Consul General of Malaysia and his wife at Kunak Lipids booth. Mihar Dias
By Mihar Dias May 2025
Kunak Lipids Sdn Bhd made an impressive splash at the Beauty Istanbul Exhibition 2025, marking its debut on one of the world’s most dynamic cosmetics and personal care platforms with confidence and style.
Backed by the capable support of MPOC Turkey, the Sabah-based company showcased its in-demand ingredients for the global skincare industry, signaling Malaysia’s growing influence in the high-value segment of natural palm-based tocotrienols and lipids derived from sustainable plantations.
MPOC Turkey’s Head Mr. Hakan (centre) on opening day. Mihar Dias
For the uninitiated, Beauty Istanbul 2025 took over the sprawling TUYAP Fair Centre in Türkiye — a cavernous venue in Istanbul’s Büyükçekmece district, where shopping malls stretch for miles and the kebab joints operate on a ‘sleep is optional’ philosophy.
The event itself was a staggering spectacle: 1,167 exhibitors from 167 countries, over 15,000 products on display, and close to 16,000 trade visitors swarming in to find the next big thing in beauty. And Kunak Lipids, with its science-driven, sustainably sourced skincare ingredients, was right where it belonged.
Positioned at the MPOC Malaysia Pavilion alongside two other Malaysian companies — an oleochemical trading firm and Sacha Inchi, a skincare brand known for formulating products powered by palm tocotrienols — Kunak Lipids held its own.
Kunak Lipids booth. Mihar Dias
In fact, the synergy between these three palm industry players was palpable. It was more than just a trade exhibition; it was a statement of what Malaysian innovation, when strategically aligned, could achieve on the international stage.
Sacha Inchi’s enthusiastic owner was particularly vocal throughout the three-day event, repeatedly hinting — half in jest, half with unmistakable intent — that it was high time for Kunak Lipids and Sacha Inchi to pool resources.
Their common interest in tocotrienols, a potent form of vitamin E known for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties, could well be the foundation for a future collaboration.
As the global skincare market shifts toward natural, functional, and clinically proven ingredients, Malaysia’s palm-based tocotrienols are uniquely positioned to capture this growing demand.
Kunak Lipids’ presence was timely and strategic.
The company fielded steady inquiries from formulators, brand owners, and distributors, many keen to integrate tocotrienol-rich lipids into their product lines.
The interest was not only from Türkiye but from across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa — exactly the audience Beauty Istanbul is famed for attracting.
This successful showing serves as a testament to Malaysia’s potential as a supplier of premium, sustainable skincare ingredients, and MPOC Turkey’s pivotal role in placing homegrown companies on prestigious international platforms.
More importantly, it hints at an exciting future where companies like Kunak Lipids aren’t just participating in global exhibitions — they’re leading conversations about the next generation of skincare actives.
If the after-hours conversations over late-night kebabs are anything to go by, we may soon witness a closer partnership between Kunak Lipids and Sacha Inchi. A collaboration that could potentially pioneer new formulations and widen global awareness of palm tocotrienols’ remarkable properties.
Here’s to Kunak Lipids — for a debut well-executed, a market well-courted, and a future brimming with opportunity.