Reliable analysis of cosmetic oil absorption

A team of researchers in the areas of science and industry have been looking for a device that delivers reproducible and accurate results using the oil absorption method, before finding the Brabender Absorptometer C - a system which has so far mainly been used for the quality testing of carbon blacks.

Cosmetic pearlescent pigments as well as organic and inorganic dyes form the basis on which new makeup products are developed.  They ensure a suitable surface quality within the entire range of colours. The oil absorption number (OAN) is a crucial parameter during the quality analysis that describes the structure of free-flowing materials.  It is therefore directly related to the processing properties, which make a clear statement about the quality of the material with which the product was produced. 

Up until now however, the oil absorption method has mainly been used manually, supplemented by the laboratory technicians’ experience in the cosmetics industry.  Therefore, results cannot be reproduced and are often imprecise. In addition to this, there are also typical error sources, such as texture gaps caused by shading enhancements, and quality issues that arise in connection with delivered batches of raw materials. All of this reinforces the need for a systematic oil absorption method. However, there are not many studies on this in the industry.