The New Jersey-based subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company released the SatinFX delivery system at this month's trade show In-Cosmetics in Amsterdam.
The release is in response to the popularity of multifunctional products that pose challenges for more conventional delivery systems.
Increased stability of ingredients
The system allows both hydrophobic and hydrophilic actives to be encapsulated and incorporated into formulations, increasing the stability of the ingredients, according to the company.
"Our SatinFX delivery system provides enhanced stability over time, which helps prevent oxidation of the actives and discoloration of the finished product," said marketing manager Denise Elias-Costrini.
In addition, encapsulating ingredients allows formulators to combine functional actives that may be incompatible.
As an example the company cites the combination of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and amino acids to create sunless tanning products that also provide anti-aging benefits.
Decreased irritancy of actives
Furthermore, Amerchol notes the potential of the technology to protect the skin against irritation.
"Some actives provide significant benefits to the skin, such as alpha hydroxy acids, but they can also be very irritating. By encapsulating these actives, the potential for skin irritation is reduced, which helps to provide a better experience for the consumer," said Elias-Costrini.
Increasing market for delivery systems
The market for delivery systems is growing rapidly. According to a recent article published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science the US market for delivery systems has increased from $19bn in 2000 to over $41bn in 2007.
Market growth is being driven by the challenges presented by a new generation of actives ingredients and the trend for multifunctional products.
Furthermore, market growth is unlikely to slow as sophisticated encapsulation technologies will also play a role in one of the most important future delivery trends, namely the controlled release of active ingredients.
