[November 22, 2006]
Legislation and consumer concerns often drive personal care
innovation into new areas. For example, nano-sized titanium
dioxide and zinc oxide have been developed to form a
transparent coating in sunscreens that is more acceptable
to consumers; thus, such products are used more
regularly and therefore provide greater protection from skin
cancer and other damaging effects of the sun.
These nano-size particles also are claimed to better
reflect and/or scatter harmful UV rays. However, the level of
penetration into the body of these highly
sophisticated and exceptionally small ingredients has raised
concern among consumers. As an alternative, new methods
to deliver sun protection recently have emerged in the form of
"wash-on" and "leave-in" sun protection...
Wash-on: Freeze 24-7 recently
introduced its Ice Shield facial cleanser as
the first "wash-on" sunscreen. The product incorporates a
technology developed by Aquea Scientific Corp. that is
reported to bind sunscreen to the face via the
positively-charged sunblock attraction to the
negatively-charged skin. Aquea reported that the
technology enables not only sunscreens, but also various
cosmeceutical additives, to efficaciously be deposited onto
skin or hair via face wash, body wash, shampoo or conditioning
products.
In developing the system, the major challenge reported was
designing surfactant products to successfully apply an
ingredient onto skin or hair while maintaining performance
cleansing and lathering characteristics. The technology claims
to have wide-ranging potential with other active ingredients
including insect repellent, acne treatments, bronzers and skin
lighteners, among others.
Aquea's Aqua Delivery System (ADS) was named the winner of
the New Technology Award by Cosmetics & Toiletries
magazine at the annual Health & Beauty America (HBA)
show held in New York in September 2006. In addition, the
technology is recommended by the Skin Cancer
Foundation, according to a report by the Miami
Herald.
Leave-in: The face and body are
not the only areas requiring protection from the sun.
International Cosmeceuticals has launched
its Quintessence Q-Sunshade product, a combination
leave-in conditioner and scalp protectant that
incorporates octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and
titanium dioxide to provide an SPF 30 defense against UV rays.
According to reports, the product additionally claims to
protect color-treated hair while providing UV protection
against sun damage and protects the delicate scalp area in
thinning hair.
Other companies also have launched leave-in products to
provide SPF protection. Bobbi Brown offers its Leave-In Hair
Conditioner SPF 15 that is said to absorb easily,
smoothing and moisturizing while offering sun protection.
Nioxin's System 2 Scalp Treatment with SPF 15 is a daily
scalp treatment formulated for fine, non-chemically
enhanced hair that is noticeably thinning. In additinon,
Aramis has launched its Nutriplexx Hair & Scalp Protect
Styling Gel SPF 8 that claims to style and controls all hair
types while protecting the hair and scalp from the
effects of UV rays. Clarins Paris joins the leave-in SPF scene
with its Sun Care Oil Spray for Body/Hair SPF 4 product, which
reportedly keeps hair from drying out and is
water-resistant, while Procyte Ti-Silc Scalp Defense Spray
presents an SPF 20 spray that is said to provide moderate
sun protection.
As the demand for sun protection continues to rise,
creative formulators respond by thinking outside of the
proverbial box to provide SPFs in new and innovative ways.
