Hair gels, styling pastes, waxes, creams, pomades, and clays provide firmness and hold to the hair. Their holding power is primarily due to synthetic polymers. These soluble plastics form a thin film on the hair, giving it body and firmness. Almost all conventional hair styling products use such petroleum-based plastics. However, these have come under…

Why natural cosmetics don’t always smell, look or feel the same – and why that’s a good thing Many users of natural cosmetics have a clear expectation: the product should smell, look and feel the same every time they buy it. While this expectation is understandable, it does not fit with the basic idea behind…

The use of soaps is a natural part of our everyday life. But hardly anyone knows that the soaps available in supermarkets are usually mixtures of sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids. Components of solid soaps such as curd soaps are usually sodium oleate, sodium stearate and sodium palmitate, while soft soaps (also…

Unfortunately, cosmetic products cannot do entirely without thickeners and nowadays we use typically natural thickener. They ensure that the products always have an optimal consistency and increase the viscosity. For example, they make lotions more viscous and creamy, which makes them easier to apply and gives the skin a soft feel. Many manufacturers still rely…

How the Skin-Brain Axis Is Redefining Modern Skincare The skin is much more than just a covering—it is a neuroimmunoendocrine organ that produces and responds to neurotransmitters. This is precisely where neurocosmetics comes in: one of the industry’s most exciting trends, linking skincare and emotional well-being via the so-called skin-brain axis. Under buzzwords like “MoodActive”…

New active ingredients score particularly well in that they use natural raw materials, are environmentally friendly and sustainable, come from upcycling processes, usually do not require preservation and, of course, optimise the efficiency, skin feel and application properties of cosmetic products.   New active ingredients: pre- and postbiotics against wrinkles The active ingredients Probiolift® and…

Introduction The deodorant market has undergone a transformation in recent years. Consumers are increasingly seeking natural, effective and sustainable solutions for odour control. In this article, we will introduce new deodorant active ingredients that are not only effective but also environmentally friendly. We will examine the properties and efficacy data of these new deodorant active…

New SPF measurement methods ISO 23675 and ISO 23698: opportunities and challenges for the sun protection industry The sun protection factor (SPF) is the key indicator for every sun protection product. Until now, ISO 24444 was the only internationally recognised reference method for determining SPF in vivo. However, developments are progressing: with the new ISO…

Nicotinic acid, also called vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid amide, was discovered more or less by accident during the oxidation of nicotine. That was in 1867, but it was not until many years later, in 1934, that scientists recognised the extraordinary physiological effectiveness of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid amide). The vitamin is…

If you want to keep your skin beautiful and healthy in the long run, you cannot do without careful skin care. It is mainly divided into two areas: day care and night care. The formulations for day care products are completely different from those for night care products. This is not a clever marketing strategy,…