In
this week’s cosmetics and personal care industry roundup, Newlogic’s strategy team review some of the latest developments in preservation systems.
The method for preserving formulations has always been a challenge in cosmetics and personal care products. Cosmetic formulators need to adopt an appropriate strategy that is safe for users and able to preserve products from microorganism contamination. An effective way to achieve both goals is to combine safe preservation with protective packaging.
Preservative Ingredient Innovations
Cosmetic and personal care chemists have been looking for groundbreaking ingredients for two important reasons: to improve the formula efficacy and to replace unsafe chemicals. Yet the development of preservatives, different from fragrance and color, has to be conducted to ensure the efficacy of preservatives, the challenge is that the materials need to be toxic to the bacterial organism but not harmful to human body.
Some recent product development work that has been focusing on researching antimicrobial agents that is safe and capable to replace traditional chemical preservatives. Several R&D leaders in the industry have succeeded in deriving plant essential oils and extract that exhibit high antimicrobial properties.
Lonza Inc. has introduced two antimicrobial compositions that comprise benzoic acid and cinnamaldehyde. Both compositions feature natural, low cost and effective in controlling microorganism contamination. Another ingredients supplier, CAMPO Research, has focused on testing the antimicrobial efficacy of Lonicera caprifoleum and Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) extracts. They have been trying to create “preservative-free” formulations by combining these two ingredients with other antimicrobial materials.
Innovative Packaging Helps
Innovations on the package can also help to protect against the proliferation of bacteria within the product.
The packaging supplier Aptar has designed an Irresistible pump that provides formulas with complete protection from contamination. The pump has a sterilizing filter and a pump seal to stop the product from re-entering the bottle after it has been dispensed.
Avenehas also introduced a DEFI closure system, which allows the company to offer preservative-free products. The DEFI closure system includes four parts, which help to seal off the package and protect the formulation from the external environment.
Formula protection has become a focus for cosmetic packaging as consumer concerns about preservatives are increasing. A protective package will be an alternative solution for R&D leaders when they are searching for the replacement of toxic preservatives.
Compiled by Sandra Huang
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