A cosmetic thickener is a substance that increases the viscosity or consistency of a cosmetic product, which can increase the viscosity of the material system, keep the material system in a uniform and stable suspension or emulsion state, or form a gel. Most of the thickeners also have emulsifying effect.
Cosmetic thickeners can be divided into two categories: natural and synthetic. Most of the natural products from the viscous polysaccharide-containing plants and algae, such as starch, gum arabic, pectin, agar, gelatin, alginate, keratine, dextrin and so on. Synthetic products are carboxymethyl cellulose, propylene glycol alginate, methyl cellulose, sodium starch phosphate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, casein, sodium polyacrylate, polyoxymethylene, polyvinylpyrrolidone and so on.
Thickeners are widely used in cosmetics, such as shampoo, shower gel, skin care products. Adding the right amount of thickening agent in cosmetics can control the rheological form of the product and improve the stability and quality of the product.
It is important to note that the amount of thickener added generally should not exceed 1%, otherwise it may lead to the product texture is too thick to use. At the same time, different thickeners may have different effects and impacts on different formulations and product types, so they need to be selected and adjusted when used.
Thickeners serve a variety of purposes in skin care products
First, thickeners can increase the viscosity of skin care products, making them thicker, thus improving the texture and appearance of the product.
Secondly, thickeners can increase the stability of skin care products, so that it is not easy to use in the process of layering, precipitation and other phenomena, to maintain the uniformity and stability of the product.
Finally, the thickener can also increase the adsorption of skin care products, so that it is better attached to the skin, to improve the moisturizing and nourishing effect of the product.
It should be noted that the type of thickener and the amount of additives need to be selected and adjusted according to the specific product formulation and use requirements to ensure product quality and safety.
Thickener common mechanism
- Chain entanglement thickening, generally polymer is this thickening mechanism. The larger the molecular weight, the more obvious the thickening effect;
- Hydrogen bonding thickening mechanism means that the functional groups on the polymer have the ability to form hydrogen bonds with each other, forming hydrogen bonds to increase the molecular force, and achieve the thickening effect. The strength of the thickening effect is related to the strength of the hydrogen bond formed by the functional groups;
- Neutralization and thickening mechanism;
- Double neutralization thickening;
- Inorganic salt hydration thickening;
- Oil phase melting point thickening.
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