Multi-function materials: Making formulating great products easier!

Multi-Functional Functionals

One of the most common multi-functional benefits from a functional ingredient is to get premium sensory feel. The functional materials need to be present in the product anyway to create it – so why not use those which achieve the sensory expectations of consumers or enhance the products claims and performance? For example, look for multi-functional ‘functional’ ingredients such as:

• those which can be used to create and/or stabilise an emulsion while also adding to the sensory experience of the product. There are multiple emulsifiers and gums now available to help perform these functions; speak with your supplier for their latest suggestions on functionals with sensory benefits for more information
• materials that enable the creation of a wide range of products – enabling manufacturers to carry less variation of stock on the floor whilst still enabling the creation of a wide scope of products. From sprays to gels to cream, whether they are water based or oil based, being able to use 1 material to create as many of these product forms as possible makes formulating and manufacturing much easier. We’ve been particularly impressed with Sucragel (Alchemy Ingredients) which enables this kind of versatility and is also available in an organic version AND boosts skin hydration for up to 8 hours! Now that’s multi-functionality! Learn how to use – and fix – Sucragel in cosmetic formulas – watch now.
• polymeric emulsifiers that not only stabilize high content of oil without the need for secondary emulsifiers or polymers, but also provide desirable sensory. One of our favourites is the Novemer products (Lubrizol) to make formulating simple even under cold process. Another is Avalure Flex-6 (Lubrizol) which is ideal for sunscreen formulas as it not only stabilises high oil content, it also boosts SPF, enhances pigment dispersion, provides film formation and water resistance and enhances the skin feel of these normally difficult to create products PLUS its cold processable!
• emulsion stabilisers that have additional conditioning benefits to the skin, sustained release of active ingredients and exceptional skin feel. Two of our favourites to do this include Biophilic H and Biophilic S (Lucas Meyer Cosmetics)
• emulsifiers with anti-oxidant and/or anti-ageing benefits – a new and emerging category of materials, one of our favourites is Ceralution H (Sasol)

Multi-Functional Actives

Multi-functional actives are those ingredients with multiple skin and/or hair benefits to really boost product claims beyond a single use. Here we’ll provide just some of the most exciting multi-functional actives we’ve seen launched of late!

• Elixiance Biofunctional (Ashland) – rich in antioxidants and active flavonols, this multi-functional active provides pollution-shielding effects, purifying benefits for oil control and pore refining, and anti-ageing benefits for less visible wrinkles and younger looking skin.
• LaraCare A200 (Lonza) - a true multi-functional active, this material provides multiple skin-tastic benefits: reduces TEWL, reduces fine lines and wrinkles by up to 19% within 8 weeks; reduces emulsion particle size for greater stability, boosts SPF rating between 5-60%, increases the efficacy of skin exfoliants and is substantive to hair, being especially useful for heat protection products.
• Beracare BBA (Beraca) - this Certified Organic material is one of several organic actives now being launched – this enables the creation of ‘Certified Organic’ end products that couldn’t be created before; because the actives just didn’t exist! This amazing material provides hair conditioning benefits comparable to cationic conditioning agents. It can also be used on the skin to whiten and even skin tone, increase hyaluronic acid content, improve firmness and promote deep hydration.
• Phyto(flu)ene (IBR) - giving consumers an immediately visible redness reduction/whitening effect, this material also provides long lasting anti-inflammatory effects, is rich in antioxidants, provides UV absorbance and lightens the skin tone with regular use.
• Maritech Bright (Marinova) - another Certified Organic material to enable creation of highly active Certified Organic products, this material has clinically proven efficacy as a skin whitener and anti-age spot product. It also has advanced antioxidant benefits and anti-aging results to reduce wrinkle depth.
• Solashield (Solabia Biotecnologica) - a broad spectrum answer to the rising pollution and UV issues consumers face, this material provides protection from pollution and heavy metals, is UV boosting, antioxidant and provides instant smoothing and wrinkle filling benefits.

Creating that multi-functional winning formula!

Get more out of your materials and reap the formulation and efficacy benefits by combining multi-functional functionals with multi-functional actives for products that not only deliver on their promises but can promise more and cost less! Try out these options by contacting your supplier today and create the innovative multi-functional products of tomorrow.