Product Forms of

Cosmetics
Product Forms of Cosmetics
•Solutions
•Gels
•Lotions
Types of •Sticks
Cosmetic •Suspensions
s
•Pastes
•Emulsions
•Powder
•Capsules/Tablets
1. Solutions Cosmetics
• These are the simplest type of
cosmetic formulas and are used
for a wide range of products
such as shampoos, body wash,
hand cleansers, colognes, etc.
• They are homogeneous mixtures
of soluble ingredients.
2. Creams/Emulsions
• Most of cosmetics use raw materials
that are not compatible, so a cream
or emulsion is used.
• Emulsions are pseudo stable mixtures
of immiscible liquids dispersed in
another liquid.
• They are used for products like hand
moisturizers, make up, hair
conditioners, sunscreens, etc.
3. Lotions
• Creams are not always appropriate
for some applications because they
can be too heavy or greasy. In
these cases, the lotion form is used.
• Lotions are essentially thin creams.
They are used for facial moisturizers,
leave-on hair conditioners, and
moisturizing cleansers.
4. Suspensions
• Suspensions are another product
form for delivering incompatible
ingredients.
• Unlike creams, they are typically
clear products with visible
particles like gelatin beads or
inorganic minerals (e.g., titanium
dioxide) suspended throughout.
• They are used for sunscreens,
hand washes or shampoos.
5. Pastes
• These are super thick products used for
things like hairdressing and medicated
skin products.
• Usually, they are anhydrous (contain no
water) and are sticky & greasy.
• Some common ingredients used to
create pastes include petrolatum,
lanolin, or dimethicone.
6. Capsules
• Tablets are physically blended solids that
are held together by being pressed into
shape.
• These include compact powder, eye
shadow, cheek shadow cakes.
7. Powder
• One of the most common types
of product forms for color
cosmetics is powders.
• Powders are also used for
products like baby powder &
foot powder.
• They are just mixtures of solid
raw materials blended into a
fine powder.
• Some typical ingredients
include talc, silicates, and
starch.
8. Gels
• These are thick products, typically
clear, and have a property known as
“shear thinning”.
• This means they stay thick until you
apply a force which makes them thin
and flowable.
• Gels are used for hair products, body
washes, shaving products, and in
toothpaste.
9. Sticks
• Sticks are solid delivery forms that
deliver active ingredients through a
rubbing action.
• Examples include lipstick or
underarm deodorant.
• The ingredients are heated until
they melt, mixed, and poured into
either a mold or the final container.
When they cool, they take the
shape of their packaging.
10. Aerosols
• Aerosols are more of a packaging product form
than a specific formulation type.
• Aerosols are any cosmetic delivered from a
pressurized can.
• They are composed of a concentrate and a
propellant. After making the formula of cosmetics, fill
it into the can.
• Seal the can and pressurize it using the appropriate
propellant.
• Recent VOC (volatile organic compounds)
regulations have reduced the use of aerosols in
cosmetic products.
COSMETICS INGREDIENTS
AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Categories of Ingredients
• Functional Ingredients – these are the main ingredients
chosen to perform the primary function of the cosmetic
product.
• Structural Ingredients – provide the structure and form of
the product.
• Supportive Ingredients – improve the stability and shelf life
of the product.
• Added Extra – added in small amounts to improve
consumer acceptance and to make the product more
marketable.
a. Abrasives
• These are used to remove skin cells or
plaque from teeth through friction.
• Examples:
• Body exfoliants/scrubs - oat kernel meal,
salt, sugar, walnut shell powder,
hydrogenated jojoba wax
• Toothpaste abrasives - silica, sodium
bicarbonate
b. Antioxidants
• They reduce oxidation and rancidity from
occurring over time. They act as supportive
ingredients to lengthen the shelf life of the
product. They are marketed as skin nurturers.
• Examples:
• Vitamins – tocopherol (Vitamin E)
• Plant extracts - green tea leaf extract, chamomile
flower extract, rosemary leaf extract, and grape seed
extract
c. Chelating Agents
• They are also known as sequestrants. They help
improve the product's stability by binding metal
ions that may be present in other raw materials.
They are essential in foaming products as they
bind ions in hard water and prevent
deterioration of the foam.
• Examples:
• Citric acid
• Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
• Tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
d. Colorants
• These are used to give color to a
product or the skin. Most of the colorants
are synthetically made.
• Examples: Acid Green, Basic Yellow, Iron
oxide red, and Chromium oxide green
e. Cosmetic Astringents
• They induce a tightening and toning
effect on the skin. They are commonly
found in skin toner, astringents, and
aftershave lotion
• Examples: Alcohols and Witch hazel
extract
f. Emulsion stabilizer
• It stabilizes the emulsion once formed
and prevents the separation of oil and
water in the emulsion. It also serves as a
thickening agent.
• Examples: Xanthan gum, Cellulose gum,
Hydroxyethyl cellulose, Acrylates, alkyl
acrylate cross polymer, and carbomer
g. Exfoliants
• They remove dead skin cell layers by
dissolving intracellular "cement“ holding
surface skin cells together. They are
usually found in skin whitening or skin
peel products in the presence of low pH.
• Examples: Glycolic acid, Lactic acid,
and Salicylic acid
h. Fragrance
• This is used to enhance the products'
smell or to mask undesirable
odors/scents.
• Examples: Essential oils
i. Hair Conditioning Agents
• These are used to condition and improve the
hair's appearance, gloss, and shine while
facilitating styling and reducing the static of the
hair. They improve the texture of the hair that
has been dried through styling, chemical
exposure, or environmental drying.
• Examples:
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
Behentrimonium methosulfate, Amodimethicone,
Cetrimonium chloride, Polyquaternium-7, and
Quaternium-22
j. Hair Fixatives
• They are used to hold the hair in styles in
place.
• Examples:
Acrylic acid/VP cross polymer and VP/VA
copolymer
k. Opacifying Agents
• They are added to shampoos and
shower gels to make them appear
pearlescent. They provide consumers
with the impression that the product is
rich and creamy.
• Examples: Glycol Stearate, Propylene
glycol stearate, and Stearamide
Monoethanolamine (MEA) stearate
l. pH Adjusters
• They adjust the pH of the product at the
desired range.
• They can be considered as Acids (lower the
pH) and bases (raise the pH).
• Examples:
• Acids - citric acid, lactic acid
• Bases potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide,
and triethanolamine
m. Preservatives
• They prevent or retard microbial growth
in cosmetics.
• Examples: Diazolidinyl urea,
Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol,
Propylparaben, and Sodium
hydroxymethylglycinate
n. Skin Conditioning Agents
• Emollients- impart softness to the skin by remaining on the
upper layer of the skin and reduce flaking
• Examples: Cocoglycerides, caprylic/capric triglycerides,
Isopropyl myristate, Dimethicone, and mineral oil
• Humectants - retard moisture loss by holding water within
the surface layers of the skin and drawing in moisture from
the air
• Examples: Glycerin, Propylene glycol, and Sodium hyaluronate
• Occlusive - blocks the evaporation of water from the
surface of the skin, keeping it moist and increasing its water
content
• Examples: Shea butter, Jojoba seed oil, Caprylic/ capric
triglycerides, and Propylene glycol dioleate
o. Solvents
• These are liquids that are used to
dissolve constituents or act as carriers in
cosmetic products.
• Examples: Water, Alcohol, Butylene
glycol, Glycerine, and Propylene glycol
p. Sunscreen Agents
• They are used to protect the skin from UV
radiation.
• Examples: Benzophenone-3, Butyl
methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl
methoxycinnamate, titanium dioxide,
and zinc oxide
q. Surfactants
• They are surface-active agents and have the ability to modify the
surface of the substance.
• Cleansing Agents - produce foam and clean the surface of the
skin or hair
• Examples: Cocoyl glucoside, Decyl glucoside, Cocamidopropyl
betaine, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate,
and Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate
• Emulsifying Agents - used to mix oils and water in an emulsion
• Examples: Cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, Ceteareth-20, and PEG-
100 stearate
• Solubilizers - used to dissolve substances that are usually
insoluble a continuous medium
• Examples: Laureth-20, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, and
Polysorbate 80
r. Viscosity Increasing Agents –
Aqueous (Thickeners)
• These thicken the water-soluble
components of the product.
• Examples: Agar, Xanthan gum, Guar
hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride,
Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates, alkyl
acrylate cross polymer, and carbomer
s. Viscosity Increasing Agents -
Non-Aqueous (Thickeners)
• These thicken the oil-soluble components
of the product.
• Examples: Beeswax, Candelilla wax,
Stearalkonium bentonite, Microcrystalline
wax, and Silica dimethyl silylate.
Example:
2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
Surfactants (Cleansing agent) – to cleanse the hair
Functional
Ingredients Hair conditioning agents – to perform its secondary function

Viscosity Increasing Agent – increases the thickness

Chelating agent – binds active ingredients to hard water and make the foam
stable
Supportive
Ingredients pH adjuster – to control the pH level
Preservatives – lengthen the shelf life of the product
Fragrance – adds desirable scent
Added Colorant – to obtain a presentable color of the product
Extra
Opacifying agent – makes the shampoo pearlescent
 Antiaging
Liquid
Facial Cream
TRY THIS! Foundation
with
with Primer
Moisturizer
Product Form
Functional
Structural
Supportive
Add on