hy™, a Korean-owned global leader in fermentation science with a 50-year research legacy, has secured two prestigious accolades at the 2026 NutraIngredients USA Awards. The company won Ingredient of the Year in the beauty-from-within category for its SkinCare probiotic and Microbiome Modulation Ingredient of the Year for its FatSlim ingredient.
The SkinCare ingredient, a specific strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, works by supporting gut health to send signals that help preserve collagen, thereby improving skin hydration and elasticity, as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The FatSlim ingredient, on the other hand, is a probiotic derived from traditional kimchi that promotes balanced gut flora to support weight management and metabolic health.
These patented, scientifically backed ingredients are central to the formulation philosophy of ARIH, a premium lifestyle wellness brand under the hy™ umbrella. The company uses them into products like its Postbiotic Energy Drink and Dual Biotic Soda.
Image Credit: hy™, ARIH
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Beauty-from-within Probiotics
- Gut-skin axis research is creating space for ingestible formulations that position collagen support, hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction as clinically backed wellness benefits.
- Fermented Weight-management Ingredients
- Kimchi-derived probiotic strains are reframing metabolic health products around microbiome balance, opening differentiation beyond conventional appetite or calorie-control claims.
- Postbiotic Functional Beverages
- Premium drinks infused with patented biotics are blending everyday refreshment with targeted benefits, giving wellness brands new formats for science-led ingredient storytelling.
Sectors Adopting This
- Nutraceuticals
- Evidence-based fermented ingredients are strengthening the market for targeted supplements that connect microbiome modulation with beauty, metabolism, and preventive health.
- Functional Beverages
- Ready-to-drink formats featuring probiotics and postbiotics are expanding beverage innovation by pairing convenience with clinically recognizable wellness benefits.
- Beauty and Personal Care
- Ingestible skincare concepts are extending beauty routines into nutrition, where patented probiotic strains can support premium positioning and cross-category product development.
