There are thousands of cosmetic products on the market, each with a different combination of ingredients. The key ingredients in most cosmetics include water, emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners, emollients, colors and fragrances, and pH stabilizers. Ingredients can be naturally occurring or artificial, but any potential impact on our health depends largely on what chemicals they are made up of.
Water
Almost all types of cosmetics are based on water, which acts as a solvent to dissolve ingredients that are beneficial to the skin, and also can be formed into an emulsion form to maintain consistency.
The water used in cosmetics must be filtered and purified to be free of toxins, microorganisms, and contaminants. The average cosmetic manufacturing plant will have a 3-stage filtration system, with a higher specification of 5 stages, which must be monitored in accordance with ISO 22716.
Surfactants
Surfactants are cleaning agents and foam formers. They form the basis of almost all cleaning products. When added to liquids, they reduce their surface tension, forcing these particles from the body by extracting built-up oils and products from your skin or hair and mixing them with water in the shower, surfactants also act as wetting agents, conditioners, degreasers, emulsifiers, and thickeners.
Emulsifiers
Many cosmetics are based on emulsions, which are small droplets of oil dispersed in water (or small droplets of water dispersed in oil), but since water and oil do not mix, emulsifiers must be added to change the tension between water and oil so that the two substances can blend well together. The amount of emulsifier can change the texture of the product, making it more viscous or thinner.
Preservatives
Most consumers will resist the mention of preservatives, but preservatives are important ingredients that prevent the production of bacteria and fungi, protect the product from their damage, and extend its life of the product.
In fact, preservatives have been used for over 100 years and if you don’t like to use them, you should be aware of the shorter shelf life of the product.
Thickeners
Thickeners are used frequently in cosmetics and enhance the consistency and viscosity and stability of the product by their ability to absorb and lock in water, but do not change other properties.
Thickeners can generally be divided into water-based thickeners and oil-based thickeners. The most common thickener used in cosmetics is carbomer, and the type of thickening used needs to be determined by the specific product.
Dye
A dye acts as a coloring agent through an ionic or chemical reaction. The fuel used in cosmetics is an organic substance (indicating that the chemical structure of the colorant includes carbon atoms, not the currently popular concept of organic or natural) with vibrant color and good coloring properties. However, it is less resistant to alkali and heat, and is easily dissolved and faded by ultraviolet light. Usually, colors are mixed by matching, for example, purple = red + blue
Today, for historical reasons, the use of colorants receives strict control, and the dyes used in cosmetics are generally food grade. However, standards still vary somewhat from place to place.
Fragrance or essential oil
Fragrance is a complex combination of natural or man-made substances and is a highly specialized field in which the intensity of odor, compatibility of ingredients, stability to light and heat, and action on the skin need to be considered in the configuration of fragrance.
In fact, an individual fragrance contains dozens or even hundreds of different ingredients, but you don’t see them on the product label because finding the right combination is a very complex and time-consuming task, which is why the FDA allows manufacturers to list only “fragrance” on the label, but in the EU, certain fragrances Allergens must be listed separately in the product if they are out of range.
The perfume industry has issued a comprehensive list. All of the ingredients on this list have passed the International Fragrance Association food safety standards and can be used in commercial products.
Studies have shown that scent is one of the key factors in a consumer’s decision to make a purchase.
