cosmetics
Emulsifier is one of the most commonly used and most versatile surfactants in daily life. It is a typical amphiphilic compound with a polar or hydrophilic (i.e. water-soluble) part and a non-polar (i.e. hydrophobic or lipophilic) part. It is mainly used in food, pharmaceuticals, hair styling, personal hygiene and cosmetics.
In the daily chemical industry, in addition to adding ingredients, additives are also needed to stabilize the product state during the research and development of cosmetics and washing. Among them, emulsifiers are one of the important components of cosmetic raw materials. They play the role of emulsification, dispersion, solubilization, lubrication, softening, stabilization, etc., so that one of the two immiscible liquids can be evenly dispersed in the other liquid. It can be said that without emulsifiers, most formulas cannot exist, and many active ingredients cannot be added to the formula. Therefore, the use of emulsifiers and even the correct, precise and scientific use of emulsifiers is the basis for formulation engineers and is indispensable.
How Do Emulsifiers Work in Cosmetic Formulas?
Emulsifiers serve as the essential "bridge" component in cosmetic formulas that enable products to fulfill formula requirements through interfacial tension reduction while stabilizing emulsion structure and improving both product texture and efficacy. These listed aspects demonstrate how emulsifiers function within cosmetic formulas:
Reduce interfacial tension
Mechanism: Oil and water cannot mix naturally due to their different polarities. The molecular structure of emulsifiers contains both hydrophilic groups (water-loving) and lipophilic groups (oil-loving), which can be adsorbed on the interface of oil and water to reduce the interfacial tension between the two.
Result: Oil droplets can be dispersed more evenly in water to form a stable emulsion.
Form a stable emulsion structure
Mechanism: Emulsifiers form a protective film at the oil-water interface to prevent oil droplets from reaggregating or stratifying.
In oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, emulsifiers wrap oil droplets in water.
In water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, emulsifiers wrap water droplets in oil.
Result: The emulsion can remain uniform for a long time and avoid stratification or precipitation.
Improve product texture and skin feel
Mechanism: Emulsifiers enable control over the viscosity and fluidity of emulsions which impacts both the texture and application performance of the product.
Specific emulsifiers create a lighter emulsion which makes application and absorption easier for refreshing skin care formulas.
Some emulsifiers help achieve a thicker emulsion consistency which works perfectly in moisturizing creams.
Result: Enhance the product experience while accommodating the requirements of various skin types.
Enhance the penetration and stability of active ingredients
Mechanism: The addition of emulsifiers enables better distribution of active components like vitamins and antioxidants within a product's formula. Emulsifiers disperse active ingredients evenly throughout the formula which enhances their ability to penetrate deeper skin layers.
Results: Augment cosmetic effectiveness while maximizing the performance of active compounds.
Improve the stability and shelf life of products
Mechanism: Emulsifiers maintain a stable mixture of oil and water to stop layer separation and protect against spoilage and bacterial contamination.
Results: Cosmetics shelf life should be extended while guaranteeing optimal product condition during usage.