How Are Cosmetics Made?

Cosmetics can be defined as products that are made to cleanse, protect and even alter a person’s physical appearance. While ingredients can be artificial or naturally occurring, negative health impacts are as a result of the percentage of chemical compounds products. Below are ways in which some of the most used cosmetics are made:

Lipstick

Most lipsticks in the market today contain alcohol, wax, oil, and a pigment. Wax is responsible for moulding the lipstick to its form, and some of the most common wax types include camauba, beeswax and candelilla. Fragrance, pigment and oil which could be lanolin, castor, vegetable or mineral is mixed and melted together with the wax. The formula is also mixed with antioxidants and preservatives to prevent it from spoiling. Any additional ingredients are optional and it is purely up to the company to decide how they want the final product to look or feel. It is then poured and cooled in a tube.

Eyeshadow

Fillers like mica kaolin, silica and talc are grinded together with synthetic iron oxide pigments. Oils, zinc stearate and other binding products are added and the output is pressed powder which is then mixed with pearlescent pigments or sparkles to make the final product.

Mascara

Carbon black is mixed with oils such as lanolin, linseed, eucalyptus, castor and sesame. To create the mascara volume, it is then coated with carnauba, beeswax or paraffin. Dodecane can also be added to mascaras that are promoted as waterproof, and if considered as lash extending, microfibers such as nylon and rayon are added. 

Foundation

The first step of making liquid foundation includes blending oils, pigments and fragrances together. During the mixing process, some products undergo submicron processing where the products are completely reduced in size. The final product is a huge determinant of the mixing machines used in the production of foundation. During the whole process, powders are dissoluted, liquids of different viscosities are added together, thickeners are mixed, stable emulsions are produced and more. Every stage of production is dependant on the final product. 

Nail Polish

Nail polish was first invented in 3000 BC where vegetable dyes, egg whites and beeswax were used to make the final product. Production in the present has changed with both ingredients and the processes of production being better than in the past. Plasticizers, film forming agents, solvents and coloring agents are the major ingredients used in the production of nail polish. Nitrocellulose is the commonly used film forming agent which is mixed with a plasticizer. A colouring agent is added, then mixed with a solvent then put aside to cool. The cooled product is then mixed with moisturizers, perfumes, etc to make a final product.

Wrap Up

This Cosmetic Manufacturing Company in NJ produces some of the best cosmetics that are both high quality and efficient. It may be hard to know everything used to make a cosmetic product while buying it unless some of the ingredients are listed. However, the manufacture of cosmetics is an easy, step-by-step process although different companies use different technologies and modified methods with a different end product.