Expert Interview: 5 questions to our NOAM Sales Director Hector Hernandez.

We sat down with our North America Sales Director expert, Hector Hernandez, to discuss key trends, the potential for actives and antimicrobials, SEQENS Personal Care‘s competitive advantages, and the biggest opportunities and challenges ahead.

What is your background?   

I have 26 years of experience in the personal care and cosmetics ingredient manufacturing industry, with a strong foundation in Chemistry and a specialization in Biochemistry. Throughout my career, I have combined scientific expertise with a strategic approach to product development, helping to shape innovation and advance the industry. My deep understanding of both the technical and commercial aspects of the market allows me to bridge the gap between formulation science and business strategy, driving growth and differentiation in a highly competitive landscape.

What trends are driving the personal care market in North America? 

Over the next five years, the North American personal care market will be shaped by a convergence of consumer, scientific, regulatory, and sustainability-driven trends. Demand for clean, ethical, and traceable ingredients is accelerating, alongside a strong shift toward biobased and multifunctional innovations. Regulatory pressures, especially around preservation systems and ingredient transparency, are driving reformulation. At the same time, advancements in delivery systems, sensory aesthetics, and personalized solutions are transforming product development. Ingredient manufacturers that can combine sustainability, compliance, and performance will be best positioned to lead across key categories like skin care, hair care, sun care, and color cosmetics. 

Given SEQENS Personal Care’s position in personal care ingredients, how do you see potential applications for actives and antimicrobials within this market segment in North America?

(e.g., natural vs. synthetic options, focus on specific product categories like hand sanitizers or deodorants)  

At SEQENS Personal Care, we observe substantial opportunities in the North American market for both actives and antimicrobials, particularly as consumers and regulators demand safer, more effective, and sustainable solutions. The shift toward clean beauty continues to drive interest in natural actives—especially those derived from fermentation, plant-based sources, or upcycled materials. These ingredients align with evolving consumer preferences while maintaining strong efficacy profiles. 

However, synthetic ingredients remain critical in certain applications, especially when designed using green chemistry principles. They provide stability, consistency, and scalability, ensuring performance without compromising safety and efficacy. 

In the antimicrobial space, the industry is moving away from traditional preservatives, opening opportunities for innovative multifunctional systems that not only offer protection but also enhance skin benefits. SEQENS is well-positioned to lead this transition, leveraging our expertise in high-purity synthetic actives and naturally derived functional ingredients. Our focus is on next-generation preservation solutions that meet regulatory requirements while delivering enhanced safety, efficacy, and sustainability across key categories such as skincare, sun care, and hair care. 

How do you leverage SEQENS’ global manufacturing capabilities to ensure a competitive advantage for antimicrobial ingredients targeting the North American personal care market?

(e.g., sourcing, cost-effectiveness)  

SEQENS’ global manufacturing network is a key competitive advantage when it comes to delivering antimicrobial ingredients to the North American personal care market. With strategically located production facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia, we’re able to optimize sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics to ensure supply chain resilience and cost-efficiency—both of which are critical in today’s regulatory and market environment. 

Our backward integration allows for better control over raw material quality and availability, while our advanced synthesis and fermentation platforms give us the flexibility to scale both natural and synthetic antimicrobial solutions. This enables us to tailor offerings to meet the evolving demands of U.S. brands—whether that’s low-usage rate multifunctionals, natural-origin preservation boosters, or compliant alternatives to traditional preservatives. 

By leveraging global capacity while maintaining localized responsiveness, SEQENS can deliver consistent quality, regulatory-ready documentation, and cost-effective solutions that help our customers reduce formulation complexity, mitigate sourcing risks, and stay ahead of compliance trends.

It’s not just about making ingredients— it is about enabling smarter, more sustainable innovation at scale. 

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you see for SEQENS Personal Care in the North American personal care market over the next few years? 

One of the biggest challenges SEQENS faces in the North American personal care market is navigating the increasing complexity of consumer and regulatory expectations—particularly around ingredient transparency, sustainability claims, and preservation systems. As a science-driven organization, we’re well-equipped to meet compliance requirements, but the market is moving quickly, especially in states like California and New York where regulations are tightening faster than federal guidelines. Additionally, penetrating a market dominated by entrenched ingredient suppliers requires differentiation—not just through technology, but also through service, speed, and storytelling. 

That said, these challenges present significant opportunities. SEQENS is uniquely positioned to bring pharmaceutical-grade standards, green chemistry expertise, and global manufacturing strength into a space that is hungry for innovation. Our ability to deliver both natural and synthetic multifunctionals, paired with deep formulation support and regulatory expertise, allows us to help brands replace controversial ingredients, reduce complexity, and accelerate product development. There’s also strong opportunity in expanding our presence in biotech-driven actives, next-gen antimicrobials, and sustainable alternatives—especially as clean beauty evolves into clinically backed, functional beauty. North American brands are looking for partners who can deliver efficacy, safety, and scale, and that’s where SEQENS Personal Care can truly lead. 

Interview by Nouhad Wehbe, junior marketing product manager at SEQENS Personal Care.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about our offer or discuss about your next generation formulation.

personalcare@seqens.com

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