FEATURE ARTICLES

The skin forms a barrier that protects us against dehydration and external threats. This barrier function is provided mainly by the outer skin layer, called the epidermis.

In terms of consumer wellbeing, sunscreens are almost certainly one of the most important products to come under the personal care umbrella. Their role in protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays saves lives across the world, while also contributing to the rise of anti-ageing and skin lightening products.

Today’s colour cosmetic industry thrives in the midst of changing demographics, rapidly evolving trends, and a fashionconscious public. Never has the colour market directed its appeal to such a wide range of consumers across the globe.

The CITE Japan 2013 (Cosmetic Ingredients & Technology Exhibition Japan 2013) organised by the Federation of Japanese Cosmetic Ingredients Associations took place from 15-17 May. The Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 district, where the exhibition was held, was an attractive location with well maintained flower beds.

This October, the cosmetics industry returns to Bangkok for in-cosmetics. The Thai capital has proved a popular host for the annual event with its bustling streets as well as a thriving personal care industry.

If you pick up any women’s magazine or look at the female section of a tabloid paper, the chances are there will be a piece written about dieting. Most of us have at least one friend who is keen to discuss the successes and failures of their latest diet ‘fad’ and if you are ever stuck for a topic of conversation, then try talking about food and see how soon the conversation moves swiftly from swopping recipes into the successes and failures of various diets, not to mention everyone’s personal story about weight-gain and or loss.

As each year passes in the 21st century, all stakeholders within the personal care industry continue to see and feel the ever-expanding ubiquitous presence and importance of the production of cosmetic and toiletry products on a global scale.

Microplastics1 are used extensively across personal care products to give exfoliating, sensorial and visual attribute to formulations. Microplastics are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, from micronised spherical powders (used for sensory and structural properties) through to larger shaped particles (used for exfoliation and/or visual effects).

Fragrance stability is just one aspect of cosmetic product stability. Unexpected problems from fragrances are rare when products are designed with stability in mind.

On 11 March this year (2013) the EU introduced a full marketing ban on cosmetics, either in their entirety or containing ingredients, that have been tested on animals in order to evidence the safety of them in respect of the current Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EC)1 and upcoming Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009).2

Hydration is composed of two distinct but complementary domains. On one side we have the regulation of hydric reserves and their circulation within different layers of the skin, and on the other the synthesis of lipidic substances and essential proteins, as well as their organisation to avoid excessive water loss.

People’s perception of natural is an interesting one – namely if it is natural then it must be good. This is particularly true of the cosmetic consumer. Certain aspects of the media deplore the use of preservatives in our cosmetics.

Innovation is key to the successful development of novel cosmetics products. Through innovation, toothpastes have been developed with the introduction of fluorides and antibacterial ingredients to prevent tooth decay and plaque reducing mouth rinses and substances to gently clean sensitive teeth.

An in-cosmetics held in Paris always provokes an extra sense of anticipation. The cosmetics capital of the world attracts the big names and big numbers, and the scale of the 2013 in-cosmetics held from 16-18 April at the Paris expo Porte de Versailles, proved that in abundance.

The trend of ‘free from’ XY and Z has been a huge and growing theme in personal care (among other industries) for a very long time. With the impending changes in regulations in Europe, we know there will be increased scrutiny on claims across the board, with a great deal more data required to support and substantiate claims being made.

Solar radiation is essential for life on Earth from photosynthesis in plants to vitamin D generation in humans.1 However, excess sun exposure causes various damaging effects in human beings.2,3 The Sun emits radiation in a wide spectrum of wavelengths (see Fig. 1).

Before skin care or hair care, colour cosmetics were probably the first type of cosmetics to be used by human beings, with proof that ingredients such as kohl and henna were used by the Ancient Egyptians.

Sopharcos has developed two new carrier systems that penetrate into the skin and which are formed by an edible, plantderived emulsifier based on sunflower. Thus these carrier systems can immediately be used in natural cosmetics.

Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions (RSE), the organiser of PCHi, has announced that PCHi 2013 welcomed the most number of delegates in the show’s six-year history, an indication of the annual trade event’s growing importance.

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.