AnaGain™: Paris-Awarded Pea-Sprout Active (2014)
on September 22, 2025

AnaGain™: Paris-Awarded Pea-Sprout Active (2014)

Why put ingredient awards front and center?

Industry awards compare actives head-to-head on novelty and evidence—before branding comes into play. At Beyond Beauty (Paris), the Advanced Ingredient Award recognizes the year’s most innovative ingredient dossier, based on mechanism and human-relevant readouts.

In 2014, that jury spotlight landed on AnaGain™. Independent trade outlets and the manufacturer both reported the win.

 

The headline

  • Title & year: Advanced Ingredient Award — Beyond Beauty Lab, Paris (2014).
  • Why it matters: COSSMA noted it was the first time the prize went to a hair-care ingredient—a category signal, not just a brand milestone.
  • Independent coverage: Cosmetics & Toiletries and Personal Care Magazine confirm AnaGain™ as the winner.
  • Company confirmation: Mibelle Group archives the award on its site.

 

So, what is AnaGain™?

AnaGain™ is a cosmetic active derived from organic pea sprouts, positioned to support hair-cycle balance by engaging dermal papilla signaling (e.g., Noggin and FGF7).

This positioning appears consistently across the supplier’s materials. For compliance, it is best to use language such as “supports,” “helps,” or “associated with” and to keep gene-expression findings distinct from phototrichogram endpoints.

 

What won over the jury

1. A clear biological story (dermal papilla signaling)

  • In a 14-day volunteer test with 2% gel, plucked-bulb qPCR showed increases in Noggin (~85%) and FGF7 (~56%) expression (Schmid et al., 2013).
  • These markers may be associated with hair-cycle re-entry in experimental contexts.

Notes: more of the “go” signals that help follicles leave the resting phase.

 

2. Human-relevant endpoints with measured outcomes

In a 3-month study with 4% gel, phototrichogram imaging indicated:

  • Telogen hair density reduction: −28.3% (p=0.001)

  • Anagen density increase: +7.9% (p=0.002)

  • A/T growth coefficient shift: 4 → 7.2
  • Methodology: 0.7 cm² vertex, baseline vs day-2 regrowth imaging.

Notes: telogen −28.3% ≈ pulling back slightly more than 1 out of every 4 “ready-to-shed” hairs in the measured patch (a relative change approximation, not individual hair tracking).

 

3. Panel consistency (not just a one-off)

Effects were observed in most participants:

  • Telogen decrease in 85%
  • Anagen increase in 75%
  • A/T increase in 85% of volunteers

 

4. Origin & quality cues

  • Derived from pea sprouts (Pisum sativum).
  • Indoor soil-free production.
  • COSMOS/NATRUE certification options.
  • Sustainability and quality markers that reinforced the innovation narrative.

Notes: Supplier-run volunteer tests; gene-expression cohort n=10 (ages 46–60); phototrichogram cohort n=20 (17F/3M, ages 21–37), 4% gel applied twice daily for 3 months. Individual results vary.

 

Ready to put an award-winner into your routine?

BIGVITA Hair+ and Scalp Serum+ both feature AnaGain™ Nu, derived from the award-winning AnaGain™ platform (Advanced Ingredient Award, Paris 2014).

By choosing these formulations, you are selecting an ingredient recognized for innovation and supported by documented study data.

 

References

1. Anderson, K. (2014, September 24). Beyond Beauty Paris 2014 Awards: Beauty innovation. Cosmetics & Toiletries. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/news/companies/news/21844601/beyond-beauty-paris-2014-awards-beauty-innovation

2. Award for hair growth organic ingredient. (2014, November 3). Personal Care Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.personalcaremagazine.com/story/13573/award-for-hair-growth-organic-ingredient

3. Meiss, A. (2014, September 22). Mibelle’s AnaGain: Award winner 2014 at Beyond Beauty. COSSMA. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.cossma.com/business/article/mibelles-anagain-award-winner-2014-at-beyond-beauty-31435.html

4. Mibelle Group. (2014, April 9). “Advanced Ingredient Award” for AnaGain™. Mibelle Group Stories. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://www.mibellegroup.com/en/stories/advanced-ingredient-award-for-anagain/

5. Mibelle Biochemistry. (2022, June). AnaGain™ brochure. Buchs, Switzerland: Mibelle Biochemistry. Company brochure (on file).

6. Schmid, D., Belser, E., & Zülli, F. (2014, February). Stimulation of hair growth by enhancing the expression of FGF7 and Noggin genes. Technical white paper, Mibelle Group Biochemistry.

7. Schmid, D., Belser, E., & Zülli, F. (2013, March). Hair growth stimulated by pea sprout extract. Personal Care, 73–75.

8. Schmid, D., Belser, E., & Zülli, F. (2013). The FGF7 and Noggin genes are key targets to treat hair loss. SOFW Journal, 139(9), 18–22.

9. Un actif naturel anti-chute de cheveux / A natural anti-hair loss active (AnaGain™). (2013). Expression Cosmétique—Guide des ingrédients cosmétiques, 198–201.

10. Hurst, B. (2015). Mibelle Biochemistry stellt Lösungen zur Bekämpfung von Haarausfall vor—11 Fragen an Beata Hurst. EURO COSMETICS, 4, 36–37.

11. Mibelle Biochemistry. (n.d.). A journey of award-winning excellence and innovation. Internal company publication.

12. Mibelle Biochemistry. (2025, September 12). AnaGain™—ingredient overview page. Retrieved from https://mibellebiochemistry.com/anagaintm

13. Mibelle Biochemistry. (2025, September 12). About—Awards. Retrieved from https://mibellebiochemistry.com/about

This content is for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.