Manufacturers respond to consumer demand for products with greater sensory properties

Skin care is the biggest market in the cosmetics industry with an incredibly vast array of products available to the consumer.

Despite this, consumers are still unhappy with the sensory properties of the majority of the skin care products they use on a daily basis.

A recent Mintel report highlighted the fact that three in ten consumers were unhappy with currently available products whilst 38 percent of users think hand lotions are greasy and 37 percent often feel that lotions leave their skin feeling sticky.

In addition, a growing trend has been observed of consumers demanding multi-purpose products that offer added-value, which has been increasingly evident since the economic downturn.

Sensory connections​

In light of this, a number of skin care ingredients have been launched focusing on sensory connections.

Quite recently, Shin-Etsu launched two silicone-based ingredients to improve the skin feel of the final products.

The first of the two, KSP-441 hybrid silicone powder has a soft sensory focus and adds functionality to formulation, improving skin feel to lotions and creams.

DMF-2 high purity dimethicone fluid is a light and dry volatile diluent with zero skin irritancy, bringing an enhanced sensory solution to skin care products including color cosmetics.

Inolex variant​

American manufacturer Inolex also developed Emulsense SC, a skin care ingredient when used in very high oil content formulation retained a powdery skin-feel that was not too greasy.

According to the company, Emulsense SC had very nice aesthetic properties when used as the primary emulsifier in creams and lotions.

The ingredient has also been launched for the hair care market as a natural cationic ingredient helping to relieve static, leaving hair smoother and less fly-away.

Cooling agents​

Likewise, in response to consumer demand, German chemicals company Symrise launched Frescolat X-cool, a new cooling agent to give skin care products a long-lasting cooling effect.

According to Symrise, the ingredient works quickly, cooling skin immediately after application, and lasts up to 30 minutes.

For topical applications, it is suited to formulations with acidic to neutral pH and can be used in face, body and hair care, as well as in after sun care.