FEATURE ARTICLES

Special effect pigments are unique materials employed in cosmetic formulations for captivating colour appearance.

Pregnancy is a challenging time for the body. Hormone fluctuations result in significant changes within the body as well as outside in the skin and hair.

Gentle, protecting and soothing are three adjectives associated with baby and infant skin products. These terms also describe adult skin care products (especially products for sensitive skin), so it is not surprising to find mothers using baby products on themselves.

The title might sound obvious given general personal care market trends but baby formulations have traditionally been centrally based on synthetic ingredients including mineral oil and petroleum jelly, and animal by-products such as lanolin.

Twenty-first century cosmetics has always been driven by consumer needs which require perceived performance. Cosmetic science is now at the forefront of product innovation and this covers three major aspects:

The klotho gene was identified for the first time in 1997 in mice.1 Its mutation causes a premature apparition of all the traditional signs of ageing and leads to premature death.

SCS Formulate will once again open its doors to the cosmetics and personal care industry from 11-12 November 2014 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK.

You peel back the plastic cover, pinch the edge and pluck it out of the packet. It has become such a common gesture for all of us. How many can actually say they have never used a wet wipe?

Lenitive and antiphotoageing properties of C.asiatica Plant-derived elements used for pharmacological applications constitute an increasing research field. An interesting study from Italian researchers investigated a new purified extract from Madagascar gotu kola [Centella asiatica (L.) Urban] as a novel anti-inflammaging and antiglycation agent for use against skin wrinkling and for skin protection against UV exposure.

Research should form the basis of any sensible commercial decision. These days research is affordable, reliable, auditable and global. By finding the right research partner, preferably one who specialises in cosmetics and toiletries, a wisely-spent research budget should definitely increase profit margins.

Ageing is a multi-variable, continuous process, influenced by several factors including behaviour, social status, attitudes, environmental exposure and physiologyrelated factors such as genetics, hormonal changes and metabolic processes.

In recent months there has been a trend for people to post ‘selfie’ photos of themselves wearing no makeup on social networking sites.

Protecting hair is now a very important part of a healthy hair regime. More of us are living in cities and therefore the hair has to withstand everything that city life throws at it; such as pollution, stress, and long working hours.

In a previous edition of Personal Care we discussed the media coverage about concerns over the use of methylisothiazolinone (MIT) as a personal care preservative, specifically in leave-on applications.

With Amway’s recent announcement that it will invest $350 million in new expansion plans across Asia Pacific, multinationals’ interest in the region’s flourishing personal care market shows no sign of abating.

Colour cosmetics are a ubiquitous element of personal care products, owing to the diversity of applications in which colour can be used. End-use applications include liquid and powder foundations, BB creams, concealer, blush, eye liner, eye shadow, lipstick, mascara, skin care and sunscreens.

When it comes to active ingredients, there are only two ways to go: either the molecule is from synthesis; or it has a natural source. More than a trend in today’s cosmetic industry, natural actives have become a necessity.

The identification of new sources to develop innovative and effective ingredients is a continuous market demand. Customers also highlight their desire to preserve nature, so it must be taken into consideration as a guide in the cosmetic industry.

The natural and organic cosmetic market has been steadily growing in the past few years and according to market research this trend will continue for many years to come.

Fragrance is a vital aspect to personal care products. The scent can transmit a sense of geography, luxuriousness, gender, mood as well as provide a signature fragrance that can act to enhance a brand.