Saturday, March 1, 2014
Mascaras and Eyeliners
Mascara coats the lashes to make them darker and lengthens them and/or volumizes them. In addition, mascara provides a contrast, better emphasizing the surrounding whiteness of the eye which makes you look younger.
Mascaras are generally either an oil-in-water emulsion, which makes it easy to wash off with water and cleanser, or solvent based which is waterproof and needs a makeup remover or oil based product to remove.
Mascara contains color, usually black but can be brown, blue, or even purple! The color can either come from color dispersions which are very easy to incorporate into mascara formulations or pigment in powder form. Some mascara formulas are clear, no pigment, and are used to define the lashes without color for a natural look.
Film formers are very important in mascaras because they help the mascara adhere to the lashes and aid in long wear properties. There are water based film formers and oil based film formers. If you have both a water phase and oil phase in your mascara formula, it is ideal to have both a water based film former and an oil based film former. If you can only have one film former in your formula then choose the water based film former. If you are trying to formulate a long wearing mascara, you can have more volatile, more wax, and more film former in your formula.
Mascara also has viscosity boosting ingredients. You do not want a mascara formula that is so thin that it drips from the mascara brush. Viscosity boosting ingredients include waxes, polymers, and clays. Preservatives are essential to a mascara formula because you do not want harmful bacteria/fungi to grow that can irritate and cause eye infections.
Mascaras can also contain conditioning agents, but they should also have either lash lengtheners or volumizers. Polymers that dry fast are good for lengthening because as you coat the lashes, it lengthens and then freezes. If you have fibers in a lash lengthening mascara, then you want longer play time so you can align the fibers as you brush the mascara from base of eyelashes to the tips. You can increase the play time by having lubricious materials. However, lengthening mascara usually does not contain many fibers; it is volumizing mascaras that contain fibers. The average amount of fibers you would use in a mascara is 1% but you can go up to 3%.
The brush is also critical to the formula. Different brushes can dramatically affect the formula. I would go as far as to say that a successful mascara is credited to 50% brush and 50% formula.
Liquid eyeliner formulas are similar to mascara formulas except that they are thinner and do not contain volumizing or lengthening ingredients.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Lipsticks
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| Image: Link source |
Lipstick normally contains esters/oil, waxes, pigments/pearls, film former, and preservative. It can also contain fragrance and even sunscreen. The ester/oil provides a base for your formula. The wax gives structure. Pigmentary TiO2 can be included for coverage. Pigments that can be used are iron oxides and most lakes. Ultramarines and iron blue are not used in lipstick. As I have mentioned before, pigmentary dispersions are a lot easier to use than making your own pigment grinds. First, it is less work as the dispersion is already made and second, you can great great intensity from the high concentration of pigment that is already in the dispersion. Also, because the pigment particles in the dispersion have been milled to be made small, they will have increased gloss. Lips have very sensitive skin so if the pigments are not properly milled and dispersed, it will feel unpleasant on the lips. If you cannot use dispersions then I suggest using surface treated pigments so you can still reap the benefits of better color development. Treated pearls can also be added to lipstick for shimmer.
Microspheres can also be added to lipstick. The most common types of microspheres used are silica, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyurethane. They can enhance slip and texture as well as help fill in lines. One of the big advantages of using microspheres in lipstick is to increase payoff. If you are aiming for a matte lipstick, a higher percentage of oil absorbent microspheres will get you there as well as choosing oil and waxes that aren't as oily.
Film formers are commonly added for non transfer and long wear. If you want to make a lipstick with exceptional non transfer then you will need to use a lot of volatile in your lipstick. A film is left on the lips after the volatile has evaporated. There are pigmentary dispersions in volatile base. When formulating a volatile lipstick, explosion proof equipment is required. This type of lipstick has some disadvantages: it dries out lips, has poor shine, and a air tight component is needed.
There are some lipsticks on the market that contain water. These lipsticks have a cooling effect on the lips and and can moisturize. There can also be less transfer. However, because you would be rewetting the lipstick with your saliva, there can be pigment bleeding. Special watertight components are needed to prevent this lipstick from drying out.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tips on How to Correct/Shade Match Liquid Foundations
Shade matching is done at the end of a batch usually at room temperature. When color matching foundations, it is easier to make full formula extenders instead of adding straight pigment to the base. A full formula extender is the base formula with only one pigment instead of the combination of TiO2, yellow IO, red IO, and black IO. So you would have one TiO2 formula extender, one red IO formula extender, one yellow IO formula extender, and one black IO extender. If the shade is too opaque you can use a sericite full formula extender to lose some opacity.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Liquid Foundations
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| Image: Link source |
Liquid foundations also use pigmentary TiO2 and iron oxides to provide color. The same ratios used in pressed powders apply to liquid foundations. An American shade is 10-12% pigmentary TiO2 and iron oxides (7% TiO2, 3% yellow iron oxide, 1.75% red iron oxide, and 0.2% black iron oxide). For much darker shades you would use much less pigmentary TiO2 (such as 1%) and a more yellow, red, and black iron oxide. A Japanese shade contains more TiO2 than an American shade, ~10% TiO2. Though the percentage of each pigment will be different in each shade, you want the overall percentage of TiO2 and pigments to be the same for each shade so each will have the same feel.
Instead of using untreated TiO2 and iron oxides, which are hydrophilic, it is much better to use treated pigments. Treated pigments are easier to incorporate into oils, esters, and silicones. However, it is even better to use pigmentary dispersions than to make your own pigment grinds. The pigment in the dispersions are already well dispersed and the particle size is made small so that the color is more intense. Smaller particles provide for increased light scattering from the increased surface area of the small pigment. Also, a higher concentration of pigment can be incorporated into a dispersion because of the surface treatment on the pigment and manufacturing of the dispersion. You also get less streaking in liquid foundations when all the pigments are wet out, especially the red. Dispersions help in many aspects.
Silicones are frequently used in liquid foundations because of the lubricous feel and slip they provide. Water in silicone foundations dry slower than oil in water foundations and have more play time. If you have water in volatile silicone though, the foundation will dry fast because the silicone evaporates as you rub it out on your skin. Water in volatile silicone foundations also feel lighter on the skin than traditional foundations that do not have volatile.
Sunscreen actives can also be incorporated into a liquid foundation if you want to claim SPF. Film former can be added for long wear. Microspheres can be added to reduce any shininess that remains after its applied not he skin. Microspheres can also improve the feel of the of the liquid foundation on skin by creating more slip and a silky feel.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Cream to Powders
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| Image: Link Source |
Thin oils and silicone are best to use in this formula. In order to have the powdery after feel, you need a large amount of powder in the formula. Usually there will be as much as 15% TiO2 and several percent iron oxides. In addition, you want to have 20-25% of fillers or microspheres. A large size microsphere will give more of a powdery feel. Always add microspheres at the end. Using surface treated materials will help you to load a high level of powders because oil absorption will be reduced. Be sure though that you are not adding so much powder that the wax structure is negatively affected. You want good structure. Because you have waxes, you want to make sure there is no sweating in the cream to powder. Absorbent microspheres will help to prevent sweating.
Here is a basic formula of a cream to powder:
Phase
|
%
|
Ingredient
|
A
|
13
|
Pigmentary TiO2 (treated)
|
A
|
6
|
Mica
|
A
|
0.33
|
Yellow IO (treated)
|
A
|
0.33
|
Red IO (treated)
|
A
|
0.1
|
Black IO (treated)
|
A
|
0.1
|
Methylparaben
|
A
|
0.1
|
Propylparaben
|
B
|
29.04
|
Propylene Glycol Dicapryl/Dicaprate
|
B
|
17
|
Dimethicone
|
B
|
9
|
Ozokerite Wax
|
C
|
25
|
Microsphere
|
100
|
Blend Part A until the color is fully developed. Heat Part B while mixing. Add Part A to Part B and mix until homogenous. Add Part C and continue to maintain temperature. Continue to mix and and then cool down a bit and pour into pans.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
I'm back :)
Hi everyone,
Sorry that I haven't posted in months. I'm back now and will try to post regularly so please bear with me.
I appreciate the positive feedback I have received. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Please comment and feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks,
CosmeticChemGal
Monday, September 16, 2013
Pressed Powder Formula and Loose Powder
Here is a basic pressed powder formula:
Percentage
|
Ingredient
|
70.48%
|
Mica
|
10%
|
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer (And) Polymethylsilsesquioxane
|
7%
|
Pimentary TiO2 and silicone treatment
|
2%
|
Zinc Myristate
|
1%
|
Yellow iron oxide and silicone treatment
|
0.86%
|
Red iron oxide and silicone treatment
|
0.46%
|
Black iron oxide and silicone treatment
|
0.1%
|
Propylparaben
|
0.1%
|
Methylparaben
|
2.5%
|
Dimethicone
|
2.5%
|
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
|
2%
|
Dimethicone
|
1%
|
Dimethicone (And) Trimethylsiloxysilicate
|
100%
|
Micropulverize the powders until the color is fully developed. Then add the liquid binder to the powder and micropulverize well. Press at 500psi.
Loose powders are the same as pressed powders except for the fact that you don't have a liquid binder and you do not press it. If you find that upon application you have a lot of fly away, then you can add a couple percentage of liquid to coat the powder and make it heavy so that it doesn't fly away. Liquid may also help the loose powder feel better. You can include a film former in the liquid so that the powder adheres on the skin better.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Pressed Powders
| Image: Link source |
Talc consists of small platelets and comes in different sizes. It is easy to press because it is small platelets that slip together. Talc is found in many pressed powders because of its ability to press well. There is some concern about talc and asbestos. Talc has asbestos in its natural form but after it has been processed, etc and it is ready to be used in your product, it does not have asbestos anymore.
Mica consists of bigger platelets than talc. It doesn't press as well as talc and doesn't slip as well as talc. Large platelets are hard to press. It is shiny and transparent compared to talc. There is natural mica and there is synthetic mica. Synthetic mica has platelets that are more transparent, smooth and flat. Because synthetic mica is flat and smooth, it reflects more and acts like a mirror.
Sericite is a type of mica but it is older and more broken down. It whiter, softer, and more platey. It is also smaller and thicker than mica. Sericite is close to being a talc replacement.
There is also boron nitride, which makes a pressed powder feel very soft and silky.
The bulk of a pressed powder is fillers. There is also pigmentary TiO2 for coverage and yellow iron oxides, red iron oxides, and black iron oxides for color. Pigmentary TiO2 is different from the TiO2 that is used in sunscreen emulsions because it is much larger, greater than 0.2 microns (200 nanometers). Iron oxides are also greater than ~0.2 microns (200 nanometers). What is usually used in a American shade is 10-12% pigmentary TiO2 and iron oxides (7% TiO2, 3% yellow iron oxide, 1.75% red iron oxide, and 0.2% black iron oxide). For much darker shades you would use much less pigmentary TiO2 (such as 1%) and a more yellow, red, and black iron oxide. A Japanese shade contains more TiO2 than an American shade, ~10% TiO2.
Sunscreen actives can be used in a pressed powder if you want to claim SPF.
Microspheres are also great to add because they can absorb oil, add soft focus effect, and chance skin feel. Make sure to choose a microsphere that can be easily pressed. Microspheres that are perfectly spherical are hard to press.
Pearls can also be added for shimmer but they can be hard to press. Surface treated pearls are easier to press.
Using surface treated fillers, pigments, and microspheres are a good idea because the treatment helps the material press better. When treated the surface is smoother so they slide against each other and it is easier to press (they slip to lay flat). Another reason why it presses better is because there is less entrapped air because bulk density is higher.
Preservative is also added to pressed powder. Although pressed powders are anhydrous, water may be introduced into the pressed powder by the consumer so it is critical to have some preservative to protect against any microorganism growth.
Usually you need 6-7% binder to press. Liquid binder consists of esters, oils, or silicones depending on what is compatible with the other ingredients in your pressed powder, especially if you have surface treated material. You can include a film former in the liquid binder to help the powder adhere to skin. Dry binders, such as magnesium myristate, zinc stearate, etc, are also used to help press. Dry binders are predominately used in formulas with pearls.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Sunscreen Formula and Formulating Tips
Now that I’ve discussed sunscreen actives, here is an example of a basic formula for a sunscreen emulsion. This formula is taken from the ChemistsCorner website which I highly recommend that you read if you aren’t already! It is a great source of cosmetic science information.
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| Image: ChemistsCorner |
Sunscreens can also be anhydrous, in a spray form, and a stick form.
To figure out how much sunscreen actives you will need to reach your desired SPF, here are some GENERAL guidelines:
Organic sunscreens generally provide 2 SPF units per percentage of organic sunscreen active.
Titanium dioxide generally provides 2-3 SPF units per percentage of TiO2. You will get less SPF units if you have TiO2 with large particle size.
Zinc Oxide generally provides 0.5 to 2 SPF units per percentage of Zinc Oxide, depending on particle size.
Also keep in mind when estimating SPF:
1) There is synergy among TiO2 and ZnO and organic sunscreen actives
2) SPF boosters can help boost SPF
3) Other formula ingredients can help maximize SPF: film formers help keep sunscreen on the skin
SPF Boosters
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| Image: Credit link |
Thursday, September 12, 2013
ZnO and TiO2 Dispersions
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| Image: Credit link |
Dispersions are great to use because they are so convenient. It is so much easier to just put the dispersion into your formula instead of making grinds. The particle size in the dispersion is made to the ideal size so you will get better results on your SPF and UVA testing. In addition, there will be better transparency in the finished sunscreen formula because of the small particle size in the dispersion. Dispersions help cut labor and enhance skin feel. I love to use dispersions!
Transmittance vs Absorption Curve
Sometimes you will see transmittance of absorption curves to show the UVA and UVB protecting abilities of a sunscreen active. Transmittance is the fraction of incident light at a specified wavelength that passes through a sample. In other words it measures the amount of wavelength that goes through. You want the transmittance to be low for a sunscreen active because that shows that low amounts of wavelength are passing through the sunscreen active. We want UVA and UVB to be absorbed and scattered, not to pass through and penetrate our skin. The transmittance curve below is that of a ZnO sunscreen. We see fairly low transmittance of UVB and UVA radiation. On the other hand, we see a high transmittance of visible light which is showing that ZnO is not very whitening. If ZnO scattered a large amount of visible light then it would be very whitening and ashy looking on the skin.
If we flip this curve, we get an absorption curve which is the opposite of a transmittance curve. An absorption curve shows the amount of wavelength being absorbed, not transmitted. For a sunscreen active, we want a high amount of absorption of UVA and UVB radiation because that shows it will not penetrate the skin and cause damage.
Transmittance and absorption curves are important to understand the UVA and UVB protecting of the sunscreen actives that you will be working with.
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| Typical UV protection provided by ZnO Sunscreen Credit Link |
Transmittance and absorption curves are important to understand the UVA and UVB protecting of the sunscreen actives that you will be working with.
Monday, September 9, 2013
TiO2 and ZnO Powders
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| Image: Credit link |
You can incorporate TiO2 and ZnO in a powder form into your sunscreen formulation. If is is untreated it is naturally hydrophilic and it will go into the water phase. However, it is beneficial to surface treat these powders so that they can be easily incorporated into the oil/silicone phase of your formulation, and also to avoid problems with zinc oxide and pH. W/O emulsions are more efficient for SPF because it leaves a thicker film. Surface treatment can either make TiO2 and ZnO hydrophobic (water hating) and/or lipophillic (oil loving). The sunscreen actives will then be in the oil or silicone phase and not be washed off easily when you come in contact with water. Making a water in silicone sunscreen is especially nice because W/Si does better with water resistance. For a water in silicone sunscreen, you want to make sure that the sunscreen active is surface treated so that it is hydrophobic. Surface treatment is also beneficial because it will prevent unwanted chemical reactions between the untreated TiO2 or ZnO and the other ingredients in your formula. Additional, small sized TiO2 gets a grayish blue color when exposed to UV light and to prevent this color change a surface treatment of alumina on the TiO2 is extremely helpful.
It is important to note that TiO2 and ZnO are not supplied as primary particle sizes, they are supplied as aggregates. Aggregates form due to the high surface energy of the primary particles and charges making the primary particles stick together. Furthermore, agglomerates can be formed from the aggregates sticking together. Treating TiO2 and ZnO and breaking the agglomerates down during manufacturing creates smaller TiO2 and ZnO which creates a nicer finished formula.
However, if you are using TiO2 and/or ZnO powders you must have the milling equipment to bring the particles down to a very small size, which is difficult. If you have multiple locations where your sunscreen product is being made, do all locations have the same equipment and will the same parameters be used? It is much easier to use TiO2 and ZnO dispersions which already have the particles milled to an ideal size. Therefore, the dispersions you use will always have the same particle size and hence your product's SPF/UVA testing will be consistent. I will discuss dispersions in my next post.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Organic Sunscreen Actives
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| Image: Credit Link |
Here is a chart showing all of the organic sunscreen actives as well as the inorganic sunscreens (TiO2 and ZnO). In addition, this chart shows the maximum concentrations allowed in a finished sunscreen product.
| UV-filter | Other names | Maximum concentration | Permitted in these countries | Results of safety testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| p-Aminobenzoic acid | PABA | 15% (EC- banned from sale to consumers from 8 October 2009) | USA, AUS | Protects against skin tumors in mice.[42][43][44] Shown to increase DNA defects, however, and is now less commonly used. |
| Padimate O | OD-PABA, octyldimethyl-PABA, σ-PABA | 8% (EC,USA,AUS) 10% (JP)
(Not currently supported in EU and may be delisted)
| EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid | Ensulizole, Eusolex 232, PBSA, Parsol HS | 4% (US,AUS) 8% (EC) 3% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Genotoxic in bacteria[45] |
| Cinoxate | 2-Ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate | 3% (US) 6% (AUS) | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Dioxybenzone | Benzophenone-8 | 3% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Oxybenzone | Benzophenone-3, Eusolex 4360, Escalol 567 | 6% (US) 10% (AUS,EU) 5% (JP) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Homosalate | Homomethyl salicylate, HMS | 10% (EC, JP) 15% (US,AUS) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Menthyl anthranilate | Meradimate | 5% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Octocrylene | Eusolex OCR, 2-Cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexylester | 10% | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Increases ROS[46] |
| Octyl methoxycinnamate | Octinoxate, EMC, OMC, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Escalol 557, 2-Ethylhexyl-paramethoxycinnamate, Parsol MCX | 7.5% (US) 10% (EC,AUS)20% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | |
| Octyl salicylate | Octisalate, 2-Ethylhexyl salicylate, Escalol 587, | 5% (EC,USA,AUS) 10% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Sulisobenzone | 2-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, 3-Benzoyl-4-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzenesulfonic acid, Benzophenone-4, Escalol 577 | 5% (EC) 10% (US, AUS, JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | |
| Trolamine salicylate | Triethanolamine salicylate | 12% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Avobenzone | 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)propane-1,3-dione, Butyl methoxy dibenzoylmethane, BMDBM, Parsol 1789, Eusolex 9020 | 3% (US) 5% (EC,AUS)10% (JP) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not available[47] |
| Ecamsule | Mexoryl SX, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid | 10% | EC,AUS (US:Approved in certain formulations up to 3% via New Drug Application (NDA) Route) | Protects against skin tumors in mice[48][49][50] |
| Titanium dioxide | CI77891 | 25% (No limit Japan) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Zinc oxide | 25% (US) 20% (AUS)
(EC-25% provided particle size >100 nm) (Japan, No Limit)
| EC,USA, AUS, JP | Protects against skin tumors in mice[48] |
There are also several other sunscreen actives that are not approved for use in the US but are approved else where. Most of these sunscreen actives are for UVA protection.
| UV-filter | Other names | Maximum concentration | Permitted in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor | Enzacamene, Parsol 5000, Eusolex 6300, MBC | 4%* | EC, AUS |
| Tinosorb M | Bisoctrizole, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, MBBT | 10%* | EC, AUS, JP |
| Tinosorb S | Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenol triazine, Bemotrizinol, BEMT, anisotriazine | 10% (EC, AUS) 3% (JP)* | EC, AUS, JP |
| Neo Heliopan AP | Bisdisulizole Disodium, Disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate, bisimidazylate, DPDT | 10% | EC, AUS |
| Mexoryl XL | Drometrizole Trisiloxane | 15% | EC, AUS |
| Benzophenone-9 | Uvinul DS 49, CAS 3121-60-6, Sodium Dihydroxy Dimethoxy Disulfobenzophenone [53] | 10% | JP |
| Uvinul T 150 | Octyl triazone, ethylhexyl triazone, EHT | 5% (EC, AUS) 3% (JP)* | EC, AUS |
| Uvinul A Plus | Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate | 10% (EC,JP) | EC, JP |
| Uvasorb HEB | Iscotrizinol, Diethylhexyl butamido triazone, DBT | 10% (EC) 5% (JP) * | EC, JP |
| Parsol SLX | Dimethico-diethylbenzalmalonate, Polysilicone-15 | 10% | EC, AUS, JP |
| Isopentenyl-4-methoxycinnamate | Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, IMC, Neo Heliopan E1000, Amiloxate | 10% * | EC, AUS |
Image: Credit link
Here is a chart showing the UVB and UVA protection ability of sunscreen actives. You will see that Zinc Oxide protects against both UVB and UVA radiation.
| Image: Credit link |
PABA is very irritating and is not used much anymore. In the USA, TiO2 and ZnO cannot be used with avobenzone. If you do work with avobenzone be aware that it can make the sunscreen yellow. TiO2 reacts with avobenzone and makes the formula yellow.
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