Topically, it has been used in lotions as a soothing agent, oil-in-water emulsifier, and as astringent. Acacia Senegal gum is used externally to cover inflamed surfaces like bums or nodular leprosy.
Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are the workhorses of the cosmetic industry. They are responsible for consistency and stability but also influence important sensory and dermatologic properties of modern skin care formulations. They offer broad emollient compatibility with efficient oil emulsification and high emulsion stability.
Emulsions that spread well and have an excellent skin feel are easily formulated. Combinations of these emulsifiers are also shown to offer additional dermatological values, such as skin-firming and smoothing properties and anti-wrinkling effects.
The wide use of ethoxylated emulsifiers in cosmetics is occasionally questioned due to dermatological and environmental factors. Emulsifiers derived from all-natural sources are entirely vegetable-based alternatives to ethoxylates, based on renewable raw materials, and have been shown to be non-irritating/sensitizing in human repeat insult patch tests.
Vegetable-based emulsifiers are usually food-grade and based on natural renewable raw materials for o/w, w/o, and w/o/w cosmetic creams and lotions. They enable the formulation of high-quality and beneficial skin care formulations with safe ingredients. They can be used to formulate w/o, o/w, and w/o/w multiple emulsions for cosmetic and dermatologic formulations.Brookswax P is a non-ionic self-emulsifying wax based on cetyl, stearyl alcohols, and ethoxylated sorbitan ester. It has an approximate HLB of 8, making it ideal for forming stable o/w emulsions with mineral oil and other commonly used hydrophobic emollients.
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters is a highly diverse ester complex derived from wool wax, combining branched-chain fatty acids, cholesterol, and related sterols. It is a snow-white, odorless, and amorphous soft solid with a pleasant, non-greasy, emollient feel and melting point of 30-38°C.
Irish moss (Chondrus Crispus) is common in the intertidal zone on all shores of the North Atlantic. Historically, Chondrus Crispus has been used internally as an excellent remedy for tuberculosis, coughs, bronchitis, and intestinal problems.
Laneth-15 is ethoxylated lanolin alcohol with 15 moles of ethylene oxide, a nonionic surface active agent with a remarkable blend of branched-chain alcohols and sterols. Due to these natural skin-moisturizing lipids, this ingredient possesses significant emollience.
Laneth-5 is a lanolin alcohol ethoxylate with five moles of ethylene oxide. It is a nonionic surface active agent containing a unique combination of branched-chain alcohols and mixed sterols, the most important of which is cholesterol.
Cellulose derivatives have the polymeric backbone of cellulose, with repeating anhydroglucose units. After alkaline treatment, cellulose is reacted with methyl chloride to yield methyl ether groups. The end product is purified and ground to a fine powder and is known as methylcellulose.
Myristyl 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate is a stable vitamin C derivative. It is a modified 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate with an attached alkyl (myristyl or tetradecyl; C14) group. This modification adds lipophilicity and enables the molecule's emulsifying ability.
Oleth-3 is an ethoxylated oleyl alcohol with three moles of ethylene oxide. It is an off-white, hazy liquid with a mild, characteristic odor (virtually odorless).
Oleth-5 is an ethoxylated oleyl alcohol with five moles of ethylene oxide, an off-white, hazy liquid with a mild, characteristic odor (virtually odorless).
PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate is a polyoxyethylene (10 moles) glyceryl monostearate, a soft paste used as an emulsifier and solubiliser. It is chemically stable and safe and is widely used in personal care products and cosmetics.
PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a hydrogenated castor oil ethoxylate (25 moles of ethylene oxide). It is a multifunctional, water-soluble emulsifier used in personal care products.
PEG-35 Soy Glycerides is a water-soluble ethoxylated vegetable oil derivative from refined soybean oil. It is a waxy paste that is stable under pH extremes, nonionic, and compatible with other ionic species in formulation.
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a 50-mole ethoxylate of hydrogenated castor oil. It is a multifunctional, water-soluble emulsifier used in personal care formulations.
PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a nonionic emulsifier for cosmetic water-in-oil emulsions manufactured by reacting hydrogenated castor oil with ethylene oxide. It is a cloudy, slightly yellowish, viscous liquid with a very faint characteristic odor and an HLB value of 5±1.
Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate is a monoester for laruic acid with a polyglycerol with three glycerin units. It is a clear to slightly hazy viscous liquid with a slight characteristic odor.
PPG-2-Isodeceth-12 is a nonionic alkoxylate surfactant. It is a pourable white paste, emulsifier with an HLB value of 15. It is used as a fragrance solubilizer.
PPG-5-Ceteth-20 is an alkoxy ether of cetyl alcohol, a heteropolymer of ethylene and propylene oxides. It is a water-soluble nonionic liquid surfactant.
Propylene Glycol Alginate is an ester derivative of alginic acid (containing polymannuronate and polyguluronate esters) obtained from Laminaria or Macrocystis species of brown seaweeds after a series of purification steps.
Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate is an anionic surfactant, a sodium salt of the methyl carboxyl ethoxylated (with 13 mols of ethylene oxide) lauryl alcohol. Thanks to its excellent rinsability and flash foaming action, it is used in many cleansing applications.
Steareth-10 is an ethoxylated stearyl alcohol with ten moles of ethylene oxide, a soft solid with a mild, characteristic odor (virtually odorless).
Xanthan gum is a natural carbohydrate gum produced by a yeast-like micro-organism. It has soothing properties and is used as an emulsifier and thickener to help with the consistency and stability of creams.