Lipstick's Raw materials & its Characteristics

Wax mixture: Gloss and hardness of lipsticks are hardly depends on the characteristics and the quantity of the waxes used. So the composition of the wax mixture is of prime importance. Wax mixture include;

-          White beeswaxe

-          Candelilla wax

-          Carnauba wax

-          Ozokerite wax

-          Ceresin wax

-          Cetyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol.

Oils mixture: The oil mixtureis required to blend properly with the waxes to provide a suitable film on the applied lip.It’s also acts as a dispersing agent for insoluble pigments. Ideal mixture is one which enables the product to spread easily.

-          Castor oil

-          Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and its esters

-          Fatty acid alkylamides,

-          Paraffin oil

-          Isopropyl myrislate, isopropyl palmitate and butyl stearate.

Bromo mixture: The bromo mixture is essentially a solution of the staining dye stuff in a fatty material to enable the dyestuff to remain either wholly or partially in solution. It is known as bromo acids consist of fluoresceins, halogenated fluorosceins and related water insoluble dyes. 2-3% of this solution is used of total formulation.Mainly two types;

-          Red bromo acid: Red in color and gives reddish-blue strain

-          Orange red bromo acid: Orange red in color and gives pink to yellowish pink color.

Solvent used are;

-          Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and esters

-          Glycerol derivatives

-          Propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol.

Colors: The color of the lipstick is most important from commercial and appealing view. The color is imparted to the lips in two ways;

-          By straining the skin with a solution of dyestuff which can penetrate the outer layer of the lip skin.

-          By covering the lips with a colored layer.

Commonly used dye;

-          Staining dyes (soluble dye); Fluoroscein, eosi.

-          Insoluble dyestuff and lake colors: Ca, barium, Al and strontium

Preservatives, fragrance, surfactants and other additives: Both are used in sufficient quantity.

-          Preservatives are used to preveny microbial growth.

-          Perfume is used to mask the odor.

-          Surfactants are used to promote wetting properties.

-          Antioxidants are used to prevent rancidification