Personal care products, problems

While the Dove formulation has undergone relatively minor changes since its launch in the U.S. in 1955, the marketing concept has seen major changes. Today s Dove is marketed on a platform of extreme mildness to skin as evidenced by its neutral pH, and has been extended into different skin cleansing product forms (e.g. Dove Body Wash) as well as other personal care products (e g. Dove Shampoo, Dove Deodorant) [3], However, the original problem definition had a very different focus. 

Environmental research interests have recently extended from persistent hydrophobic organic chemicals to more hydrophilic organic compounds. The latter include some polar pesticides, many pharmaceuticals and personal care products, microbial toxins, and endocrine disrupting compounds.4 Polar organic compounds are often present at low concentrations in the aquatic environment, which poses a problem for most conventional sampling and analytical procedures. Recently, considerable effort has been directed toward the development of extraction methods suitable for the preconcentration of polar organic compounds commonly found in water bodies. Many of these methods use... 

Formaldehyde, specifically formalin, is perhaps the single-most effective preservative for shampoos and conditioners however, because of its sensitization reputation, which actually occurs well above levels used in consumer products, it is not used in most countries. Sensitization by formaldehyde is not a problem if used at 0.1% or lower concentration in personal care products, and in many cases it is used at 0.2% in household products. Most companies avoid the use of formaldehyde in baby products. 

The history of surfactant applications in personal care products can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Soap was the only available surfactant in those early centuries. It was not until the Second World War that synthetic surfactants were developed and formulated into daily personal care products. Diversification and expansion of synthetic surfactants based on the technological and economical advances of the oleochemical and petrochemical industries made surfactants indispensable for daily life in industrialized countries such as the United States, western Europe, and Japan, and the same trends are expanding throughout the world. We now face a controversial problem cleansing ability as the primary function of surfactants versus gentleness to humans and environmental impact. 

Winemaking problems solved Edited by C. E. Butzke Environmental assessment and management in the food industry Edited by U. Sonesson, J. Berlin and E Ziegler Consumer-driven innovation in food and personal care products... 

Ci2 i4 olefin sulphonates are also used in personal care formulations since they are less aggressive than LAS and will not over-strip (i.e. degrease to leave an excessively dry or squeaky feel) the skin or hair although some care maybe required in formulating to compensate for a dry feel to the foam. AOS-based formulations are also more difficult to thicken than products based on alkyl sulphates or alkyl ether sulphates but use of alkanolamides or sarcosinates as secondary surfactants can overcome both problems and give a product more acceptable to the consumer. 

Another major source of contamination in an analysis can be the analyst. It depends on what kind of analytes are being measured, but when trace or ultratrace levels of elements or molecules are being determined, the analyst can be a part of the analytical problem. Many personal care items, such as hand creams, shampoos, powders, and cosmetics, contain significant amounts of chemicals that may be analytes. The problem can be severe for volatile organic compounds in aftershave, perfume, and many other scented products and for sihcone polymers, used in many health and beauty products. Powdered gloves may contain a variety of trace elements and should not be used by analysts performing trace element determinations. Hair, skin, and clothing can shed cells or fibers that can contaminate a sample. 

---