REACTIVE SILICONES IN COSMETICS

The Benefits of Reactive Silicones in Cosmetics

What are Reactive Silicones and How are they Used in Cosmetics?

Reac­tive sil­i­cones, also known as func­tion­al sil­i­cones, are a class of sil­i­cones that have unique prop­er­ties that make them ide­al for use in cos­met­ics. They con­tain reac­tive func­tion­al groups, such as hydrox­yl, amino, or methacry­loxy groups, which allow them to form chem­i­cal bonds with oth­er ingre­di­ents in a cos­met­ic for­mu­la­tion. This prop­er­ty makes them use­ful as con­di­tion­ing agents and emol­lients, as they can help to improve the feel and per­for­mance of cos­met­ic products.

In cos­met­ics, reac­tive sil­i­cones are often used as a blend with oth­er ingre­di­ents to improve the spread­abil­i­ty and tex­ture of the prod­uct. For exam­ple, they can be used to increase the slip and spread­abil­i­ty of lotions, creams, and serums, mak­ing them eas­i­er to apply and pro­vid­ing a silky, smooth feel on the skin. Addi­tion­al­ly, they can pro­vide mois­tur­iz­ing ben­e­fits by form­ing a pro­tec­tive bar­ri­er on the skin, help­ing to pre­vent water loss and main­tain skin hydration.

Types of Reactive Silicones

The most com­mon types of reac­tive sil­i­cones used in cos­met­ics are sil­i­cones con­tain­ing hydrox­yl, amino, and epoxy func­tion­al groups. Hydrox­yl-func­tion­al sil­i­cones, such as Sila­plane FM-4421 , are the most wide­ly used type of reac­tive sil­i­cone in cos­met­ics. They are hydropho­bic (water-repel­lent) and pro­vide a silky, smooth feel on the skin. They are also com­mon­ly used as a blend­ing ingre­di­ent to improve the spread­abil­i­ty and tex­ture of cos­met­ic prod­ucts, and to pro­vide mois­tur­iz­ing ben­e­fits. Hydroxy groups are bet­ter suit­ed for Ure­thane resin and Polyester.

Amino-func­tion­al sil­i­cones, such as Sila­plane FM-3325, are also wide­ly used in cos­met­ics. They are known for their abil­i­ty to pro­vide excel­lent con­di­tion­ing and detan­gling prop­er­ties to hair, as well as to enhance the spread­abil­i­ty and tex­ture of cos­met­ic prod­ucts. They can be found in hair care prod­ucts such as sham­poos and con­di­tion­ers, and are often used to improve the feel and man­age­abil­i­ty of hair, as well as to pro­vide a smooth and shiny appear­ance. Amino groups are flex­i­ble and com­pat­i­ble with Polyamide, Poly­imide, Epoxy and Urea resins.

Methacry­loxy-func­tion­al sil­i­cones, such as Sila­plane FM-7711, are less com­mon­ly used in cos­met­ics, but they have unique prop­er­ties that make them use­ful in cer­tain appli­ca­tions. For exam­ple, they can help to improve the adhe­sion of oth­er ingre­di­ents in a for­mu­la­tion, such as pig­ments or par­ti­cles, and can also improve the water resis­tance of sun­screens. Methacry­lox­ies are almost exclu­sive­ly com­pat­i­ble with Acrylics.

Physical Properties and Benefits of Reactive Silicones in Cosmetics

In addi­tion to their phys­i­cal prop­er­ties, reac­tive sil­i­cones can also enhance the per­for­mance of oth­er cos­met­ic ingre­di­ents. For exam­ple, they can help to improve the longevi­ty and sta­bil­i­ty of cos­met­ic prod­ucts by pre­vent­ing oxi­da­tion and evap­o­ra­tion of volatile ingre­di­ents. They can also serve as a deliv­ery sys­tem for active ingre­di­ents, help­ing to improve their effi­ca­cy and absorp­tion into the skin.

Over­all, reac­tive sil­i­cones play an impor­tant role in the for­mu­la­tion of many cos­met­ic prod­ucts, con­tribut­ing to their phys­i­cal and per­for­mance prop­er­ties. The spe­cif­ic type of reac­tive sil­i­cone used in a cos­met­ic for­mu­la­tion is typ­i­cal­ly cho­sen based on the desired prop­er­ties and per­for­mance require­ments of the final prod­uct. For exam­ple, hydrox­yl-func­tion­al sil­i­cones may be pre­ferred for their mois­tur­iz­ing ben­e­fits, while amino-func­tion­al sil­i­cones may be used for their con­di­tion­ing and detan­gling properties.

Over­all, reac­tive sil­i­cones are an essen­tial ingre­di­ent in many cos­met­ic prod­ucts, con­tribut­ing to their phys­i­cal prop­er­ties and per­for­mance. Whether used as a blend­ing ingre­di­ent to improve the spread­abil­i­ty and tex­ture of prod­ucts, as a con­di­tion­ing agent for hair, or as a deliv­ery sys­tem for active ingre­di­ents, reac­tive sil­i­cones have a wide range of appli­ca­tions in the cos­met­ics industry.

We sup­port a wide prod­uct range with mul­ti­ple mol­e­c­u­lar weights and vis­cosi­ties and we can pro­duce new grades after con­sul­ta­tion with our RnD depart­ment. Please con­tact us to dis­cuss your requirements.

About George Kountardas

George is a Jack of all trades with an unappeasable inquiring mind. Obsessed with new products and technologies, he is always pushing forward for better, faster and more efficient applications. Always learning something new.

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