Chemistry of Makeup - Chemistry Essay Example

The essence of makeup is to accentuate or change an individuals complexion and appearance. Chemistry is very crucial in the makeup industry. Experts and makeup companies have invested heavily in chemistry laboratories and technicians. Chemical ingredients are used to make up mainly to give the color and consistency of the product. The most common agents in makeup products are coloring agents, emollients, thickeners, preservatives, emulsifiers, water, and fragrance. In this paper, we shall delve into discussing the chemical formulas in the agents used to make the products.

Water acts as the primary solvent in makeup products that dissolve or mix the ingredients to form the desired product consistency. The H2O is not the first rain or tap water it needs to be purified off bacteria and other toxins. Other solvents are also used such as ethanol C2H6O especially in perfumes and other personal care products such as powder and Acetone C3H6O on nail polish (Cunningham 29) The said solvents must balance the PH of the products where the alkalinity and the acidity of the product are neutralized to fit human use.

To create an excellent consistency, a thickener is added to the product. There are four types of thickeners, lipid, natural, mineral and synthetic thickeners. Lipids original thickness is heightened by their structure, for example, stearic acid C18H36O2 while natural and mineral thickeners work similarly by soaking up water off the mixture hence increasing the viscosity of a product. Synthetic is gel networks like carbomers that are used in creams for instance ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate (C7-H13-N-O4-S.H3-N).

Besides the consistency, a good product needs an emulsifier also known as surfactants that prevent, unlike ingredients from separating, for instance, water and oil. The emulsifiers amplify the texture of the product to be smooth. The popular emulsifiers in cosmetics are laureth-sulfate (CH3 (CH2)10CH2 (OCH2CH2) nOSO3Na) and potassium cetyl phosphate (C16H34KO4P).

Naturally one would think that the solvents hydrate the cosmetic product which is untrue. The purpose of the solutions is sole to create a product consistency; emollients are added to the makeup to prevent skin dehydration. The emollients range from natural to synthetic chemicals. The natural ones are extracted from animals and plants, e.g., bee wax and oils from olives while the synthetic is modified in the chemistry laboratory. Stearic acid (an extract of natural oils) is saturated to form butyl stearate ( CH3(CH2)14COO(CH2)3CH3 ) to create a synthetic emollient.

The color of a product is made from the dyes and organic and inorganic pigments different of chemical compounds. The colors are mainly from coal tar, Bismuth oxychloride, chromium oxide and mica flakes. Mica flakes (KAl2(AlSi3O10) (F, OH)2) are used primarily to create a shimmery effect on cosmetic products while Bismuth Oxychloride (BiClO) eludes a pearly effect. The pigments could also be extracted from plants and animals. Inorganic dye is generally of metal oxides. The mainly used inorganic pigments are iron oxide, chromium oxide, ultramarines, and titanium dioxide/zinc oxide.

For instance to form a black pigment electrons are oxidized in the octahedral spaces

Black Fe3+ [Fe3+Fe2+] O4

Organic pigments are carbon-based molecules that are of brighter colors. There are only two types: lakes which are mixed with a mysterious substance to make waterproof products and toners that are not combined with other products. Common organic colors are triarylmethane, xanthenes, and anthraquinone (Kenkel 112).

As much color creates an excellent aesthetic, no one would buy a product if it has a foul smell. Therefore, chemicals are added to a product to create an appealing smell. Even products that are labeled not scented usually have fragrances that mask the chemical smell of the ingredients. There are over 1,000 chemicals that formulate the fragrances, both natural and synthetic.

To extend the shelf life of the cosmetic products scientist adds preservatives to the products. Chemicals protect the consumer from adverse effect on their skin plus ensure the products quality is sustained throughout its life. The purpose of these preservatives is to prevent bacterial and fungal microorganisms from contaminating the product. It is therefore inherent that the chemicals are formulated to be soluble in water since the organisms are more likely to survive because of the water. Different products will demand different concentration of the preservatives ranging from high to low. The most used chemicals are formed by esterification process for example for the case of salicylic acid C6H4(OH) COOH and parabens CH3(C6H4(OH)COO).

It is evident that the makeup industry heavily relies on chemistry in the development of its products. Chemistry knowledge is applied in every stage of production and even it the formulation of new products. The cosmetic products have the ingredients labeled on the packaging and range from 3-15 hence a sophisticated blend of chemical (Takagi et al. 42).It is up to the consumer to evaluate whether to buy products with certain elements or not. The consumer should, however, be able to extensive research on products of up and coming brands or already established ones to discern the product quality and safety.

Works Cited

Cunningham, J. "Color cosmetics." Chemistry and Technology of the Cosmetics and Toiletries Industry, 1992, pp. 149-182.

Kenkel, John. "Analytical Chemistry for Technicians, Third Edition." 2002.

Takagi, Saeko, et al. "Advice System for Progress in Makeup Skill." The Journal of the Society for Art and Science, vol. 2, no. 4, 2003, pp. 156-164.