Maruzen Pharmaceuticals' "Well-Reishi" Wins BSB Innovation Award, Marking 8 Consecutive Years of Recognition

Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture; President: Yasuhiro Higurashi), a manufacturer of natural ingredients for cosmetics and health foods, announced that its Well-Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum Extract) won 3rd place in the Most Innovative Active Ingredients category (Anti-aging/Barrier Repair) at the global cosmetics award, BSB Innovation Award 2026. About Well-Reishi: Well-Reishi is the latest functional ingredient announced at in-cosmetics global 2026, the world's largest cosmetic ingredients exhibition held in Paris in April. Through our proprietary stress research, we clarified that under chronic high-stress conditions, cortisol continuously increases, adversely affecting the skin's barrier function (*). Based on this finding, we developed Well-Reishi as a new functional ingredient to keep both skin and mind healthy in the modern era where it is difficult to eliminate mental stress. In a human volunteer study targeting women experiencing a decline in skin condition due to stress, improvements in skin condition, such as a significant improvement in transepidermal water loss, were confirmed. We believe our broad research data and approach from a new perspective were recognized, leading to this award. BSB Innovation Award: This award, selected by the European cosmetic consulting company BSB (Hamburg, Germany), is presented to cosmetic ingredients and final products. There are categories for general cosmetics and natural cosmetics, each with its own awards. This is a historic award in the cosmetics industry, now in its 24th year. Maruzen Pharmaceuticals has achieved a cumulative total of 10 awards, the most for a Japanese company, for 8 consecutive years. This streak began in 2019 with "Yamanashi Peach Leaf Extract BG30", followed by "Lemon Balm Extract RA" and "Silver Vine Extract BG30" in 2020, "Wa-ism ", and "Wa-ism " in 2021 (in two categories each), "Wa-ism " in 2022, "Wa-ism " in 2023, "Rice Ferment Filtrate PD" in 2024, and "Lotus Lift" in 2025. Maruzen Pharmaceuticals will continue to research and develop cosmetic ingredients with functional and emotional value that support the feelings of cosmetic users, leading to healthy skin and minds. *Paper Information: Ganoderma lucidum Extract Improves Chronic Stress-Induced Impairment in Skin Barrier Function, Shota Hayashi et al., Applied Cosmetic Science and Technology 1(1): 74-81 (2025). *"Wa-ism" and "Lotus Lift" are registered trademarks of Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. [Company Profile] Name: Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Representative: Yasuhiro Higurashi, President. Location: 14703-10 Mukaigashi-cho, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima. Established: July 13, 1949. Business: Manufacturing and sales of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical material extracts, quasi-drug material extracts, cosmetic material extracts, food additives, foods, food material extracts, health foods, and health food material extracts. Capital: 98 million yen. URL: https://www.maruzenpcy.co.jp