Lipex Omega 3/6 from AAK is designed to meet the demand for healthy products in personal care applications, offering an optimised balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
The sensitive omega fatty acids are stabilised in a highly stable vegetable oil environment including natural tocopherols, giving good protection against oxidation in order to improve skin health and avoiding negative effects of oxidised fatty acids.
Topically applied essential fatty acids are readily utilised by the skin in order to balance potential deficiencies and relieve dry skin conditions. This is of importance for both chronic skin deficiencies as well as for skin damaged by surfactants, such as detergents and shampoos, or by dry environmental conditions.
Linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) is the dominating essential fatty acid in the skin and is typically found in skin ceramides. Ceramides play an important role in maintaining the epidermal water barrier, preventing excessive transepidermal water loss and protecting against dryness. The omega-3 fatty acid (alpha-linolenic acid from Gold-of-Pleasure seed oil) is mainly known for its anti-inflammatory metabolites. The combined and stabilised essential fatty acids in Lipex Omega 3/6 target the skin directly, keeping the skin well balanced and healthy.
Longer shelf life and easy handling
Lipex Omega 3/6 is designed to be more resistant to UV-induced oxidation compared to traditional polyunsaturated oils, which often are associated with odour and colour problems. Accelerated oxidation tests show that Lipex Omega 3/6 has improved stability both in formulation and on the skin, providing a stable and efficient delivery system for essential fatty acids.
When the oxidation process has started it will accelerate so a very careful handling and storage of polyunsaturated oils is a must in the manufacturing process. The high oxidative stability of Lipex Omega 3/6, makes the manufacturing process easier, by shortening process times, and having fewer requirements on storage conditions of the raw materials.
Applications and Claims
Lipex Omega 3/6 is used as a marketing ingredient, building on consumers’ recognition of skin health benefits of omega-3 & omega-6. It makes it possible to create stable and safe formulations for a broad range of different skin care applications. Recommended use concentration ranges from 2%-3% in moisturising skin care formulations and dermocosmetics for facial and body care. It also adds moisturisation in cleansing products such as make-up removers. Higher levels, up to 5%, will improve demanding formulations for extremely stressed or sensitive skin. Lipex Omega 3/6 combines attractive skin functionality for the consumers with an advantage for the cosmetic manufacturer´s sales success.
