In the cosmetics industry, demand for raw materials for use in natural cosmetics products is steadily on the rise. To assist partners in the industry with this trend, Evonik is launching the functional additive Sipernat 11 PC to substitute microplastics. Functional additives in cosmetics improve the appearance and sensory properties of cosmetic products.

Sipernat 11 PC has been specially developed under its former name EXP 9590 as a substitute for microplastics in personal care and toning creams, foundations, make-up, and face powder. Sipernat 11 PC improves the sensory properties, leaving a better, more elegant skin feel. It also acts as an optical blurring agent, mattifies the skin surface, and reduces visible wrinkles.

Sipernat specialty silica can be used as to replace polymer materials such as polyethylene, and polypropylene that have so far been used for this purpose in cosmetics formulations. Microplastics in cosmetics are currently the subject of debate as global marine pollutants.

Following on its Sipernat 2200 PC and Sipernat 22 PC products for shower gels and face and body peels, Evonik successfully continues to innovate in the area of resource-conserving products. A major part of silica-based cosmetics formulations come from Evonik.

All Sipernat PC products (Sipernat 11 PC, Sipernat 22 PC and Sipernat 2200 PC) have been listed as nature identical by the International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association (NaTrue). In addition, all the three products have Ecocert certification and can therefore be used in natural cosmetic products.

Sipernat PC grades are produced in Europe, and expansion to Asia and North America is planned. Uniform specifications and strict microbiological checks ensure that every customer is supplied reliably and with consistently high quality. Evonik has long been a reliable partner of the cosmetics industry and silicas are used in many other life science products, e.g., food products and pharmaceuticals.

Evonik recently made headlines with its addition of select Air Products ingredients to its portfolio, as reported in Happi. Evonik’s acquisition of the Air Products specialty additives business also benefits the cosmetics business of the German specialty chemicals company.

“We are adding interesting products to our actives and polymer portfolio for the cosmetics industry along with a highly attractive formulation technology,” said Dr. Tammo Boinowitz, head of the personal care business line at Evonik.

The proprietary know-how of the former Air Products Schlüchtern GmbH includes a number of innovative encapsulation technologies for active cosmetic ingredients and multifunctional polymers.

Using a variety of membrane-forming lipids, the active ingredients can be packaged into tiny vesicles, which serve as protective transport aids.

“They enable us to deliver active ingredients specifically to the desired action site in the skin to improve the bioavailability of active ingredients and modulate their release. That also has additional positive effects, such as the stabilization of sensitive cosmetic ingredients,” said Michael Sacher, head of personal care delivery systems.

More info: www.evonik.com