Polymers in Personal Care

By: Eric Abrutyn, TPC2 Advisors Ltd., Inc.

Posted: June 28, 2010, from the July 2010 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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Dendrimers: These are generally built from a monomer unit that is joined together in a specific pattern: Where a single binding unit branches from two to three units, layering the structure in a three-dimensional ball. Examples include PEG-5 pentaerythrityl dimethylol propionate-2 dendrimer and PEG-5 pentaerythrityl dimethylol propionate-4 dendrimer.

Personal Care Applications
Since polymers are so complex, it is not easy to list all their proper uses in personal care products (see Figure 2). Following is a brief outline of potential uses for polymers in personal care formulations, along with some commercial formula examples. The formulas shown are taken from commercial product labels to illustrate the use of polymers in real applications. Note that the bolded items within the ingredient listings highlight the polymers used. Freedom from patent infringement is not to be inferred, and this information is offered solely for reader consideration.

Adhesives: include dextrin and hydroxypropyl cellulose;
Antifoam: such as simethicone and dimethicone silylate;
Binders: e.g. aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and polyethylene wax;
Emulsifiers, emulsion stabilizers: include acrylates/C_10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, polyquaternium-3, PEG-4 oleate, polyglyceryl-6 distearate, steareth-2 and guar.
Commercial example: Avon Bali Bliss Body Lotion: Water (aqua), glycerin, Paraffinum liquidum, stearic acid, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, dimethicone, fragrance (parfum), petrolatum, phenoxyethanol, cetyl alcohol, methylparaben, carbomer, potassium hydroxide, acrylates/C_10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, disodium EDTA, tocopherol, citral, butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, benzyl benzoate, hexyl cinnamal, limonene.

Film-formers: such as acrylates copolymer, biosaccharide gum-4, PVP/eicosene copolymer, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, siloxanes and copolymers;
Hair conditioning, fixatives: e.g. acrylates copolymer, AMP-acrylates copolymer, polyquaternium-10 and PVP/VA copolymer.
Commercial example: Piaoshun Everlasting Products Spa Control Style Spray Gel: Carbomer, triethanolamine, glyceride, PVP/VA copolymer, diazolidinyl urea, panthenol, fragrance (parfum), water (aqua).

Skin conditioning: include polyisoprene, bis-diglyceryl polyacryladipate-2, glycereth-31, dimethicone and PEG-45M.
Commercial example: Joe Fresh Style Crème Lipstick: Polybutene, caprylic/capric triglyceride, octyldodecanol, ceresin, synthetic wax, polyglyceryl-2 triisostearate, bis-diglyceryl polyacryladipate-2, Cera carnauba, Cera microcristallina, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, hydrogenated vegetable glycerides, tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, bisabolol oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, phenoxyethanol.