Microplastic-free scrub

With the USA signing the Microbeads-Free Waters Act in December 2015, a “prohibition against sale or distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads” will begin in July 2017 for US markets. Replacing these petroleum derivatives, which harm the environment, with natural ingredients is one of today’s key trends in cosmetics and toiletries.

Millions of years ago, marine organism skeletons and shells settled on ocean floors, forming rich deposits of calcium carbonate in carbonated sedimentary rocks. Over time, the Earth’s heat and pressure have converted these deposits into naturally white calcium carbonates. These resources, today found in marble, limestone and chalk, have now been developed by the Swiss company Omya into a portfolio of ingredients that complies with stringent regulatory and quality standards, offering high chemical purity and controlled low microbiology.

Skin feel and exfoliating performance are related to the hardness and morphology of the cleansing particles within a formulation, and various particle structures from 140μm to 400μm satisfy different specific demands. Omyascrub S 20, for example, is designed to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. The bright white particles are easy to incorporate and non-dusting. By altering the amount of ingredients used, the cleansing effect and the consistency of the formulation can be adjusted. After application, particles are simply removed while rinsing the skin, leaving no residues on it. And once washed off, the calcium carbonate simply returns to the natural environment from which it came.

Omyacare minerals can be used in a variety of skin care products, such as emulsions (o/w and w/o) and anhydrous (non-powder) formulations, to provide body and texture. As tailor-made ingredients that can be supplied in different particle structures and sizes to suit different needs, they are a good choice for a wide range of environmentally- friendly, respectful functional cosmetics and personal care applications.

AUTHOR: 

Ana Castellano Gassó

Marketing Coordinator, Consumer Goods Life Science,

Omya International

Oftringen, Switzerland