THE CHALLENGE OF NATURAL AND SUSTAINABLE COSMETICS: FORMULATION OF A WATER-FREE NATURAL BODY BUTTER

Abstract

The market is seeing an increase in demand for natural and green cosmetic products. The main drivers of this need include consumer awareness of the impact of their cosmetic purchases on the environment and the desire of beauty brands to replace synthetic components with natural ingredients. Skin dryness is a common problem that affects people of all ages. The use of moisturizers can aid in the prevention of skin dryness by sealing in the moisture and maintaining the health of the skin's protective barrier. The objective of this research is to present a natural and sustainable body butter formulation that effectively hydrates the skin. The formulation was created at Sun Sea Cosmetics' research and development laboratory located in San Marino. The formulation is water-free, contributing to the decrease in water consumption in cosmetic products and eliminating the need for water-purification methods, which are normally energy-intensive. The water phase of the formulation has been completely replaced by aloe vera, a natural ingredient that possesses a variety of skin-benefiting properties. Furthermore, the other ingredients were selected based on their origin and biodegradability. As a result, the lipid phase of the formulation is composed of natural oils and butters that provide a deep moisturizing effect on the skin, eliminating the need for synthetic ingredients, such as silicones or petrochemicals that are environmentally harmful. In addition, when building the emulsifier system, only natural emulsifying agents were used. To ensure the good quality and safety of the body butter formulation, the short-term stability tests were carried out, and the long-term stability tests are still in progress. In addition, a formulation satisfaction survey was carried out on 10 volunteers to get initial feedback on product appreciation. Taken together, the first evidence of the formulation indicates that it was successfully created; it was high quality, effective, and stable.