Presented by :- Guided by :-

Avinash V. More Prof. Dr. K. R. Biyani sir

B.Tech. (Cosmetics) M. Pharm., Ph.D., D.P.P.M.

ANURADHA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, CHIKHLI

DIST- BHULDHANA
DEPARTMENT OF COSMETICS
ANURADHA SANT GADGE BABA AMRAVATI
UNIVERSITY, AMRAVATI
Content
 Introduction
 Use of polymer in Personal care and
cosmetics
 Application of polymer
- Film Formers
- Thickeners
- Structuring Agents
- Hair Products
- Delivery system
- Moisturizers and conditioners.
 synthetic polymers in personal care
 Contamination concerns
 Resources
Introduction
 Polymers are routinely used in many personal care and cosmetic
products. The applications take advantage of the various properties
of these polymers to impart unique benefits to their formulations. The
range of properties is as varied as the class of polymers that have
been utilized. Using polymers, cosmetic chemists can create high
performance products. Broad spectrums of polymers; natural
polymers, synthetic polymers, organic polymers as well as silicones
are used in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products as
film-formers, emulsifiers, thickeners, modifiers, protective barriers,
etc.
 Polymers represent the second largest class of ingredients in
cosmetics and personal care products. A diverse range of polymers
are applied in this segment as film formers, fixatives, rheology
modifiers, associative thickeners, emulsifiers, stimuli-responsive
agents, conditioners, foam stabilizers and destabilizers, skin-feel
beneficial agents, and antimicrobials.

 The use of polymers in cosmetics is highly developed, and

innovative advances in polymer science and nanoscience are driving
the creation of scientifically sophisticated products.
Use of polymer in personal care & cosmetics:
 Film formers in hair fixatives, mascara, nail enamels and
color
cosmetics.
 Thickeners and rheology modifiers and emulsion stabilizers,
gels, binders, hair columns and hair relaxers.
 Emulsifiers in lotions, sunscreens and hair-colorants.
 Conditioners for both hair and skin.
 Moisturizers for skin.
 Emollients to improve the 'rub-in' characteristics of lotions.
 Dispersers for pigments.
 Waterproofers in sunscreens and make-up.
 Micropore sponges for controlled release and oil absorption
Application of Polymers

Film Formers
Thickeners
Structuring Agents
Hair Products
Delivery system
Moisturizers and conditioners
Film Formers
 Hair fixatives are essentially film-forming polymers that are used to
adhere hair into a preferred style.

 The desired attributes of hair fixatives include hair style hold

improvement, ease of application on wet hair, ease of combing, no
sticky feel, quick drying, not powdery or flaky during grooming,
assurance of hair body and bounce, increased hair volume, no
clumping of the hair, formation of a non-hygroscopic binding film that
is removable by shampoo, good hair gloss, and no excessive
stiffness.
Examples of cosmetics film-formers.

 Nonionic Film Formers

PVP [Polyvinyl pyrolidone)], PVP/VA Copolymer
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Castor Oil/IPDI Copolymer
Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate
Nitrocellulose
 Anionic Film Formers
Shellac
Acrylic Esters (and) Methacrylic Esters Copolymer
Diglycol/Cyclohexanedimethanol/Isophtalates/Sulfoisophtalates Copolymer
Glycerin and Diglycol/Cyclohexanedimethanol/IsophtalatesMethacrylate Acid/Sodium
Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonate Copolymer
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer
 Amphoteric Film Formers
Acrylates/Lauryl Acrylate/Stearyl Acrylate/Ethylamine Oxide Methacrylate
Acrylates Copolymer
 Thickeners
 Water-based formulations are often quite fluid in nature, and
polymers are used to change their rheology, i.e., to
increase viscosity, thicken, or gel them.
 Natural polymers such as starch,xanthan or guar gum,
carrageenan, alginates, polysaccharides, pectin, gelatin, agar, and
cellulose derivatives can be used to this end.
 On the synthetic side, polyacrylate derivatives and
polyacrylamide polymers are most popular for this purpose.
 More recent development include hydrophobic and hydrophillic
polymer into copolymers that stabilize product so that they don’t
get thin under high heat. Eg.. Sunscreen at beach or in hot car
require to shake before use..
Structuring Agents

 Structuring agents that add rigidity include natural and synthetic

waxes, lanolin, long-chain fatty alcohols, and triglycerides. A
popular component, poly-alpha-olefin, does not feel greasy and is
used in products like eye shadows and lip products. Glycol
stearates serve as opacifiers and add a pearlizing effect.
Polyurethanes are used in nail and mascara products because
they form strong flims.
 One of the latest innovations in cosmetics involving polymers in
the “3D makeup printing” which allows consumer to create thair
own custom color makeup.
Hair Products

 Hair products typically use cationic polymers, since hair is

negatively charged. Natural products include polysaccharides, such
as starch and cellulose derivatives, natural gums, and hydrolyzed
proteins. Synthetic hair-friendly polymers include polyvinyl
pyrrolidone and acetate, polyvinylamides, polyacrylates and
polymethacrylates, polyurethanes, and silicones.

 Polymers in hair products include natural substance such

as polysaccharides including starch and cellulose
derivatives .
Delivery Systems

 Polymers serve as delivery for active

can
components, assystems
antioxidants and antimicrobials.
cosmetics
such
antioxidants, such asNatural
vitamins C and E, grape seed extract, and
cucumber extracts are used, along with synthetic extracts like
butylated hydroxyanisole or butyl hydroxyl toluene. Polymer carriers
can physically entrap the active component, preserving its biological
stability, or the bioactive component can be incorporated chemically
into a polymer chain or pendant group, then released through
hydrolysis. For example, salicylic acid (an anti-acne ingredient) can
be incorporated into the main chain of polyanhydride ester and
released within a short time.
Moisturizers & Conditioners
 In cosmetics, hyaluronic acid is used as a moisturizer because it has
the main property of retaining water on the skin surface. It is also
used to modify the viscosity of formula and create a nice sensory
feeling upon application on skin. (Hyaluronic acid is also used in
aesthetic medicine in sub-dermal injections to fill wrinkles.)

 Conditioning polymers deposit, adhere, or absorb into the proteins of

the skin and hair. They improve skin feel and hair manageability,
reduce static and make the skin and hair softer and smoother.
Examples include polyquaternium-6, polyquaternium-7, and
polyquaternium-11.
 synthetic polymers in personal care
 These chemicals gained rapid acceptance by personal care manufacturers

because they have a number of uses, and they can be cheaply made.

Categories include:

 Thickening & gelling polymers: These are used to increase thickness in

things like shampoos, conditioners, creams, and lotions. Formulas appear

more rich, smooth, and creamy. Examples include polyethylene glycols

(PEGs) and carbomers.

 Fixative polymers: These are the ones that help fix the hair in place. You’ll

find them in sprays, lotions, gels, and foams. Examples include polyimide-1,

polyquaternium-11, and PVP/VA copolymers.

 Conditioning polymers: These deposit, adhere, or absorb into the proteins

of the skin and hair. They improve skin feel and hair manageability, and
make the skin and hair softer and smoother. Examples include
polyquaternium-6, polyquaternium-7, and polyquaternium-11.
 Silicones: These are polymers that contain silicon atoms or silicates. They

help protect, condition, pearlize, moisturize, thicken, and emulsify. They are
also added to cleaning products to reduce the irritation of harsh surfactants.
 These aren’t necessarily bad or unsafe in small doses, but we are using so

many of them today so frequently, that sometimes they can cause problems.
Contamination concerns
 Let’s talk about two specific polymers that we find in personal care
products: carbomer and sodium polyacrylate.
 Carbomer: This is a class of chemicals made from acrylic acid. They
are thickening agents that help control the viscosity and flow of
cosmetic products. They are also solvents, helping formulas to stay
well mixed. In styling gels, facial moisturizers, sunscreen, shampoo,
anti-aging treatments, cleansers, and scrubs. Though generally
considered safe, they can sometimes contain “neutralizing agents”
TEA or EDTA.
 Sodium polyacrylate: Also called an “acrylic sodium salt polymer,”
this chemical is used as a thickener in cosmetics and personal care
products. You’ll find it in cleansers and detergents, and even as an
absorbing ingredient in diapers and tampons. According to the
Cosmetics database it’s considered a moderate hazard ingredient
because it may be contaminated with toxicity during processing.

 These two ingredients aren’t necessarily unsafe on their own, but

manufacturing processes can result in contamination with unwanted
ingredients. The problem is, there’s no way to tell by looking at the
bottle whether a product may contain contaminated polymers.
Resource
s Anjali Patil and Michael S. Ferritto.
 2012 Polymers for Personal Care and Cosmetics: Overview

 Chemistry Explained(link is external)

 Polymer Science Learning Center(link is external) ( University
of Southern Mississippi)
 “Polymers in Personal Care” May 11, 2013 By: Eric Abrutyn, TPC2
Advisors Ltd., Inc(link is external).
 Robert Y. Lochhead ,The Role of Polymers in Cosmetics: Recent
Trends
 http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/polymers
 https://www.annmariegianni.com/synthetic-polymers-plastics-
cosmetics-avoid/
 https://www.polymersolutions.com/blog/polymers-and-cosmetics/