASEAN Annex VI) or a benzoate–sorbate system at a suitable pH.
Temperature, pH and incompatibilities
There is no verified source for the pH range or heat stability of this INCI itself; the heat-stability data in the literature belong to one L. rhamnosus supernatant only. Cautious practice: add in the cool-down phase per the TDS; check color, odor, pH and haze at room temperature, 40°C, 4°C and through freeze–thaw cycles.
CIR formulation notes
CIR notes that this ingredient group may lighten skin (an L. rhamnosus supernatant inhibited tyrosinase in vitro) and advises formulating so as not to cause depigmentation; data are insufficient for airbrush application. No lightening claim is built on this ingredient, and no mist spray format is made.
Three formulation directions
Three styles of Lactobacillus ferment essence
Water-light moisturizing essence
Ferment filtrate with glycerin, betaine, panthenol and sodium hyaluronate; liquid, for layering. For dry skin and skin that feels tight in air-conditioned rooms.
Minimalist essence for sensitive skin
Short ingredient list, fragrance-free, alcohol-free; panthenol and allantoin; a pump limits contamination in use. “Suitable for sensitive skin” is stated only after tolerance testing of the finished product.
Fermented soymilk option
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate (a blend in water, butylene glycol and pentylene glycol) is a separate INCI with soymilk as the substrate, with no verified evidence dossier yet: its data are not shared with Lactobacillus ferment filtrate, and oral isoflavone data are not transferred to a topical product. If the material contains isoflavones, genistein and daidzein are restricted in ASEAN Annex III (Ref 343: 0.007%; Ref 344: 0.02% in the finished product), so a quantitative COA is needed. The word “Soymilk” in the INCI name lets people who avoid soy recognize it on the label.
Packaging is designed together with the formula
Opaque or dark bottles with a pump or screw cap. No mist spray format (CIR: insufficient data for airbrush application).
Parameters we monitor
What the R&D lab measures on every sample
These are the parameters Butter-C tracks during formula development and scale-up. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- Appearance, color & odor
- Clarity, color and odor against the reference sample across stability time points.
- pH
- Measured directly at 25°C; pH drift tracked across stability time points.
- Density & viscosity
- Quick lot identification that catches mixing errors; viscosity for the version with sodium hyaluronate.
- Stability
- Accelerated aging at 40°C, freeze–thaw cycling and storage at 4°C; watching for haze, precipitation and color change.
- Raw material microbiology and heavy metals
- Microbiological and heavy-metal COA for every lot of the blend; the TDS and the strain name, if disclosed by the supplier, are kept on file.
- Microbiology & preservative challenge test
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test to ISO 11930 on the final formula.
- Skin evaluation
- The irritation and sensitization data compiled by CIR belong to related INCIs, not to the filtrate, so tolerance is tested on the finished product, especially for a sensitive-skin positioning; a moisture or TEWL figure on the label requires measurement on volunteers using the finished product.
- Packaging compatibility
- Filled into the actual bottle and pump; monitoring for material odor and seal integrity.
Claims
Claims matched to the evidence for a ferment filtrate
In our PubMed searches (October 2026) we found no mechanistic study naming the exact INCI Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, and no human trial using this exact INCI against a base. Existing data belong to supernatants or lysates of defined strains, mostly in vitro and ex vivo, and effects differ by strain. The related human study used a lotion containing a ferment lysate (Cui 2023: moisture up, TEWL and redness down compared with baseline after 30 days, no base-only group, authors from industry); a lysate is not a filtrate. A meta-analysis of 5 trials (Abedin 2026, pooling oral and topical preparations) found no significant reduction in acne lesion counts versus placebo or benzoyl peroxide. Oral probiotic studies do not apply to topical cosmetics. Level of evidence: limited. CIR 2025: safe in the present practices of use and concentration; the ASEAN annexes do not list it in Annexes II, III, VI or VII.
Moisturizes, soothes the feeling of dry, tight skin
Instead of: repairs a damaged skin barrier, regenerates skin.
Contains Lactobacillus ferment filtrate
Instead of: contains live probiotics, probiotic, live cultures, balances the skin microbiome, feeds good bacteria.
Suitable for dry and sensitive skin (after tolerance testing of the finished product)
Instead of: non-irritating, absolutely safe for every skin type.
Leaves skin soft and smooth (tested on the finished product)
Instead of: whitens skin thanks to Lactobacillus, prevents acne, acts on acne bacteria.
The skin microbiome story
Told as a skin care trend, explaining that the product is a filtrate; not written as a research result for the product.
Warnings
Avoid the eye area; stop use if irritation occurs. People who have reacted to cosmetics should read the full ingredient list and test on a small skin area first. Pregnant or breastfeeding women: data are insufficient, consult a doctor.
Manufacturing specifications
Capabilities
- Texture
- Clear liquid or lightly thickened essence.
- Format
- Pump or screw-cap bottles, preferably opaque. Fill volume agreed when the packaging is selected.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order, depending on the formula direction and the chosen format.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, with a certificate of analysis delivered with every lot.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and notification dossier prepared by Butter-C, together with the TDS and COA of the ferment blend.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Suggested product concept
A Lactobacillus ferment essence for dry and sensitive skin
One product concept to help you picture the result; not a ready-made product for sale. The actual formula is built around your brand's positioning and price range.
Ferment filtrate as the featured ingredient
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate blend in water, butylene glycol and 1,2-hexanediol; level per TDS, converted to filtrate content to compare with the CIR survey.
Humectant and soothing group
Glycerin, betaine, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin.
Fragrance-free, alcohol-free
pH fixed on the sample and measured on every lot; preservative system that has passed the ISO 11930 challenge test.
Opaque pump bottle
The label lists every INCI of the blend and says “contains Lactobacillus ferment filtrate”, without the word “probiotic”.
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can serve very different customers. Tell us your requirements in the areas below and our pharmacists will build the matching formula.
Fermented ingredient
Lactobacillus ferment filtrate or the fermented soymilk option: two INCIs, two separate dossiers.
Skin feel
Water-light or lightly thickened; fast-absorbing or leaving a moist layer.
Supporting actives
Panthenol, allantoin, sodium hyaluronate, beta-glucan, chosen together with the pH range.
A fermented line
Paired with the Galactomyces essence or the fermented rice bran toner; each ingredient has its own level of evidence.
Fragrance
Fragrance-free is recommended for a sensitive-skin positioning.
Ingredient direction
Alcohol-free, fragrance-free, vegan: please state these at the outset so suitable raw materials can be selected.
Further reading
Related topics
Lactobacillus ferment filtrate in cosmetics
What it is, the 2025 CIR conclusion, the level of evidence and how to make claims at the right level (in Vietnamese).
The skin microbiome
Background for telling the microbiome story without overclaiming (in Vietnamese).
Hyaluronic acid hydrating serum manufacturing
The general principles of a moisturizing serum: HA molecular weight, viscosity, preservation.
Galactomyces ferment filtrate in cosmetics
Another ferment filtrate, from a different microorganism; the data are not interchangeable (in Vietnamese).
ISO 11930 preservative challenge testing
Why a ferment does not replace the finished product's preservative system (in Vietnamese).
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
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