FEATURE ARTICLES

Ascorbic acid (AsA) (vitamin C) has various skin-physiological effects including an anti-oxidative effect, but as its weak point it is unstable in aqueous solution.

Mastic is the resin harvested from the Pistacia lentiscus trees from the Greek island of Chios. It has been used as a precious natural remedy against various ailments since ancient times.

Emulsions are defined as fine dispersions of very small droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.1

Antiperspirant (AP) actives are classified as over the counter (OTC) drugs and are under FDA regulations.

Proprietary processes are used in the commercial extraction of keratin from virgin New Zealand sheep wool to produce three types of keratin protein fractions.

Prior to the 1950s, the few commercial hair care products available for women included harsh shampoos and soaps, hair lacquers and Brilliantine, and for men, greasy creams and tonics.

In recent years, hair care ingredients have developed a great deal and we are now seeing a skin care and anti-ageing approach to hair care.

Let me start by saying that I am not a cosmetic chemist. My doctorate is in natural medicine and I have been formulating natural products for more than two generations. And because they work as advertised, more than 50% are still selling in the market.

Triethyl citrate from Jungbunzlauer, the well-known brand Citrofol® AI, has a long history of applications in the personal care industry. Jungbunzlauer manufactures this product from nature derived agro resources.

The global natural and organic market has grown steadily over the last decade, doubling in value, to achieve sales revenue close to US$12 billion.

Emulsions are very important in preparation of a number of personal care formulations. Most emulsions contain a water phase and a water insoluble phase. Emulsions containing only these elements are difficult to make with the desired stability, functionality and aesthetics.

The dermal epidermal junction (DEJ) is a complex structure (Fig. 1) primarily responsible for epidermis to dermis attachment. The DEJ thus warrants cohesion and mechanical resistance of the skin.

Personal care products specifically for babies have been around for over a century. Possibly the first supplier was Johnson & Johnson who released Baby powder in 1893 followed by Baby Cream in 1921, Baby Oil in 1938, Baby Lotion in 1942 and the benchmark for gentle shampoo, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo in 1953.

Mild formulations are no longer the preserve of baby products. The desire for mild products has become a major feature of the personal care industry as an increasing number of people claim to have sensitive skin and are conscious of sensitising ingredients.

Homogeneity of the skin is known to influence perception of attractiveness and youthfulness. The aesthetic ideals in most cultures involve an even skin tone, while in Asia these also implicate a lighter complexion.

Cellulose is the main component of all plant cells. It is a biological resource created and accumulated in large quantities on the earth. The quantity is said to be 100 billion tonnes/year.

Bicosomes emerge as a strategy for skin treatment and to facilitate the permeation of actives into specific layers of the cutaneous tissue. These structures are based on spherical vesicles around 100 nm-300 nm in diameter that encapsulate discoidal structures (Fig. 1).

For many people, hair is one of the most important mediums for expressing individuality. Different styles, lengths and colours can be quickly adopted according to mood or occasion, and high quality hair care products are essential for making the process easy and non-detrimental to overall hair health.

Consumers and formulators of personal care products continue to prefer more natural and sustainable ingredient options, but will not compromise on price or performance for natural ingredients.1

Hyperpigmentation or excessive melanin production is undesirable since it causes darker or uneven skin colour.