Cosmetics Processing

Cosmetics processing industry

Thanks to new markets and customer groups, the demand for cosmetic products is growing. As a result, new players are entering this competitive environment.

In this race for market share, time-to-market and flexibility in manufacturing are decisive factors. This calls for modern, fully automated processing technology that also takes advantage of the latest digital technologies.

The cosmetics processing industry exhibits high innovation, particularly within organic and prestige product lines.

Cosmetic powders

Cosmetic powders have been used since ancient times, for example, as makeup. The role of powders as and in cosmetics has developed from crudely pulverized natural powders to highly sophisticated nanomaterials, with powder manipulation processes growing in their complexity and sophistication.

An essential advantage of cosmetic powders is the many stability-related benefits to the final product.

Cosmetic powders are usually marketed as loose (flow) powders or compacted (pressed) powders.

They are used to provide adhesiveness, slipperiness, absorbance, smoothness, and the bloom effect they provide to the skin or hair.

Technical, scientific knowledge brings significant advantages to the formulator in the increasingly competitive and technological area.

Types of cosmetic powders

Most cosmetic powder products are similar and standardized concerning their ingredient composition.

Typically, cosmetic powders contain these ingredients:

• Fillers, for example, talc, kaolin, calcium and magnesium carbonate, metallic stearates, silica, and silicates,
• Colors, for example, pigments, lakes, mica, bismuth oxychloride,
• Preservatives,
• Perfume,
• Binding agents include mineral oils, fatty esters, lanolin and derivatives, gums, and emulsifying agents.

The composition of these ingredients, along with their particle size and physical properties, impacts the technical quality of the final powder formulation.

Cosmetic powders processing

As the global cosmetics industry evolves and grows with new styles, trends, and innovations, processed cosmetics must also be modernized.

Powders form a substantial part of the base materials needed for cosmetics.

Cosmetic powders processing requires screening, mixing, milling, drying, and agglomeration technology.

In cosmetic powders processing, it is crucial to effectively and cost-efficiently achieve superior hydrophobic (waterproof) and other material properties and better distribution of active ingredients.

Specialized process equipment is also crucial to effectively blend cosmetic powder and enrobe it in a hydrophobic coating.

While hydrophobic materials are not new in the cosmetics and personal care industry, optimizing the process is essential to create high-performance, powder-based products ranging from makeup and mascara to sunblock.

In manufacturing cosmetic products, precision drying is often required as well.

Process equipment that is used for the formulation of powdery cosmetics

A cosmetic powder improves the appearance of the skin and increases the softness and smoothness.

Essential process equipment for the formulation of powder cosmetics includes:

• Grinding and milling systems,
• Mixers and blenders,
• Screening and separation systems,
• Dyers and thermal solids processing systems.

Trends and innovations in the cosmetics processing industry

Even during a financial crisis, the global cosmetics industry continued to grow. This is partly because of substantial innovations in all aspects of this industry, including the use of powders and powder-based cosmetic products.

Improved coating technology, such as fluid bed coating, helps avoid pigment degradation and enhances resistance to interaction with naturally present skin oiliness, extending product efficiency.

There is also an increasing development of microspheres with a soft-focus effect and coated and micronized pigments that help to provide good skin coverage.

The powder presence in cosmetic formulations can grant a perfect finish to makeup products and provide good sensorial properties.

Innovations in the cosmetics industry are not short-term, and it can take over five years of innovative research and formulation to bring a new product to the market.

Innovations are also not static. Every year, a quarter of all cosmetic products on the market are improved or are entirely new.

Although innovation in our industry is a constant process, revolutionary breakthroughs are rare.