The secret behind the formulation of sunscreen lotion

 Formulation of sunscreen lotion is a complex science and manufacturing process plays an important role in maximising the performance of permitted substances. There are certain important steps in the manufacture and formulation of sunscreen lotion.

• During the process of manufacture, ingredients like Cetyl alcohol and stearic acid are blended together and dispersed into the phase of oil.
• The water phase that contains emulsifiers and stabilizers like Veegum, Carbopol are separated.
• The two phases are then mixed in the form of emulsion which is aided by heating between 110 and 185 degree Fahrenheit. Although the temperature depends on the ingredients. This is an important phase in formulation of sunscreen lotion.
• The UV filters and absorbers are supplied like dry powder and are predisposed either in oil or aqueous bases. These micronized oxides are dispersed into the appropriate phase depending on the raw material and then being added to the product. You will need the support from surfactant chemical supplier.
• The mixing gets continued till the end, until the product becomes homogeneous. This is the secret behind the formulation of sunscreen lotion.
While you carry in the process of manufacturing, there arise a lot of problems and encounters.
• While mixing operations, the hydration of thickening and suspending agents is one of the most difficult of all. The incomplete hydration or formulation of all agglomerates can have a detrimental effect on the SPF.
• When you add the powdered ingredients, partial hydration of materials can build up the vessel walls.
• The emulsion has to be quite stable along with the minimum addition of emulsifiers and stabilizers. Certain additives can reduce the SPF as per knowledge. You must contact your surfactant chemical supplier beforehand.

For obtaining a homogeneous product, you might require additional equipment and other requirements. The improved dispersion of micronized oxides that uses Silverson high shear mixer results in the better quality of SPF.

Use of Foam Booster Ingredients in Hair and Skin Protection Products

Many household products use foam as one of its ingredients. To increase the amount of foam, we use foam boosters. They use surfactants as foam booster ingredients because of their intrinsic nature of decreasing surface tension. This helps improve bonding with the material in the solution. Manufacturers use it in bubble soap and shower gels other than shampoos. The addition of the surfactant will help the detergent or shampoo remove dirt with ease.

Foaming and Blowing Agents

The common foaming agents include Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate. Adding secondary surfactants will help increase the amount of foam the shampoo or shower gel produces. Blowing agents used in the foam booster ingredients include natural gases and carbon dioxide. When the surface tension between the oil, dirt, and grease and the water solution decreases, the grease and dirt drop out of the solution. The amount of surfactant present will determine the efficacy of the detergent or shampoo.

Process of Making the Lotion

The formulation of sunscreen lotion is straightforward and simple. There is one delivery agent. This carries the active ingredients that absorb the sun’s UV rays and give us protection. The performance parameters are sensitive and need careful handling. Blocking out the harmful rays from the sun sounds simple to do. But, how to do it? It begins with the choice of the right ingredients. One is the substance that can absorb the UV rays. Then, we need to mix them with the other substances that keep them all together.

Ingredients Used in Sunscreen Lotion

For the formulation of sunscreen lotion, we need a water-based emulsion. We dry blend the various ingredients - cetyl alcohol, soap flakes, and stearic acid. In the water phase, we mix the emulsifiers and stabilizers. Then, we mix the two phases after which we heat it. We carry on mixing until the mixture becomes smooth and homogeneous.

Foam Booster Ingredients to Improve Beauty Products

As with a surfactant, a foam booster helps make foam in shower and bath products. Shower gel, bubble soap, and shampoos have foam booster ingredients. Surfactants reduce the surface tension between two substances such as oil and water. This improves the foaming capacity of the soap. Using bath products having surfactants helps remove the dirt from the surface of hair. Gases present in its natural state like carbon dioxide or resulting from a chemical reaction such as from bleach are examples of blowing agents.

Use of Foaming Agents

Blowing agents and foam boosters are essential ingredients in soaps and shampoos. Adding foam booster ingredients to ordinary liquid soap will change it to a special one. Common foaming agents in use include Ammonium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. To get the best result, they often add secondary surfactants such as betaines to the primary anionic surfactants.

Protection from the Sun’s Rays

The action of the sunscreen lotion is simple. It has a delivery agent for the active sunscreen ingredients that absorb the harmful UV rays from the sun. This helps protect the skin from harm. The method is simple enough but the formulation of sunscreen lotion is quite complex. We need it to control sensitive performance parameters and pack it all in one package. Chemical fillers are the most common ingredient in sunscreen lotions. Mineral sunscreens usually have titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

The Action of Zinc Oxide

These inorganic substances deflect the sun’s rays to provide protection. Some may have organic compounds that absorb the UV rays and decrease the intensity.

You can see the sun protection factor on the label of the sunscreen lotion that tells you how long the formulation of sunscreen lotion will protect you. These are white, opaque ointments optimized to give good protection from the sun. You can get them in the form of gels, sprays, and oils other than lotions.