Hydroxyethyl Cellulose * Skin Care Products

It is common practice to add hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) during the production of skin care products. HEC is a water-soluble polymer that plays an important role in skin care products due to its thickening, moisturizing and emulsification stabilization properties.

1. Thickening effect

Stabilize product texture: In skin care products, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is an effective thickener. It can increase the viscosity of the product and make the skin care product have a suitable texture. In products such as lotions and creams, HEC molecular chains will entangle with each other in the system to form a three-dimensional network structure, so that the product will not be too thin. This helps the product maintain a uniform state during storage and use, and prevents the occurrence of phenomena such as lotion stratification and cream collapse.

Improve the use experience: For some skin care products with strong fluidity, such as toners and essences, adding HEC can adjust their rheology, making it easier to control the amount of use. For example, when using toner, the thickened toner will not flow down quickly because it is too thin, which is convenient to use with cotton pads or palms, and can better fit the skin surface for application.

2. Moisturizing effect

Forming a moisturizing film: HEC has a certain hydrophilicity and can form a moisturizing film on the skin surface. This film can slow down the evaporation rate of moisture on the skin surface and play a role in locking moisture and moisturizing. In products such as moisturizers, it works synergistically with other moisturizing ingredients (such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, etc.) to enhance the moisturizing effect of the product.

Enhance skin hydration: By retaining moisture on the skin's surface, HEC helps promote skin hydration. Well-hydrated skin can better absorb nutrients in skin care products, such as vitamin C, niacinamide and other active ingredients, thereby improving the efficacy of skin care products.

3. Suspension and dispersion effect

Stabilize formula ingredients: Skin care products usually contain a variety of ingredients, such as powdered active ingredients (such as pearl powder, titanium dioxide, etc.), oil droplets (such as vegetable oils, synthetic oils), etc. HEC can help suspend and disperse these ingredients so that they are evenly distributed in the product. In sunscreen lotions containing physical sunscreen titanium dioxide, HEC can prevent titanium dioxide particles from settling, ensuring that the product can provide uniform sun protection when used.

Prevent ingredient agglomeration: It can also prevent some ingredients that are prone to agglomeration (such as active ingredients in certain plant extracts) from agglomerating with each other, thereby ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the product formula.

4. Enhance product stability

Antimicrobial performance: HEC can enhance the resistance of skin care products to microorganisms to a certain extent. It can create an environment that is relatively unfavorable for the growth of microorganisms for the product, reducing the growth of bacteria, mold and other microorganisms in the product. This is very important for extending the shelf life of skin care products and maintaining the safety and effectiveness of the products.

Adapt to different environmental conditions: HEC helps maintain the physical stability of skin care products under different temperature and humidity environments. Whether in hot summer or cold winter, skin care products containing HEC can better maintain their texture, performance and appearance, and will not deteriorate or separate due to temperature changes.