Environmentally friendly calcium carbonate particles promise multiple benefits for a broad range of applications. Being mineral ingredients, they can offer solutions for future-proof cosmetic creations.
Ever-increasing environmental awareness, along with greater knowledge of health and wellbeing, mean many of today’s consumers are demanding greater transparency in both the products they purchase, and the ingredients they contain. The cosmetics industry is witnessing a rapid growth in demand for holistic products with natural ingredients.In fact, according to a recent report by global consulting and research firm Kline & Company, ‘natural’ is currently the most important trend in the personal care industry. Furthermore, Adroit Market Research predicts that the organic and natural personal care market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% between 2018 – 2025, as a result of rising consumer preference for natural ingredient-based products1.
An all-round ingredient solution to meet such demand is calcium carbonate. Both natural and sustainable, the multiple simultaneous benefits of these mineral particles mean they can be used in the creation of innovative new products across the cosmetics and personal care segments – from toothpaste, soap and face cream to powder, foundation and lipstick. Omya, an expert in these ingredients, has therefore created two ingredients2, Cosmos approved by Ecocert and Natrue certified, for use in natural cosmetics, as well as toothpaste and rinse-off applications, including tab and cube formats.
Multi-purpose particles for oral care
When it comes to the oral care market, there is rising demand for products
that not only tick boxes in terms of naturalness and sustainability, but also promise multiple benefits. Formulators are therefore focusing on ‘all-in-one’ total care products that promise to strengthen enamel and protect against cavities and sensitivity, control plaque and tartar, and have tooth-whitening and breath freshening qualities. Here, these minerals not only enable a smooth formulation process, but also provide the all-important health benefits demanded by consumers. The pure and natural ingredient range offers numerous benefits: The high-purity calcium carbonate solution offers adjustable abrasivity along with excellent cleaning performance, a bright white colour, modifiable viscosity and texture for toothpaste, thus perfectly meeting the needs of modern formulations.
Abrasives, cleaning particles respectively are responsible for the cleaning level of toothpaste compositions and provide the polishing effect on the tooth surface. But preferred levels of abrasion vary depending on the target group. For instance, children or those with sensitive teeth need minimal abrasion. However, higher abrasivity enables enhanced stain removal and formulations with teeth-whitening properties. Thanks to a variety of particle sizes within the calcium carbonate minerals, levels of abrasion in the final formula can be varied according to requirements. Furthermore, these minerals are suitable for fluoridised toothpastes which provide remineralisation properties in the end product. Proven with the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) method, these ingredients cover the full range of abrasive activity used in various formulas. RDA is a method for measuring the abrasive action of a toothpaste. It is calculated by using standardised abrasives and comparing these on the test sample depending on particle size, quantity and surface structure of abrasives used in toothpastes.
Smooth solutions
In the cosmetics sector, natural and eco innovations are rapidly growing too, but the ingredients in such products must be trusted and proven. Think natural, sustainable and safe. Complying with stringent regulatory guidelines and obtained from marble quarries in Turkey, with no negative environmental impact, the product range is manufactured under clean and controlled production conditions with a very low carbon footprint. In rinse-off applications, the ingredients act as opacifying agents, while enhancing creaminess and acting as white pigment. And the diverse particle sizes make it suitable for a range of other personal care products too, such as soaps and foaming handwash tabs and cubes. Wash cubes are a rapidly growing innovation, with the inclusion of calcium carbonate making them a popular concept thanks to their foaming properties. Such properties have been proven in sensorial evaluation. Furthermore, compared to the reference bar, the ingredient was proven to enhance whiteness and opacity too.
Enhanced colour and coverage
For skin care products, the ingredients act as both a mineral base, skin feel modifier and opacifier. Depending on the particle size requirement, both are suited to enhance coverage and colour uniformity in decorative cosmetics. They furthermore help to improve flowability and, therefore, spreadability. “Today’s consumers are looking for all-in-one cosmetic and personal care solutions with multiple, proven benefits, and so our ranges have been designed with that in mind,” says Stefan Lander, vice president consumer Goods, Group Sales & Marketing at Omya. “Our company has been researching and processing raw mineral materials for more than one hundred thirty years and, during this time, we have always respected nature, biodiversity and the importance of human health. We feel responsible for our natural resources and, therefore, rely on natural, renewable and pioneering solutions.”
References
1 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/23/1807675/0/en/Organic-and-Natural-Personal-Care-Market-will-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-8-during-forecastperiod-2018-2025-Global-Analysis-byTrends-Size-Share-Business-Opportunities-and-Key-Developments-.html
2 Omyacare S 75-KP and Omyacare S 95-KP
Anaïs Hecker,
Technical Service Manager Personal and Oral Care, Omya International,
Oftringen, Switzerland,
www.omya.com