New Shin-Etsu silicone ingredient targets sensorial properites

11-Jul-2012 - Last updated on 12-Jul-2012 at 14:42 GMT

Related tags Hair conditioner Hygiene

Shin-Etsu has launched a new silicone-based ingredient for the hair and skin care categories that underlines the growing trend towards formulations with heightened sensorial properties.

The Japanese-owned US division, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America says that KF-6004 Multi-Functional Care Additive is a high purity, hydrolytically stable silicone solution that can be formulate for a broad spectrum of hair care and skin care applications.

“Effectively formulated, the KF-6004 is ideal for a myriad of consumer personal care products including: skin lotions and creams, sun care products, hair leave-on conditioners, hair frizz-control serums, facial cleansers, hand sanitizers, and so on,” Said An-Li Kuo Shin-Etsu Silicones of America marketing manager.

Perceivable sensorial properties

It is a white, odorless, water soluble silicone was that is claimed to deliver ‘perceivable’ sensorial properties that leave treated surfaces with what the company terms ‘a soft and silky feel’.

The ingredient features an ABA chemical architecture that combines polyether and a large silicone block to deliver an optimal surface orientation, while it is also designed to enhance performance benefits for a variety of formulations.

As its ABA architecture lends it low surface energy, this also means it is easy to formulate w/o and w/o emulsions, while also helping to give sensorial benefits that include physical properties such as non-frizz, shine and glow, together with making it smooth, silky or cushiony to the feel.

Additional functional properties

Shin-Etsu says that on top of this, functional properties that include that of foam booster, detackifier, moisturizer, texturizer and stabilizers, to name just a few.

To draw specific attention to the ingredient’s anti-frizz properties for hair, the company carried out a control study test to determine its effectiveness in maintaining smooth hair.

The tests were carried out using a 1.0wt% solution of KF-6004, which showed that tresses of sample hair were softer, smoother, and silkier compared to an untreated and a control tress. On top of this the treated tress showed minimal frizz, good shape control, shiny appearance and an improved feel, the company claims.