Influencing Colour Cosmetic Creations: COSSMA

The boundaries between the technology of the digital world and everyday realities have been blurred – especially in colour cosmetics. These influences and inspirations manifest themselves in a colour palette of digitally inspired colours.

Herein lies the inspiration for the “TechBlur” palette of colour cosmetic formulations, designed to combine bold and daring hues with more subtle shimmer and sparkle. Thriving on the confident use of colour, the palette is for the consumer that is not afraid to push boundaries and try new things. As both the virtual and real worlds become increasingly fluid, it is clear to see the digital world influencing physical design, undoubtedly affective the aesthetics that appeal to consumers. First launched in 2018, the “Moonshine Effect Pigments” range consists of five distinct product series which showcase high quality borosilicate-based pigments for use in a range of colour cosmetic formulations. Offering the opportunity to create striking visual effects in formulation, these pigments allow for brilliant colour transmission, colour intensity and gloss.

Formulation inspiration

With varying particle sizes available, different visual effects can be achieved; from a subtle, silky shimmer to a bold, intense sparkle. The newly developed “Cosmic Pink Sparkle Jelly Highlighter” and the “Pop of Colour MultiBeauty Stick” formulations are examples of the special effects the pigments can achieve. However, for those that might initially find the bright colours a little intimidating, the approach also allows for the use of a more subtle shimmer and sparkle, still using contrasting colours to give a virtual reality look, but using a more pastel influenced selection of shades. This can be seen in the “Grecian Green Metal Eyes Liquid Eyeshadow”, which uses a mix of the “Effect” series, “Ultra Effect” series and “Colour Travel” series to create the metallic green shimmer.

Innovative manufacturing process

The “Moonshine Effect Pigments” are manufactured usingan innovative, proprietary manufacturing process, which produces high specification glass flake substrates. The process allows the pigments to have a smooth and uniform flake thickness with a carefully controlled particle size distribution, which contributes to the excellent sensory profile of the range. This manufacturing process also allows the production of exceptionally thin borosilicate substrates, which are currently unmatched on the market. The unique manufacturing of the borosilicate substrates results in these special effect pigments having high transparency, gloss, and colour intensity. The transparent borosilicate flake is coated with high refractive metal oxides, to create strong interference or intense brilliance effects. The pigments can be used either on their own or in combination with other effects from the different series to achieve different colours and unique effects which can give your formulations more depth and dimensions.

Natalia Tasker,

Marketing Coordinator – Beauty Effects,
Croda, Snaith, Goole, UK,
https://www.crodapersonalcare.com/en-gb/moonshine