Skin feel has long been one of the core indicators for consumers to choose products. Whether the foundation make-up is stuck, face cream is sticky, or the lip glaze is pulled dry, these details directly determine the market acceptance of a product. And behind the scenes, it is Silicon Elastomers, known as the "master of skin sensation" in the industry, who silently support high-quality skin sensation. As an emerging raw material in the field of beauty and personal care,
Silicone Elastomers are becoming the key to breaking through product homogenization for domestic brands due to their unique physical properties and formula adaptability. Our representative brand SMOICON ® Taking the silicone elastomer series as an example, we will delve into its technological advantages, diverse application scenarios, and focus on local innovation highlights.
What is silicone elastomer?
Silicone elastomers are not a single substance, but a type of cross-linked polymer based on organosilicon. In short, it is a special process to make silicone molecules cross-linked into a three-dimensional network structure, and then dispersed in a suitable solvent to form a gel like substance. This structure endows it with two core advantages: first, it retains the low surface tension of organosilicon, providing a silky and smooth touch; second, the porous structure formed by cross-linking can adsorb oil like a sponge and has excellent spreading properties.
SMOICON ® Its product matrix covers different scenario requirements. For example, SMOICON ® MY651， With
Cyclopentasiloxane as the solvent, transparent gel texture is added to the honey powder to make the powder more delicate, which can make the product feel full of velvet instantly, control oil and avoid the problem of flying powder of traditional honey powder. MY652 optimizes the particle diameter, which is thinner and more transparent than MY651. When added to liquid foundation, it can not only improve the concealer power, but also not make the makeup feel thick. It is the secret weapon of many Chinese skin care foundation make-up. While MY621 uses low viscosity polydimethylsiloxane as the solvent, which absorbs faster, and can form a breathable film after being applied on the face for a few seconds. It is the core backbone of oil control essence and matte face cream.
The versatile application of silicone elastomers
1. Makeup industry
The greater the competition for skin feel in cosmetics, the more prominent the role of silicone elastomers becomes. Take the foundation make-up that tests the skin feeling most as an example. In order to pursue the oil control effect, traditional matte foundation make-up often adds a large number of talcum powder, silica and other powders, which is easy to cause the face to be stuck and mottled, especially the dry skin has a poor experience in autumn and winter. The foundation make-up with MY652 added can absorb grease through the porous structure of silicone elastomer, and its velvet touch can make the powder more suitable for the skin. Even dry skin can be painted with light mist face makeup. After 6 hours of holding the makeup, there may be only slight oil in the T area, without the embarrassment of makeup removal.
The performance of silicone elastomers is equally impressive in both honey powder and loose powder. For example, air honey powder uses MY651 as the core material, replacing 30% of traditional talcum powder. This not only extends the oil control time of the honey powder from 4 hours to 8 hours, but also solves the problem of a powdery appearance on the face.
Silicone elastomers are also indispensable in the field of lip makeup. Previous matte lip glazes commonly had problems with dryness and lip lines, while lip glazes with added silicone elastomers can form a thin elastic film on the lips, which not only locks in moisture to reduce dryness, but also makes the color more durable. For example, you can try using SMOICON ® The combination scheme with oil and fat will produce the effect of not easily fading or sticking to the cup.
2. Skincare industry
For oily and mixed skins, oil control is an eternal issue in skincare. Traditional oil control products either rely on alcohol for instant refreshing, but long-term use can irritate the skin barrier, or rely on oil absorbing powders to absorb oil, but can easily accumulate pores and lead to acne. The emergence of silicone elastomers provides a milder and longer lasting solution for oil control and skincare.
MY621 is a silicone elastomer product designed specifically for skincare, with higher cross-linking and stronger ability to absorb oils and fats. If it is used as the main ingredient, combined with a small amount of salicylic acid and niacinamide, it can achieve a small amount of oil in the T zone, and sensitive skin will not turn red when used. More importantly, the breathable film it forms will not clog pores and can assist in the absorption of active ingredients such as niacinamide, achieving dual effects of oil control and skin care.
Men's skincare has also begun to favor silicone elastomers. Men's skin secretes more oil, and their requirements for skin sensation are simpler and more direct - refreshing and non greasy. For example, the men's matte face cream added MY621 and moisturizing ingredients, which is as easy to push away as ice cream. After application, the skin is matte, but not tight.
Raw material collaboration
The formula of beauty and skincare products is like a team battle, no matter how powerful the silicone elastomer is, it still needs to be combined with other ingredients to achieve the maximum effect. It's like cooking, no matter how good the main ingredients are, there must be auxiliary seasonings to achieve a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste.
In emulsion systems, the dispersibility of silicone elastomers is crucial. If you want to make an O/W lotion or face cream, you need to match it with an appropriate
Oil in water emulsifier, such as Peg 40 hydrogenated caster oil. It can make the silicon elastomer evenly dispersed in the aqueous phase system, avoid caking, and improve the stability of the product, so that the lotion will not delaminate at high temperatures.
In terms of thickening and suspension, sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer is the golden partner of silicone elastomers. This
Thickening suspension agent not only makes the product texture thicker, but also optimizes the application feel. For example, in liquid foundation, it can make silicon elastomer and toner better suspended, avoid toner precipitation, and make foundation make-up more smooth without uneven coating.
In addition, silicone elastomers can coexist peacefully with moisturizing ingredients. Many people are concerned that silicone elastomers that control oil can dry the skin, but in reality, they can be combined with moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture while controlling oil. For example, using a combination of MY621 and hyaluronic acid has a good oil control effect and does not cause tightness.
Localization innovation of silicone elastomers
Firstly, there is innovation in skin compatibility. There are differences in skin types between Eastern consumers and European and American populations, with a higher proportion of mixed skin. They generally face the problem of oily T-zone but dry cheeks, and a higher proportion of sensitive skin. SMOICON ® Accurately adjust the cross-linking degree and solvent system of the product to address this characteristic.
Secondly, there is a breakthrough in cost control. By optimizing production processes and having the advantage of a production base, the production cost of silicone elastomers can be reduced while ensuring product quality. This allows mid to low end domestic brands to use high-quality raw materials and launch affordable and easy-to-use products.
Finally, there is the upgrade of customized services. International brands often offer standardized products, while domestic brands are more familiar with local market demands and can provide customized formula solutions for downstream brands.
Conclusion
Silicone elastomers, with their unique skin feel advantages, are changing the development logic of beauty and skincare products. From the silky matte finish of makeup to the long-lasting oil control of skincare, it has solved one pain point after another for consumers and become the key to the usability of products. The innovative breakthroughs of raw material brands in the field of silicone elastomers have made it possible for high-quality raw materials and affordable beauty and skincare products.
Hubei Mingya New Material Technology Co., Ltd.
