Application of self-emulsifying system
1. Self-emulsifying system: oil and water construction
Self-emulsifying system, as the name suggests, refers to a system where raw materials can spontaneously form a uniform emulsion by relying only on their own components without the need for additional strong stirring or complex equipment.The core of this type of system is an
Emulsifier with a special molecular structure.They are oleophilic at one end and hydrophilic at the other, building a communication channel between the oil phase and the water phase like a bridge.When the raw material containing the self-emulsifying component comes into contact with water, the emulsifier molecules will be quickly arranged at the interface, automatically reducing the surface tension, so that the oil droplets are evenly dispersed in the water, and finally a stable emulsion is formed.This process not only simplifies the production process, but also reduces energy consumption. It is undoubtedly an attractive technological breakthrough for cosmetics companies pursuing green production.
In the actual formula, the adaptability of the self-emulsifying system is also quite excellent.For example, when making a refreshing body lotion, formulators can directly choose a formula with non-polar oils as the main oil phase, and use
Oil in water emulsifier type self-emulsifying raw materials to achieve water-oil fusion without the need to add other emulsifiers.In the production workshop, the emulsification process, which originally took several hours, can now be shortened with the help of a self-emulsifying system, and the batch stability of the finished product is greatly improved, reducing the loss of raw materials due to process fluctuations.
2. Core raw materials: OILREE® series self-emulsifying emulsifiers
In the research and development scenario of personal care products, the advantages of the self-emulsifying system are vividly demonstrated.Taking common skin care creams as an example, the traditional emulsifying system requires formulators to accurately control the proportion of emulsifiers, stirring speed and temperature. If you are not careful, problems such as stratification and demulsification may occur.The emergence of a self-emulsifying system has made this process more worry-free.Only self-emulsifying raw materials such as OILREE® MY965 or OILREE® MY967 need to be directly added to the aqueous phase, supplemented by gentle stirring, to quickly form a delicate and stable emulsion.
The main component of this kind of raw material is peg-100 stearate or glyceryl stearate, which is a typical nonionic emulsifier with excellent emulsifying ability and compatibility. It is suitable for formulas with non-polar oils as the main oil phase component, especially in the face of common oils such as mineral oils and synthetic esters, it can show excellent adaptability.Among them, the performance of MY967 is particularly eye-catching. With only 3 parts added, it can wrap up to 60 parts of the non-polar oil phase. It is a high-performance and high-thickening self-emulsifying emulsifier. It can also tolerate the electrolyte components in the formula and adapt to the formula system with
Thickening suspension ingredients added.
Different types of raw materials also have their own adaptation scenarios: MY965 is slightly yellowish granular, which is more suitable for products with low color requirements, while MY965-b is white granular, which performs better in light-colored formulas such as whitening and brightening.When many brands launch creams that focus on the concept of “no additives”, they will choose MY965-b as the core emulsifier, which can not only avoid additional toning steps, but also ensure the gentleness of the formula.
3. Multiple application scenarios: full link coverage from skin care to hair care
Judging from the characteristics of the raw materials, the stable performance of the self-emulsifying system is also very eye-catching.In the formula design, it can also coexist harmoniously with a variety of functional raw materials.For example, adding
Ascorbyl palmitate can improve the antioxidant capacity of the formula.This kind of flexible collocation allows formulators to have a broader space to play when creating efficacy-based products.
In the subdivided field of personal care products, the application scenarios of self-emulsifying systems are constantly expanding：
-Skin care category: It is widely used in basic products such as creams and lotions, and can also be used as a formula for makeup remover, emulsion, sunscreen, concealer and other functional makeup.For example, in sunscreen formulas, the self-emulsifying system can help sunscreen powders such as titanium dioxide disperse evenly, reduce whitening, and improve the waterproof and sweat-resistant properties of the product.
-Hair care products: The self-emulsifying system can help hair lotion and hair mask achieve more uniform oil dispersion and reduce hair knotting.Some hair care products that specialize in “leave-in repair” rely on a self-emulsifying system to form a thin protective film on the surface of the hair with silicone oil, plant essential oils and other ingredients, which are both smooth and refreshing.
-Body care: Shower gel and body lotion containing self-emulsifying raw materials can quickly form a gentle milky film when in contact with the skin, enhancing the moisturizing effect.Especially in autumn and winter, such products can reduce the stickiness of traditional lotions after application, allowing consumers to get a more comfortable experience.
4. New opportunities in the industry under the green trend
Taking MY965 and MY965-b as an example, such raw materials are marked as green grade, there are fewer pollutants generated in the production process, and the raw materials themselves have good biodegradable properties, which are in line with the trend of sustainable development in the cosmetics industry.At the same time, the characteristics of the self-emulsifying system to simplify the production process can also indirectly reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the factory, and contribute to green beauty from the production side.
Of course, the self-emulsifying system is not perfect.In the formulation design, R&D personnel still need to choose suitable self-emulsifying raw materials according to product positioning. The thickening ability and emulsifying effect will also be affected by factors such as the type of oil phase and the amount added, and the formulator needs to optimize it through multiple experiments.For example, in anti-aging creams with high concentrations of active ingredients, the proportion of self-emulsifying raw materials needs to be adjusted to avoid the interaction between the active ingredients and the emulsifier, which affects the efficacy of the product.
5. In general
From the perspective of industry development, the rise of self-emulsifying system is not only a breakthrough at the technical level, but also a microcosm of the innovation and upgrading of the cosmetic raw material industry.A self-emulsifying system with the advantages of high efficiency, stability, and greenness. For formulators, an in-depth understanding of the principle and application of the self-emulsifying system will inject more possibilities into product research and development. For enterprises, the layout of the research and development and production of self-emulsifying raw materials will also seize the opportunity in the fierce market competition.
Hubei Mingya New Material Technology Co., Ltd.
