Nagano brand turns wild boar fat into water free powder shampoo and oil

Gibier Skincare has launched three new products that features an unusual combination of waste resource usage and sustainable beauty: using refined wild boar faty. The Nagano-based company released its innovative “Gibier Powder Shampoo,” a multi-use beauty oil, and a pet-friendly powder shampoo on the crowdfunding platform Makuake, with pre-sales starting 1 September.

The development addresses a significant environmental issue in Japan’s mountainous regions. To prevent crop damage, more than 500,000 wild boars are culled annually, yet over 90% of the carcasses are discarded. Gibier Skincare operates on the philosophy of “turning discarded lives into value” by upcycling the boar fat into a high-quality cosmetic ingredient.

Their flagship product is the Gibier Powder Shampoo, which features a “water-zero” formulation. By eliminating water, which typically constitutes 70-90% of liquid shampoos, the product removes the need for preservatives. It is also free from silicone, synthetic colours, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, and synthetic surfactants. The powder transforms into a dense gel when mixed with water in the user’s hand.

The company states that wild boar fat is a natural ingredient with a composition similar to human sebum, allowing it to blend well with the skin and provide lasting moisture. This traditional knowledge, known in folk remedies.

The new line also includes Gibier Oil, a multi-purpose beauty oil for the face, body, and hair, and Bark & Shine, a powder shampoo for dogs developed under the supervision of a veterinarian.