Cosmetics lecithin applications

Highly concentrated emulsions are also evident in everyday applications. A classic example is mayonnaise, in which a large volume of vegetable oil is emulsified in a small amount of vinegar, using lecithin from egg-yolk as the emulsifier. In addition, HIPEs are most probably found in many cosmetic products, especially gels and creams. However, little information is available on products of commercial importance, so one can only speculate on their exact nature and composition. 

For the most part, the greatest percentage of lecithin is used in foods. The second highest use is in animal feeds, followed by industrial applications. Paints and other coatings consume a major portion of the nonfood lecithin. Pharmaceuticals, including dietary supplements, and inks and cosmetics, however, also consume significant portions. 

Lecithins are used in a wide variety of pharmaceutical applications see Table I. They are also used in cosmetics and food products. 

The utilization of soybean lecithins is reviewed by Schneider (1986). Table 2.12 summarizes the most common applications in the food, feed, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The food industry relies on lecithin in bakery, beverage, and confectionery product development because of its functionalities. 

The most important commercial source of phospholipids is lecithin, which has numerous food (Chapter 12.4) and non-food applications (Chapter 12.17). Crude soy bean oil contains 1-3% phospholipids which contain -35% lecithin, -25% phosphatidyl ethanolamine and -15% phosphatidyl inositol. The main commercial uses of phospholipids are in animal feeds, cosmetics, surfactants, foods and dietary products. 

The examples shown illustrate only a few of the possible NMR applications. There are other qualitative and quantitative NMR applications, for example the determination of citric acid, acetic acid, acetone, ethanol, methanol, carbohydrates, ceramides and plasmalogens in lecithin polyethyleneglycol-based emulsifiers in animal feed (limit 100 ppm) emulsifiers, surfactants and preservatives in cosmetics (Spectral Service, unpublished). 

Lecithin is a naturally occurring group of phospholipids which is widely recoghnized as a versatile surfactant for use in industrial applications such as magnetic media, cosmetics, wire manufacture, paint, automotive, construc-tlomn, plastic molding and agricultural chemicals. The primary commercial source of lecithin comes from soybeans. 

The potential technical and commercial applications of microemulsions are mainly linked to their unique properties such as thermodynamic stability, optical clarity, and high solubilization capacity. However, the most critical problem regarding the use of microemulsions in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields is the toxicity of their partial components. Formulation and characterization of nontoxic microemulsions based on naturally occurring amphiphiles and different oils have been studied for almost two decades. The first attempt to use natural biodegradable surfactants for the formulation of nontoxic microemulsions was reported by Shinoda et al. [ 155,156]. In this regard, soybean lecithin is a combination... 

Another important class of surfactants in cosmetics is the phospholipids (e.g., lecithin obtained from egg yolk or soybean), which are used as emulsifiers as well as for the formation of liposomes and vesicles. Liposomes are multi-lamellar bUayers of phospholipids that on sonication produce singular bilayers or vesicles. They are ideal systems for cosmetic applications. They offer a convenient method for solubilizing water insoluble active substances in the hydrocarbon core of the bilayer. They will always form a lamellar liquid crystalline structure on the skin and, therefore, they do not disrupt the structure of the stratum comeum. Phospholipid liposomes may be used as an indicator for studying skin irritation by surfactants. 

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