What are the commonly used emulsifiers in cosmetics?

Cosmetics are very important to women. Makeup can effectively enhance a person's charm, cover up one's shortcomings, etc., so it is very popular. Emulsifier is an element contained in cosmetics. In some cases, emulsifiers are harmless, but in some cases, emulsifiers can be harmful to human skin. Therefore, people need to have a certain understanding of emulsifiers. Here we will introduce the commonly used emulsifiers in cosmetics.

What are emulsifiers?

The encyclopedia explains it this way: Emulsifier is a surfactant that can stabilize an emulsion. Therefore, after adding emulsifier to the oil-water system, water and oil can mix with each other to form a completely dispersed emulsion. Emulsifiers not only improve the stability of emulsions, but also determine the type of emulsions.

Emulsifiers can be divided into natural emulsifiers and synthetic emulsifiers according to their sources; they can be divided into surfactants, viscosity enhancers and solid adsorbents according to their action type; they can be divided into lipophilic and hydrophilic types according to their lipophilicity and hydrophilicity.

Commonly used emulsifiers:

1. Abietic Acid: Widely used in various skin care products and soaps. It has been shown to cause paralysis in laboratory animals, irritate human skin, and is an allergen.

2. Acetamide Mea: A chemical solvent used in creams that has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animal experiments.

3. Acrylic Acid: A synthetic polymer used in dyes, fibers and adhesives. Now, it is also used in skin creams. Toxic if absorbed through skin.

4. Aluminum Acetate: acts as an astringent in creams. The chemical was originally produced as a waterproof coating. May cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. Long-term use may cause severe skin corrosion (another scary thing)

5. Arachidonic Acid: This is a fatty acid extracted from animal liver. It is often used in cosmetic factories to emulsify creams and can make the skin smooth. Studies have shown that it can disrupt the skin's natural immune response.

6. Behenyl Alcohol: It is an industrial synthetic coating, insecticide and lubricant. It is now used as a thickener and emulsifier in skin creams.

7. Benzoin (Benzophenone-2): fixative, somewhat irritating.

8. Benzalkonium chloride (BAK): widely used antibacterial agent, highly toxic, allergen. In 1992, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) banned its use in insect bite repellents. The usage concentration cannot be higher than 0.1%, but it can be used in cosmetics up to 5%.

9. Benzocaine (Ethyl Aminobenzoate): It is used in creams and lotions to help smooth the skin. However, there are reports that skin absorption can cause blood diseases in infants and central nervous system hyperactivity.

10. Bithionol: Previously used as an antibacterial agent in creams, it is now banned by the FDA. There is photosensitivity.

11. Borates: Despite warnings from the pharmaceutical industry, the cosmetics industry continues to use boric acid as a preservative. It is somewhat corrosive and can affect the central nervous system and multiple internal organs.