If you look at recent studies, one of the most highlighted niches when it comes to starting new ventures are skincare and cosmetic products. While profit is one reason to justify the same, but one more thing that makes it to the point is the easy availability of raw materials for making cosmetic products.
For those who are unaware, cosmetic raw materials are classified into three types based on natural, synthetic, or extracted roles of raw materials, extracting process, and more. They are based on different materials and are used as ingredients to offer a product its key functionalities.
Whether you are a DIY enthusiast who loves crafting your own beauty products or planning a new venture in this niche, this blog will guide you through the most important raw materials required for cosmetic formulations. So, let’s dive in.
Top Raw Materials for Cosmetic Formulation
- Emollients for Making Cosmetics Formulas
- Thickeners for Custom Skincare Formulation
- Emulsifiers for Custom Cosmetic formulation
- Surfactants for Cosmetic Formulation Development
- Antioxidants in Natural Cosmetic Formulation
- Texturizers & Fillers for Color Cosmetic Formulation
- Food Preservative in Custom Cosmetic Formulations
- Texturizers & Fillers for Organic Cosmetic Formulation
- Preservative & Stabilizers for Custom Skincare Formulation
Emollients are available in a wide range of varieties. It depends on the manufacturer whether they want to choose a natural emollients like shea butter or a synthetic one like propylene glycol.
This particular ingredient in cosmetic formulation is used to soften and smooth the skin to prevent dryness and scaling. It is particularly added to the product to give it a glide and silky feeling.
Not all products can be used in pure liquid form and require some sort of thickness. This is where thickeners come as a great help for custom skincare formulations.
There is a wide range of thickeners available that can be used for applications to increase the viscosity of your products from guar gum to carbomer to xanthan gum.
No bathing product is complete without emulsifiers. One of the most seamless methods for processing products is by using emulsifiers and solubilisers.
You can find emulsifiers for hair care products, like hydrating agents, skin cleansers, bubble baths, and body cleaning. One of the most prominent emulsifiers present in the market are polysorbates 20,40 and 60 in personal care products.
Another important ingredient in cosmetic formulations is surfactants that help to cleanse, emulsify, and improve the spreadability of a product. They help lower the surface tension between ingredients and facilitate better mixing of oil and water.
Some common types include anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants. These surfactants offer distinct benefits to different skin types while maintaining the product stability. Example- Lactic Acid.
One of the most important cosmetic raw materials that is used in almost every skincare product is antioxidants like Vitamin E Oil. Antioxidants in cosmetic formulations help rejuvenate the skin and protect it against free radical damage.
Antioxidants also fight the disturbing molecules that damage healthy cells from the skin and cause premature ageing.
When we talk about the texturizers and fillers used in the color cosmetic formulation they enhance the product feel, application, and of course its visual appearance as well.
There are certain texturizers like elastomers and silicones which improve the smoothness of the product. On the other hand, fillers such as silica add volume and control shine to the product like Bentonite Clay.
Some people may not know but many cosmetic formulations contain food preservatives, especially the custom ones. The most popular food preservatives used are potassium sorbate, citric acid, and sodium benzoate.
These preservatives extend the shelf life of the product by preventing microbial growth, to ensure cosmetics can be used for a longer time.
Cosmetic formulations do require texturizers and fillers especially organic ones because they are crafted from natural ingredients and lack appealing textures.
This is where natural texturizers like xanthan gum enhance the product's texture and application. Organic fillers like rice powder and Kaolin clay also provide volume and shine to the product.
Lastly, preservatives and stabilizers when used in custom skincare formulations offer safety and reliability to the product.
Not only that, preservatives like phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin help prevent microbial growth and maintain product efficacy and consistency. With these ingredients, you can ensure your products are safe throughout their shelf life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say there are several raw materials, or call them ingredients that are used to enhance or add basic functionality to the products. From surfactants, and emollients to preservatives there is a wide range of stabilizing ingredients that are a must for every cosmetic or personal care product. So, if you are someone who crafts their own cosmetic formulations or starting a new cosmetic brand, then you surely need to have all the information about these important cosmetic raw materials.