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Formula Anatomy Deciphered—BB Creams

BB stands for “blemish balm” in Asia or “beauty balm” in some parts of Europe. It is defined loosely as a product that combines serum, moisturizer, base cream, foundation and sunscreen in one.

Boots Utilizes X-Rite Colorimeter to Provide Custom Consumer Shade Matching

Boots UK has teamed up with X-Rite to offer a shade matching service in 668 U.K. stores. The No7 Match Made Service uses a handheld X-Rite (parent company of Pantone) spectrocolorimeter to identify the color of a customer's skin, then precisely targets the closest matches among 17 colors of No7 foundations across a number of formats.

Micron-sized Carbon Black for Color Cosmetics

Tagra Biotechnologies has launched a non-nano encapsulated carbon black for color cosmetic application.

Explosive Growth of Nail Care Market Aided by Innovation

The introduction of more than 30 important new gel products in the past two years—consequently raising the recognition of gel products—has helped spur the market's strong performance, according to Kline.

Emerald Named Pantone's Color of the Year for 2013

Pantone announced Pantone 17-5641 Emerald as the color of the year for 2013. While Pantone has teamed up with Sephora to create a 2013 Color of the Year collection with the color, perhaps it may also inspire formulation and packaging hues for other brands.

Comparatively Speaking: Metallic vs. Natural Hair Dyes

Hair color can be altered using a variety of dyes. This is the second in a series of three columns that will address hair color products, with the difference between natural and metallic dyes being addressed here.

Multifunctional BB Creams Versus Tailored Approaches in Beauty

The popularity of beauty options such as BB creams as caused a boom in products that offer multifunctionality, but at the same time, consumers are continually seeking out products that fit specific needs.

Comparatively Speaking: Altering Hair with Bleach vs. Temporary Dye

Hair can be treated using several different types of products to alter the color. This is the first in a series of three columns that will address the above color products, with the difference between bleach and temporary dyes being initially discussed.

Urban Decay Naked Skin

Read the Label Online: Urban Decay Naked Skin

Urban Decay promises that its Naked Skin foundation allows the consumer to feel like they are not wearing makeup. This column, written by Susan Raffy, reviews the ingredient listing for claims substantiation and functionality.

Boron Nitride Functional Fillers for Cosmetics

EMD Chemicals' performance materials division has launched a line of boron nitride functional fillers for cosmetics.

Formula Troubleshooting—Anhydrous Product Instability

Many anhydrous products are mixtures of oils, esters, fatty alcohols, waxes, preservatives, fragrances and various pigments. Combining these materials is a complex undertaking, and varying the concentration even slightly changes the dynamics and aesthetics of the final product; in the worst cases, it causes instability.

Specialty Pigments: Properties and Effects

Specialty pigments bring unique effects to personal care products, thus they are an important class of color additives for the decorative cosmetic industry. Presented here is a review of their properties and benefits, including mechanisms of refraction and reflection, as well as regulatory considerations.

Ingredient Profile—Mica

Mica is an inorganic material found in a wide variety of cosmetic and personal care products. Its use has been reported in more than 7,100 products, making it one of the most important mineral ingredients used in cosmetics.

Color Changing Effect Pigments

Kobo Products Inc. has introduced a line of iridescent effect pigments that exhibit color travel. Kobopearl Perpetuals travel from one color to another, as displayed by their trade names.

Erythrulose and DHA Self-tanning Compound

Spec-chem Industry Inc. has launched a self-tanning solution.

Ashland Creates Color Essentials Program for Innovative Formulation

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., has launched Color Essentials, a portfolio of color cosmetic formulations designed to offer novel product concepts and higher levels of value to color cosmetics formulators looking to improve aesthetics, sensory benefits and long-lasting waterproofing.

Comparatively Speaking: Pressed vs. Loose Powder

Color expert Nick Morante helps Tony O'Lenick in this edition of "Comparatively Speaking" by explaining the difference between pressed and loose powders, detailing both shared and differing ingredients.

Comparatively Speaking: Good vs. Bad Hair Color

Tony O’Lenick asks color expert Nick Morante to differentiate between a good hair color and a bad hair color, noting how water minerals, color-treated hair, bleaching and more can affect the final color.