NETPEP HYDRO™

Nettle peptide • Water soluble • Cosmetic raw material

NetPep Hydro™ is an innovative nettle-derived peptide ingredient developed for cosmetic formulation.

This water-soluble ingredient brings together nettle (Urtica dioica) and peptide technology, offering formulators a distinctive botanical ingredient for exploring new approaches to modern skincare formulation.

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

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FORMULATION USE

Suitable for formulators developing:

Facial serums • Toners • Essences • Gel formulations • Creams • Lotions • Masks • Scalp formulations • Haircare

Its water-soluble format makes NetPep Hydro™ suitable for incorporation into water-based cosmetic formulations.

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ABOUT NETPEP HYDRO™

NetPep Hydro™ combines a botanical source with peptide technology, creating a distinctive ingredient for cosmetic formulators looking beyond conventional botanical extracts.

Derived from nettle (Urtica dioica), it offers an alternative way to incorporate a nettle-derived ingredient into modern cosmetic formulations.

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FORMULATION NOTES

• Water soluble
• Suitable for water-based formulations
• Add according to the recommended formulation procedure
• Check the technical documentation for recommended usage and processing conditions
• Always carry out appropriate compatibility and stability testing in the finished formulation

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A NETTLE-DERIVED PEPTIDE

NetPep Hydro™ is part of Incicellar's collection of unusual and innovative cosmetic ingredients, bringing together botanical materials and modern ingredient technology.

For formulators looking for something beyond a conventional nettle extract, NetPep Hydro™ offers a distinctive ingredient to explore.

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TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS

Please visit our Technical Documents page for available SDS sheets and supporting technical documentation.

For a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA), please email:

kezzia@incicellar.co.uk

Please include your product name and batch number when requesting a COA.

 

NETPEP HYDRO™ USER TRIAL

TESTED IN A REAL FORMULATION. USED BY REAL PEOPLE.

We wanted to learn more about how NetPep Hydro™ Nettle Peptide was experienced when incorporated into a finished cosmetic formulation.

One of our customers independently put the ingredient to the test by creating a water-based Aloe Vera facial serum, using NetPep Hydro™ as the sole targeted active ingredient in the formulation.

The finished serum was then tested by 30 participants aged between 28 and 67, who used it twice daily and completed a detailed self-reported questionnaire about their experience.

The formulation contained:

2% NetPep Hydro™
for the main participant group

1% NetPep Hydro™
for participants with sensitive skin

This was not a laboratory or clinical study. Instead, it was a real-world customer-led formulation trial, giving us an interesting insight into how people experienced a serum formulated around NetPep Hydro™.

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THE TRIAL AT A GLANCE

30

PARTICIPANTS

Aged 28–67

2%

NETPEP HYDRO™

Used in the main formulation

1%

NETPEP HYDRO™

Used for participants with sensitive skin

TWICE DAILY

APPLICATION

Participants used the finished Aloe Vera facial serum twice daily.

7 SKIN GROUPS

REPRESENTED

Dry, very dry, normal, combination, oily, mature and sensitive/reactive skin.

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WHO TOOK PART?

The trial included a broad range of skin types and concerns:

The sensitive group included participants who described their skin as affected by rosacea, couperose or sensitivity following the use of tretinoin, retinal or retinol.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Across the different skin groups, participants generally found the serum pleasant to use and quick to absorb.

The feedback frequently described the skin as feeling:

COMFORTABLE
SOFT
SMOOTH
HYDRATED

Absorption was described as quick or very quick across the groups, with participants generally reporting a pleasant application experience.

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TOLERABILITY

One of the clearest findings from the customer trial was the overall tolerance of the finished serum.

None of the 30 participants reported:

• Burning
• Stinging
• Itching
• Heat
• Increased redness
• Blemishes

This included the five participants with sensitive or reactive skin, who used the lower 1% concentration of NetPep Hydro™. 

It's important to stress that this is user feedback from this particular formulation, rather than clinical evidence of tolerability for NetPep Hydro™ itself.

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DRY & VERY DRY SKIN

12 participants

This was the largest group in the trial.

All 12 participants reported a noticeable difference compared with their starting point.

The strongest feedback centred around:

• Hydration
• Softness
• Smoothness
• Skin comfort
• Suppleness

All 12 participants rated hydration, softness, smoothness, skin comfort and suppleness as “much better”.

Participants also reported:

12 noticed smoother skin
10 noticed greater comfort
7 noticed more hydration
7 noticed softer skin
5 noticed less tightness

For overall appearance, 10 participants rated it “much better” and 2 rated it “better”.

All 12 said they noticed a difference compared with not using the serum, and all said they would continue using and recommend it. 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

The most common themes in their written feedback included:

Better skin feel
Softer skin
Less tightness during the day 

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NORMAL SKIN

2 participants

Both participants tolerated the serum well and described it as pleasant to use.

The visible change was more subtle in this group, with one participant noticing a slight improvement while the other was unsure.

Both would continue using and recommend the serum. 

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COMBINATION SKIN

3 participants

All three participants reported an improvement and rated the overall appearance of their skin as “much better”.

Their feedback included:

• More comfortable skin
• More radiant-looking skin
• More even-looking skin
• Less shine on the forehead
• Dry areas feeling less dry
• Pores appearing smaller
• Less need for additional cream on dry areas
• Less tightness during the day
• Less powder needed

All three said they would continue using, buy and recommend the serum.

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OILY SKIN

6 participants

All six participants rated the serum excellent and said they would definitely continue using and recommend it.

Their starting concerns included hormonal acne, comedogenic acne and enlarged pores.

Following use, participants reported:

4 rated skin texture “much better”
2 rated skin texture “better”
5 reported better radiance
4 reported an improvement in the appearance of fine lines

Four participants described a clear improvement after 3–7 days, while two reported a slight improvement.

Two participants specifically mentioned that pores appeared improved, while two reported that acne appeared to heal faster. 

These are individual observations from the trial, rather than evidence that NetPep Hydro™ treats acne or affects pore size.

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MATURE SKIN

2 participants aged 55+

Both participants noticed an improvement, particularly in the way their skin looked and felt.

Both reported:

• Softer skin
• Less tightness
• Greater comfort
• A firmer-looking appearance
• Less visible dryness

Hydration, softness and smoothness were all rated positively.

One participant specifically mentioned noticing an improvement around the crow's feet and eye area, while another asked when the product would be available because they had already used their 20 ml sample.

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SENSITIVE & REACTIVE SKIN

5 participants

This is one of the most interesting parts of the trial.

The sensitive-skin participants used the lower 1% concentration of NetPep Hydro™.

Their starting concerns included:

• Redness
• Sensitivity
• Dryness
• Fine lines

Four of the five participants described their skin as irritated or reactive at the beginning of the trial.

TOLERABILITY

None of the five participants reported a reaction.

No burning, stinging, itching, heat, increased redness or blemishes were reported. 

WHAT DID THEY NOTICE?

All five participants reported a reduced appearance of redness.

4 reported their skin looked more even
3 noticed less visible fine lines
2 noticed more hydration

Hydration was rated “much better” by all five participants, while four rated skin comfort as “much better”. 

Written comments included:

“Redness improved”
“Roughness gone”
“Itching gone” 

Again, these are individual self-reported observations, not clinical findings or evidence that NetPep Hydro™ treats redness, itching or reactive skin.

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OVERALL USER EXPERIENCE

Across the trial, the strongest recurring themes were:

HYDRATION

Participants frequently described their skin as more hydrated.

SOFTNESS

Softness was particularly prominent among the dry and very dry skin group.

SMOOTHNESS

Many participants noticed a smoother skin feel and texture.

COMFORT

Skin comfort was one of the most consistently positive aspects of the feedback.

QUICK ABSORPTION

Participants across the different groups generally described the serum as quickly or very quickly absorbed.

TOLERABILITY

No participants reported burning, stinging, itching, heat, increased redness or blemishes during the trial. 

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WHAT DID PEOPLE THINK OF THE SERUM?

Of the 20 overall ratings received from the dry, normal, oily and sensitive groups, 16 were rated excellent and 4 were rated good.

Nearly all participants said they would continue using, buy or recommend the serum. 

This is particularly interesting because the participants represented very different skin types and starting concerns.

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WHY WE'RE SHARING THIS

We don't want to simply tell formulators that an ingredient is interesting.

We want to show you how ingredients can translate into real formulations and real user experiences.

This customer-led trial gives us an opportunity to share feedback from a finished formulation containing NetPep Hydro™ as the sole targeted active ingredient, tested across a diverse group of participants.

It also demonstrates why concentration matters.

The main group used 2% NetPep Hydro™, while the sensitive-skin group used 1%, allowing the customer to explore the ingredient at different levels within the finished formulation.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This was a customer-led, real-world user trial involving a finished Aloe Vera facial serum.

The results are based entirely on self-reported participant feedback. No clinical measurements or instrumental assessments were undertaken, and there was no placebo or control group.

The results therefore cannot establish the specific cosmetic effects of NetPep Hydro™ itself and should not be interpreted as clinical evidence.

Individual results and experiences will vary.

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