Cosmetics: Ingredients and Processing
The word “cosmetic product” can be defined as any preparation or substance placed in contact with the external parts of the human body with the intension of cleaning, or protecting or changing its appearance or altering its odor.
Most cosmetics are not just made of one single substance; they are prepared by the combination of ingredients like emulsifiers, thickeners, fragrances, colors, pH stabilizers, preservatives and water. They also include other ingredients like dyes, oils and pigmentation forms.
Some commonly used cosmetics, their ingredients and processing methods are as follows:
Lipstick: Though lipstick contains large varieties of ingredients, the major ones are oil, alcohol wax and pigment. Once the oil and wax are melted and blended together, a solution solvent will be added to it along with the chosen color pigment. Pigmentation ingredients will vary depending upon the preference of the manufacturer and on what type/sort of lipstick is being made. A deep red-matte lipstick will have more pigmentation than a glossy balm type. Once the initial blending is done, a machine will typically mix the formulation for over several hours. Then the mixture will be left to set. Once set, it is poured into the “familiar” shaped tube molding and cooled to maintain the shape.
Mascara: While coal or tar is used to get the deep black color of the mascara, in some countries, like the