Common ingredients that are used in cosmetic formulations

1. Mohammad Asim
+919953194659
Common ingredients used in cosmetics
1.ANTI BACTERIAL AND PRESERVATIVES:
The term “antibacterial agent” is largely used to qualify chemical agents, which are included in
cosmetics or household products to provide them-
I. Bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity
II. To protect the product by providing a preservative efficacy against micro-organisms
TOPICAL ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS:
 Triclocarban (TCC) Most antibacterial soap bar contains TCC as the active ingredient.
 Formaldehyde In the past, antibacterial soap bars were prepared with formaldehyde.
 These were very effective for hospital use, but the use of formaldehyde declined due to
toxicity reasons.
 Triclosan- Currently a max of 1% of the liquid soaps are formulated with triclosan. Safety
of the regular use of TCC and triclosan were extensively discussed by FDA.
2. COLORANTS:
 The use of coloring agents for decorative purpose is one of the earliest cultural
accomplishments of humankind.
 The dramatic boom in the development of color industry led to numerous new colorants
and pigments.
 Inorganic pigments are used in large quantities.
 In coloring decorative cosmetics several products are of vital importance: e.g. titanium
dioxide is most important white pigment
 Iron oxides and iron hydroxides for the colors yellow, red and black, ultramarine
especially in blue and violet, Prussian blue, coal black.
 By combining iron oxides with titanium dioxide various brown tones can be created in
makeup and toning creams
 The most significant colorant is composed of the organic colorants and pigments
 Mainly these are azo, triarylmethane, anthraquinone, xanthene or phthalocyanine
colorants and pigments
3. EMOLLIENTS:
 Cosmetic ingredients which help to maintain the soft, smooth and pliable appearance
of the skin
 Obtained from natural origin or by chemical synthesis
EMOLIENT CLASSIFICATION:
1: polar substances (esters and triglycerides)
2: non polar substances (paraffins and iso paraffins)

2. Mohammad Asim
+919953194659
As a class they comprise lipids, oils and their derivatives, fatty acid esters, lanolin derivatives and
silicones.
LIPOPHILLIC EMOLLIENTS AND OCCULUSIVES:
 They comprise vegetable oils, triglycerides, mineral oil, natural or synthetic waxes, fatty
acid esters, lanolin oil and its derivatives
 Commonly used in liquid skin cleansing products
HYDROPHLLIC LIPIDS:
 Preferred for foaming skin cleansing preparations
 It includes ethoxylated glycerides, low ethoxylates triglycerides, ethoxylated mono and di
glycerides, propoxylated fatty alcohols
4. HUMECTANTS:
 Cosmetic ingredients intended to increase the water content of top layers of skin
 Examples includes glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, xylitol, ethoxylated methyl
glucose, lactic acid, sodium lactate
5. CERAMIDES AND LIPIDS:
 The majority of emollients used in personal care and beauty items are fats and oils, also
called lipids.
 Many of the major cosmetic companies are moving away from animal-based materials to
renewable vegetable-based materials.
 Coconut oil and palm kernel oil are often used.
6. MOISTURIZERS:
 Moisturizers are generally polar materials that are hygroscopic in nature they hold onto
water
 Glycerin is a very cost-effective ingredient used to help reduce trans epidermal water loss
(TEWL).
 Aloe contains a mixture of polysaccharides, carbohydrates, and minerals, is an excellent
moisturizer
7. THICKENERS:
 By incorporating enough wax into a thin lotion, a thick cream can be formed.
 Many thickeners are polymers e.g. cellulose and Carbopol. Carrageenan, pectin, and locust
bean gum are all examples of cosmetic thickeners.
8. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
 Materials that work physiologically within the skin or aid in protecting the skin are called
active ingredients.

3. Mohammad Asim
+919953194659
 Some active materials are added to skin treatments to protect the skin from the
environment.
 Dimethicone and petrolatum are examples of skin protectants.
 Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are important ingredients because of their anti-acne
activity.
9. SUNSCREENS:
 Sunscreens are a class of compounds that protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.
 Octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, titanium dioxide and avobenzone are some
important topical sunscreens.
 They can be classified depending upon the wavelengths they absorb.
 Benzophenone-4, a water-soluble UV filter, is commonly used to protect the skin from
UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet light.