News in brief: Croda, Brazil and bird droppings

Clear conditioning from Croda ​ International chemicals supplier Croda has released test results on its clear hair conditioning product designed to provide detangling properties to shampoo formulations. Test results showed that combining Crodafos HCE (Oleth-5 Phosphate and Dioleyl Phosphate) with polyquaternium-10 leads to superior conditioning and detangling compared to other polyquaternuim-10 formulations, stated Croda. In addition, the company said that when added to hair color formulations the product can help enhance the deposition of color on the hair, making for a longer lasting, truer color. The wide range of uses is possible as Crodafos HCE has a wide pH tolerance, meaning that it can be used in high pH color bases as well as in the low pH color developer. Brazil strengthens Middle East operations ​​Last week's Beautyworld Middle East trade fair held in Dubai reconfirmed the potential of the Middle East as an important market for Brazilian goods, according to Abihpec (the Brazilian Association of Toiletries, Perfumes and Cosmetics Industries). The trade association believes that the show resulted in sales of over $680,000 with prospects for $8m worth of business in the next 12 months for the participating companies. Commenting on the market potential Alexandre Vasto from Nunaat - one of the companies present in Dubai, said: "I believe there is space for Brazilian products in the Middle East even though the price pressure is strong.​" Bird poo facial ​ ​And finally nightingale droppings are vying against snake venom and frog skin for top place as the most bizarre cosmetics ingredient. The droppings are incorporated into a facial offered by a New York spa, which is based on traditional Geisha beauty practices. The concept has however been modernised for today's consumer according to spa owner Bernstein as the droppings are sanitized with UV light before being milled into a fine powder that is safe to use on the skin.