BHT
butylated hydroxytoluene - used as food preservative
SF-1
SF-1 polymer is an acrylate copolymer. It is used to suspend, stabilize, thicken,
and enhance the appearance of surfactant-based personal cleansing products
and soap-based cleansing systems. It is cost-effective.
Pearlizer
Typically Ethylene Glycol Mono or Distearate is used as a pearling agent.
Pearlizers are cosmetic ingredients used to obtain luster and shimmering effects
in cosmetic products.
Salicylic acid industrial grade
Salicylic acid is used as a food preservative, a bactericide, and an antiseptic.
EDTA 2Na is used in personal care products as chelating agent to increase shelf
life and enhance the products foaming properties. EDTA is used in shampoo,
dyes, lotion, gel, cosmetics.
Why are Chemicals Used in Cosmetics?
From preserving the product and adding fragrance, to making the product feel smooth
and silky, there are many uses for chemicals in personal care products.
Keeping Cosmetics Safe and Clean
Preservatives in cosmetics are used to help prevent contamination and the growth of
harmful bacteria. Some common preservatives include:
Preservatives
Parabens are a group of preservative ingredients used in cosmetics, personal
hygiene products, food products, and pharmaceuticals. They are highly effective
in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeast that can cause products to
spoil, helping to extend shelf life. Parabens used in cosmetics are identical to
those found in nature1 and have been used for almost 100 years as preservatives
in the food, drug, and personal care and cosmetics industries.
Formaldehyde may be best known for its preservative and anti-bacterial
properties. All life forms–bacteria, plants, fish, animals and humans–naturally
produce formaldehyde as part of cell metabolism. Formaldehyde-based
chemistry is essential in the production of many personal care 2 and consumer
items. While not added directly to the product, many products may contain
formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, which act as a preservative to help kill
microorganisms and prevent growth of bacteria and other pathogens, extending
product shelf life.
Plastics
Plastics are used in the packaging of cosmetics, helping to protect and preserve the
products.
Enhancing Your Scent
Fragrances
Fragrances are complex combinations of natural or synthetic substances added to
many consumer products to give them a distinct scent. One of the oldest cosmetics,
fragrance products combine fragrance ingredients with an individual’s natural properties
to enhance the body’s scent. Cosmetics like shampoos, shower gels, shaving creams
and body lotions contain fragrance intended to improve the user’s experience.
Aldehydes
Aldehydes are fragrant chemical compounds derived from organic materials, including
rose, citronella, vanilla, and orange rind. Scientists also can create these compounds
synthetically to use as ingredients for sweet-smelling perfumes and colognes.
Enhancing Product Pigment or Color
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a metal commonly found in plants and animals. Titanium dioxide
has been used for a century in a range of industrial and consumer products like
cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, and sunscreen.
Making Your Skin Feel Softer, Smoother, and Brighter
Emollients
Emollients3 are used to make cosmetics smooth and easy to apply and make the skin
feel softer and smoother. They are often used to treat dry, itchy skin conditions such as
eczema and psoriasis. By filling in the gaps between skin cells, emollients are also
called barrier creams because they form a film on the skin’s outer layer to retain
moisture and help prevent the skin from drying out. Emollients are found in creams,
lotions, ointments, and sprays. Some common emollients include:
Mineral oil is a clear, odorless liquid and a common ingredient in a variety of
cosmetics and personal care products. Mineral oil is a lightweight ingredient used
in baby lotions, cold creams, ointments and many other cosmetic and personal
care products, due to its ability to help reduce water loss from skin and keep it
moisturized.
Petroleum jelly4 is a thick, colorless or pale-yellow semisolid found in personal
care and cosmetics products, including bath products, cleansing products, skin
care products, makeup, shampoos, conditioners, and shaving products.
Glycerin, or glycerol, is a sugar alcohol with a variety of applications in
pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and food products. It is added to
personal care products to help protect the skin from irritants and bring moisture to
the surface of skin and hair.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is used in cosmetics and personal care products to help brighten skin,
correct dark spots and minimize fine lines. It can also be used to as preservative and to
help adjust the products’ pH levels.
Protecting Your Skin from the Sun
Sunscreens are used to help protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Common sunscreen ingredients include:
Benzophenone is used in skincare products like soap and lip balm to help
prevent the other product ingredients from degrading under UV light – protecting
the product’s color and scent.
Oxybenzone is a derivative of benzophenone, and is an ingredient in
many sunscreens due to its ability to absorb harmful UV rays.
Zinc oxide is a white, powdery mineral that can help block harmful UV rays from
the skin and prevent sunburn.
Cleansing, Lathering, and Dissolving Other Substances
Surfactants
Surfactants make it possible for soap to mix with water by lowering the water surface
tension. Surfactants also are used as an ingredient in lubricants, such as shaving
cream, where they allow razors to easily remove stubble and help limit irritation.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a cleaning agent and surfactant, is an ingredient in
many personal care and cleaning products. SLS can be derived from natural
sources like coconut oil and palm kernel oil and can also be manufactured in a
laboratory setting.
Toluene
Toluene, also known as methylbenzene, is a clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive
sweet smell that is widely used in industrial settings as a solvent. Toluene has been
used as an ingredient in nail polish removers, due to its ability to help dissolve other
substances, such as resins and plasticizers. It has also been used in the formulation of
nail products to enable nail polishes, hardeners and lacquers to be applied smoothly.
Acetone
Acetone is widely used because it can easily mix with water, and evaporates quickly in
the air. It is a primary ingredient in many nail polish removers as it helps break down
nail polish, making it easy to remove with a cotton swab or cloth.
