April 2010 Scientific Dinner and Education Meeting

Cosmetic Chemists are constantly challenged to create formulas that have a lasting caring effect with light aesthetics. This challenge is also experienced in the formulation of water resistant emulsions. While this caring effect or water resistance can often be achieved by the formulation of W/O emulsions, their initial heavy aesthetics are generally not preferred by the North American consumer. By contrast, O/W emulsions have a more preferred, light initial aesthetic profile, but often do not have the final benefits mentioned above. To help solve this challenge, Cognis has been exploring the formulation of meta-stable emulsions. These emulsions start off as O/W emulsions, but when applied to the skin quickly transition to W/O. In this meta-stable concept, one can achieve the light initial aesthetics of O/W while having the final benefits of a W/O emulsion. This talk will explore the concept of meta-stable emulsions and the measurement techniques associated with their development.}