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Assignment 411: Justifications or

Purposes Of
Various Ingredients in
Cosmetic Preparations.

1. Foundation Cream

• Non-pigmented foundation cream

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Stearic acid 18.0% Acts as an opacifying agent, surfactant, cleansing
agent, surfactant and emulsifying agent.
Potassium 0.52% Potassium hydroxide is used to control the pH of
hydroxide cosmetics and personal care products. And also used
as an absorbent.
Sodium 0.18% Sodium hydroxide is used to control the pH of
hydroxide cosmetics and personal care products. And also used
as an absorbent.
Cetyl alcohol 0.5% Cetyl Alcohol and the other fatty alcohols keep an
emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid
components. These ingredients are also used to alter
the thickness of liquid products and to increase
foaming capacity or to stabilize foams.
Glycerin 18.0% Glycerin is a well known humectant in cosmetics
and personal care products. Other functions that have
been reported for Glycerin include, skin conditioning
agent - humectant, skin protectant and viscosity
decreasing agents.
Preservative q.s The use of preservatives is essential in most products
to prevent product damage caused by
microorganisms and to protect the product from
inadvertent contamination by the consumer during
use. An ingredient that protects the product from the
growth of microorganisms is called an antimicrobial.
A preservative may also be added to a product to
protect it against damage and degradation caused by
exposure to oxygen, and in this instance, these
ingredients are also called antioxidants. Without
preservatives, cosmetic products, just like food, can
become contaminated, leading to product spoilage
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and possibly irritation or infections. Microbial

contamination of products, especially those used
around the eyes and on the skin, can cause
significant problems. Preservatives help prevent such
problems.
Water 62.2% Water is primarily used as a solvent in cosmetics and
personal care products in which it dissolves many of
the ingredients that impart skin benefits, such as
conditioning agents and cleansing agents. Water also
forms emulsions in which the oil and water
components of the product are combined to form
creams and lotions. These are sometimes referred to
as oil-in-water emulsions or as water-in-oil
depending on the ratios of the oil phase and water
phase.
Perfume 0.6% Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a pleasant
and attractive odor for the user, while functional
fragrances are added to products that serve some
function such as cleaning or moisturizing.
Total= 100%

• Pigmented foundation cream

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Mineral oil 30.0% Acts as a lubricant and coolant.
Stearic acid 3.0% Stearic acid is used as surfactant, cleansing agent
and emulsifying agent.
Glyceryl stearate 3.0% Glyceryl Stearate acts as a lubricant on the skin’s
surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth
appearance. It also slows the loss of water from the
skin by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface.
Glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE help to
form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of
the substances to be emulsified.
Cetyl alcohol 2.0% Cetyl Alcohol and the other fatty alcohols keep an
emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid
components. These ingredients are also used to alter
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the thickness of liquid products and to increase

foaming capacity or to stabilize foams.
Triethanolamine 1.0% Triethanolamine is used primarily as an emulsifier
and surfactant. It also serves as a pH balancer in
many different cosmetic products - ranging from
cleansing creams and milks, skin lotions, eye gels,
moisturizers, shampoos, shaving foams etc. TEA is
a fairly strong base: a 1% solution has a pH of
approximately 10, whereas the pH of skin is below
pH 7. Cleansing milk/cream emulsions based on
TEA are particularly good at removing makeup.
Because of its high alkalinity and the possibility
that it converts to nitrosamines, its use in cosmetics
was once expected to diminish. It is still widely
used as of 2009.
Pigments 5.0% Pigments are used as coloring agent and it makes
the skin look more realistic.
Perfume q.s Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a
pleasant and attractive odor for the user, while
functional fragrances are added to products that
serve some function such as cleaning or
moisturizing.
Preservatives q.s The use of preservatives is essential in most
products to prevent product damage caused by
microorganisms and to protect the product from
inadvertent contamination by the consumer during
use. An ingredient that protects the product from
the growth of microorganisms is called an
antimicrobial. A preservative may also be added to
a product to protect it against damage and
degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, and in
this instance, these ingredients are also called
antioxidants. Without preservatives, cosmetic
products, just like food, can become contaminated,
leading to product spoilage and possibly irritation
or infections. Microbial contamination of products,
especially those used around the eyes and on the
skin, can cause significant problems. Preservatives
help prevent such problems.
Water q.s to 100% Water is primarily used as a solvent in cosmetics
and personal care products in which it dissolves
many of the ingredients that impart skin benefits,
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such as conditioning agents and cleansing agents.

Water also forms emulsions in which the oil and
water components of the product are combined to
form creams and lotions. These are sometimes
referred to as oil-in-water emulsions or as water-in-
oil depending on the ratios of the oil phase and
water phase.

2. Hand and body cream

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Allantoin 1.5% Allantoin is a moisturizing and keratolytic effect,
increasing the water content of the extracellular
matrix and enhancing the desquamation of upper
layers of dead skin cells, increasing the smoothness
of the skin; promoting cell proliferation and wound
healing; and a soothing, anti-irritant, and skin
protectant effect by forming complexes with irritant
and sensitizing agents.
Isopropyl 3.0% Isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical
myristate medicinal preparations where good absorption
through the skin is desired. It is also used as a
pesticide-free treatment against head lice which
works by dissolving the wax that covers the
exoskeleton of head lice, killing them by
dehydration.

It is also the non-aqueous component of the two-

phase mouthwash, dental pH, where it removes
bacteria from the oral cavity.
Cetyl alcohol 2.5% Cetyl Alcohol and the other fatty alcohols keep an
emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid
components. These ingredients are also used to alter
the thickness of liquid products and to increase
foaming capacity or to stabilize foams.
Lanolin 2.0% Lanolin acts as a lubricant on the skin surface,
which gives the skin a soft, smooth appearance.
Lanolin helps to form emulsions and blends well
with nearly all other substances used in cosmetics
and personal care products. Lanolin also possesses
adhesive characteristics.
Glycerin 8.0% Glycerin is a well known humectant in cosmetics
and personal care products. Other functions that
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have been reported for Glycerin include, skin

conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant and
viscosity decreasing agents.
Perfume q.s Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a
pleasant and attractive odor for the user, while
functional fragrances are added to products that
serve some function such as cleaning or
moisturizing.
Preservatives q.s The use of preservatives is essential in most
products to prevent product damage caused by
microorganisms and to protect the product from
inadvertent contamination by the consumer during
use. An ingredient that protects the product from
the growth of microorganisms is called an
antimicrobial. A preservative may also be added to
a product to protect it against damage and
degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, and in
this instance, these ingredients are also called
antioxidants. Without preservatives, cosmetic
products, just like food, can become contaminated,
leading to product spoilage and possibly irritation
or infections. Microbial contamination of products,
especially those used around the eyes and on the
skin, can cause significant problems. Preservatives
help prevent such problems.
Water q.s to 100% Water is primarily used as a solvent in cosmetics
and personal care products in which it dissolves
many of the ingredients that impart skin benefits,
such as conditioning agents and cleansing agents.
Water also forms emulsions in which the oil and
water components of the product are combined to
form creams and lotions. These are sometimes
referred to as oil-in-water emulsions or as water-in-
oil depending on the ratios of the oil phase and
water phase.

3. Cleansing lotion or cleansing milk

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Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Ethanol 10.0% Rubbing alcohol or ethanol; antibacterial
function; usually too strong for regular use in
cosmetics.
Menthol 0.075% Menthol is used as a denaturant, flavoring agent
and fragrance ingredient.
Camphor 0.2% Camphor imparts an odor to a product and is
added to ethyl alcohol (grain alcohol) to make it
unsuitable for drinking. Camphor may also be
used to soften synthetic polymers. In OTC drug
products intended to be placed on the skin,
camphor is used to relieve pain.
Hexachlorophene 0.1% Hexachlorophene, also known as nabac, is a
disinfectant. Hexachlorophene is very useful as
a topical anti-infective, anti-bacterial agent.
Alkyl 0.25% It acts as a skin antiseptic, skin disinfectant. As
dimethylbenzyl an antiseptic, it has the advantage of not burning
ammonium chloride when put on a wound, which is not the case
with ethanol-based antiseptics or hydrogen
peroxide.
Ethoxylated cetyl 2.0% Ethoxylated cetyl alcohol and the other fatty
alcohol alcohols keep an emulsion from separating into
its oil and liquid components. These ingredients
are also used to alter the thickness of liquid
products and to increase foaming capacity or to
stabilize foams.
Stearyl amine 2.0% Emollient and water repellent for cosmetics.
Perfume Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide
variety of cosmetics and personal care products
to make the products more pleasant and to make
them recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances,
q.s or perfumes, are used specifically to provide a
pleasant and attractive odor for the user, while
functional fragrances are added to products that
serve some function such as cleaning or
moisturizing.
Water q.s to 100% Water is primarily used as a solvent in
cosmetics and personal care products in which it
dissolves many of the ingredients that impart
skin benefits, such as conditioning agents and
cleansing agents. Water also forms emulsions in
which the oil and water components of the
product are combined to form creams and
lotions. These are sometimes referred to as oil-
in-water emulsions or as water-in-oil depending
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on the ratios of the oil phase and water phase.

4. Talcum powder

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Talc 75.0% Talc acts as a lubricant,
Kaolin 12.0% Kaolin can be used as an abrasive, absorbent, anti-
thickening agent, binder bulking agent, colorant,
deodorant agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, opacifying
agent, slip modifier, suspending agent, viscosity
increasing agent.
Magnesium 6.0% It has mild astringent properties and helps to
carbonate smooth and soften (normal and dry) skin.
Zinc stearate 6.0% The Stearate salts are generally used for their
lubricating properties. It also reduces the clear or
transparent appearance of finished products.
Perfumes 1.0% Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a
pleasant and attractive odor for the user, while
functional fragrances are added to products that
serve some function such as cleaning or
moisturizing.
Total=100%

5. Face powder

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

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Talc 80.0% In body applications, Talc absorbs moisture and oil,

helping skin feel soft, fresh, cool and dry. It also
reduces friction and chafing that can irritate skin. In
color cosmetics, Talc is used to help control shine and
absorb oil.
Zinc oxide 5.0% It protects against sunburn and other damage to the
skin caused by ultraviolet light. It also has deodorizing
and antibacterial action.
Zinc oxide also used as a bulking agent and a colorant.
Zinc stearate 5.0% The Stearate salts are generally used for their
lubricating properties. It also reduces the clear or
transparent appearance of finished products.
Rice starch 10.0% Rice starch is used as an abrasive, absorbent, binder,
bulking agent, skin conditioning agent, and surfactant.
Perfume q.s Fragrances are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a pleasant
and attractive odor for the user, while functional
fragrances are added to products that serve some
function such as cleaning or moisturizing.
Total=100%

6. Vanishing cream

• Formula - 1

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Stearic acid 15.0% Stearic acid is used as surfactant, cleansing agent and
emulsifying agent.
Potassium 0.7% Potassium hydroxide is used to control the pH of
hydroxide cosmetics and personal care products. And also used
as an absorbent.
Glycerin 8.0% Glycerin is a well known humectant in cosmetics and
personal care products. Other functions that have been
reported for Glycerin include, skin conditioning agent
- humectant, skin protectant and viscosity decreasing
agents.
Water 76.3% Water is primarily used as a solvent in cosmetics and
personal care products in which it dissolves many of
the ingredients that impart skin benefits, such as
 9

conditioning agents and cleansing agents. Water also

forms emulsions in which the oil and water
components of the product are combined to form
creams and lotions. These are sometimes referred to as
oil-in-water emulsions or as water-in-oil depending on
the ratios of the oil phase and water phase.
Preservative q.s The use of preservatives is essential in most products
to prevent product damage caused by microorganisms
and to protect the product from inadvertent
contamination by the consumer during use. An
ingredient that protects the product from the growth of
microorganisms is called an antimicrobial. A
preservative may also be added to a product to protect
it against damage and degradation caused by exposure
to oxygen, and in this instance, these ingredients are
also called antioxidants. Without preservatives,
cosmetic products, just like food, can become
contaminated, leading to product spoilage and
possibly irritation or infections. Microbial
contamination of products, especially those used
around the eyes and on the skin, can cause significant
problems. Preservatives help prevent such problems.
Perfume q.s Perfumes are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a pleasant
and attractive odor for the user, while functional
fragrances are added to products that serve some
function such as cleaning or moisturizing.
Total=100%

• Formula - 2

Ingredients Percentage Purposes/ Uses

Stearic acid 15.0% Stearic acid is used as surfactant, cleansing agent and
emulsifying agent.
Potassium 0.5% Potassium hydroxide is used to control the pH of
hydroxide cosmetics and personal care products. And also used
as an absorbent.
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Sodium 0.18% Sodium hydroxide is used to control the pH of

hydroxide cosmetics and personal care products. And also used
as an absorbent.
Cetyl alcohol 0.5% Cetyl Alcohol and the other fatty alcohols keep an
emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid
components. These ingredients are also used to alter
the thickness of liquid products and to increase
foaming capacity or to stabilize foams.
Isopropyl 3.0% Isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical
myristate medicinal preparations where good absorption
through the skin is desired. It is also used as a
pesticide-free treatment against head lice which
works by dissolving the wax that covers the
exoskeleton of head lice, killing them by
dehydration.

It is also the non-aqueous component of the two-

phase mouthwash, dental pH, where it removes
bacteria from the oral cavity.
Glycerin 5.0% Glycerin is a well known humectant in cosmetics and
personal care products. Other functions that have
been reported for Glycerin include, skin conditioning
agent - humectant, skin protectant and viscosity
decreasing agents.
Water 75.8% Water is primarily used as a solvent in cosmetics and
personal care products in which it dissolves many of
the ingredients that impart skin benefits, such as
conditioning agents and cleansing agents. Water also
forms emulsions in which the oil and water
components of the product are combined to form
creams and lotions. These are sometimes referred to
as oil-in-water emulsions or as water-in-oil
depending on the ratios of the oil phase and water
phase.
Preservative q.s The use of preservatives is essential in most products
to prevent product damage caused by
microorganisms and to protect the product from
inadvertent contamination by the consumer during
use. An ingredient that protects the product from the
growth of microorganisms is called an antimicrobial.
A preservative may also be added to a product to
protect it against damage and degradation caused by
exposure to oxygen, and in this instance, these
ingredients are also called antioxidants. Without
preservatives, cosmetic products, just like food, can
become contaminated, leading to product spoilage
 11

and possibly irritation or infections. Microbial

contamination of products, especially those used
around the eyes and on the skin, can cause
significant problems. Preservatives help prevent such
problems.
Perfume q.s Perfumes are ingredients used in a wide variety of
cosmetics and personal care products to make the
products more pleasant and to make them
recognizable to the users. Fine fragrances, or
perfumes, are used specifically to provide a pleasant
and attractive odor for the user, while functional
fragrances are added to products that serve some
function such as cleaning or moisturizing.
Total=100%