FEATURE ARTICLES

Silicone crosspolymers (also known as silicone elastomers) are relatively novel products that have provided silicone formulators with new tools to modify rheology and sensory attributes of personal care formulations.

As presented in a previous edition of this magazine, the ASEAN Cosmetics Association (ACA) held its AGM on 20 June in Brunei Darussalam. Representatives of all the member organisations were present and duly elected the new committee for 2011-2013.

The Asian cosmetics market represents one of the most dynamic in the world, with imported and exported products displaying impressive growth over the last few years.

We exist with odours all around us from the food we prepare, buy and eat, the environment we live within, and the offices, houses, apartments, toilets, animals, and people we come across day in, day out.

Stem cells are unspecialised cells with the capacity to self-renew over the whole life period of the organism. When needed, stem cells produce cells that undergo differentiation to specialised tissue cells.

One of the major current trends in the cosmetics industry, based on both scientific and “marketing” criteria, is the pronounced aspiration to use an increasing number of plant extracts or natural molecules not used in cosmetic formulations before.

Ecogel is the first natural origin gellingemulsifying agent registered by ECOCERT. It allows the emulsification, the increase in viscosity and the stability of formulae. Easy-to-use, Ecogel is compatible with electrolytes, surfactants and is stable over a wide range of pH.

Melanin, is a dark pigment produced by the skin as a natural sunscreen in response to ultraviolet radiation exposure. Although a tanned skin is considered attractive, the long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation entails serious risk of skin damage.

Adipocytes hold the main source of energy stored in the body in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG). It is known that the hydrolysis of TAGs and the release of nonesterified free fatty acids and the resulting glycerol can be regulated by a process which depends on a lipolysis reaction messenger molecule, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).

There was a time when a chemical distributor could be considered simply a trader. A demand was identified, a supplier was found, material was purchased and sold. Life was simple.

The organisers of the SEPAWA/EDC conference from 12-14 October 2011 are expecting more than 1600 trade specialists to come to find out about the latest cosmetics, washing, detergents and cleaner trends.

Contemporary knowledge regarding the structural behaviour of soaps and surfactants is indebted to the research work conducted during the second and the third quarters of the last century by McBain, Luzzati, Lloyd, Rosevear etc.

The skin plays an integral role in personal wellbeing and has a number of functions, e.g. protection, sensation and communication. It is also the organ that is most exposed to external stress factors, such as UV irradiation, temperature extremes, dry air and xenobiotics.

For the first time in the history of the show, in-cosmetics Asia has collaborated with the International Federation of the Societies of Cosmetics Chemists (IFSCC) partnered with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists Thailand (SCCT) to create “Beauty Week in Bangkok”.

Wrinkles can sometimes be considered as “charming” but only a few find them attractive per se. The most obvious proof of this universal fight against wrinkles is the consistent increase in revenue performed by anti-agers over the last five years, despite of the recession.

In the heart of the rural Limousin region of France on 23-24 June, cosmetic ingredient manufacturer, Silab, held its third “Silab Days” event.

The economic downturn posed significant challenges to beauty and personal care players, but they now appear to be overcoming these as the economy shows signs of recovery.

The UK Society of Cosmetic Scientists devised SCS Formulate to offer a meeting with enhanced content – from seminars to technical presentations to an exhibition – that provides formulators and others involved in the development of personal care products access to practical information and expertise that they can apply.

Ensuring that products remain stable, safe and suitable for use on skin is a highly important consideration for cosmetics manufacturers and the decision on how to preserve a product now requires searching through an increasingly wide range of ingredients.

During the last few years, more advanced technologies have been set up and more sophisticated formulations have been developed to obtain the so-called “elixir of long life”, since everyone wishes to live as long a time as possible but without the visible signs of passing time.