FEATURE ARTICLES

There seems to be an inclination among global populations to favour having fairer skin, and this fascination is especially strong in Asian countries. In a report that appeared in Asian Scientist (18 Sept, 2012, – ‘Who’s The Fairest Of Them All?’), the skin lightening market was valued at over $13 billion in the Asia-Pacific region.

Skin whitening has a long history in Asia, stemming back to ancient China. A white complexion was seen as noble and aristocratic, especially in southern parts of China and Asia, where the sun was always out.

Our skin ensures a vital barrier between the body and the environment. It prevents dehydration, limits penetration of exogenous substances and protects from mechanical stress.

As life expectancy increases globally, people are having children later in life, which creates subtle changes in the way children are raised in their first few years.

When holding a newborn baby, one of the most noticeable aspects of their bodies is the incredible softness of their skin. This is skin that has not had to deal with the harsh environment, nor suffered disease or damage.

In recent months there has been a lot of media coverage about concerns over the use of methylisothiazolinone (MIT). Several dermatologists have been raising concerns about potential allergic reactions to MIT, and there are calls for a review of the safety of this widely used preservative.

As previously shown, Recentia CS obtained from living Camellia sinensis (tea) plants via patented Zeta Fraction technology has greater diversity of constituents and exhibits superior multifunctional antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities than traditional green tea and black tea; it also possesses photostabilisation properties.

Cationic polymers and silicone oils are key ingredients in conditioning shampoo. The conditioning performance reflects the distribution of the cationic polymers and silicone oils deposited along the hair fibre through coacervation during the shampoo rinsing stage.

Asia’s personal care ingredients market is one of the most dynamic in the world and according to Kline is poised to grow at over 7.7 per cent per annum in Southeast Asia.

We all sat wearing hard hats on the eve of 11 July in anticipation of Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/20091 coming into force. By 12 July it was a bit like sitting with a Mayan calendar on 22 December 2012.

The content of SCS Formulate recognises that for the foreseeable future science will continue to ‘sell’ products. Creative difference is a key factor. SCS Formulate is where science takes shape, innovations are introduced and products created.

Reaching sales of almost US$100 billion in 2012 and accounting for one fifth of beauty and personal care global value, skin care is the undeniable king of beauty.

Speaking last month at the Organic Natural Beauty Show, I highlighted the number of harmful chemicals found in beauty products labelled as ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ or ‘nature inspired’.

Minerals are essential for physical and mental wellbeing, in that they constitute the whole tissue structure and fluids of the human body. They play an important role in the production of hormones and antibodies, thus keeping the delicate hydric structure in balance.

One undesired outcome of sun exposure is photo-ageing. UVA activates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that increase the degradation of ECM components and generate reactive oxygen species, leading to damage of skin cells and cellular structures.

IBR-Gapture is an aqueous extract of Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) leaf able to modify the skin in a way that skin structure, strength, firmness and cohesion are improved, enhancing thereby skin’s barrier function and restoring its moisture.

Aristoflex Velvet is the latest innovation in Clariant’s Aristoflex polymer range. Not only can it be used as a thickener and stabiliser for a wide range of cosmetic formulations, but it also delivers a soft and velvety skin feel.

Skin, less than 2 mm thick and composed of several layers, acts as biological barrier preventing water loss and protecting the body’s internal organs from the extra environment organs, from the external environment, and foreign substances.

A ‘healthy tan’ has been word association for humans and this relationship has recently been challenged by the now comprehensive knowledge of the unsafe effects associated with both short and long term sun exposure.

Steve Pearce is an acclaimed innovator and lecturer in food science. He is an author of many papers and a frequent presenter at international conferences while also acting as an adviser to a diverse range of commercial clients, specialising in creating unique ingredients, fragrances and flavours for food & drink manufacturers, cosmetics & household consumer products.