What Is an Alcohol-Free Cosmetic

Before you reach for that alcohol-free product, stop and consider the features that you expect and desire in your cosmetics. The class of substances known to chemists as alcohols is commonly confused with the consumer interpretation of alcohol. Knowing the chemist s terminology will help you select the safest and most beneficial formulation. 

The molecular structure of lauric acid diethanolamine or lauramide 

13 121 What Is the Cool Sensation in Toothpaste and Breath Fresheners  

Peppermint oil is the volatile oil extracted from the fresh leaves of the flowering plant of Mentha piperita via steam distillation. Peppermint oil contains not less than 44% menthol. American peppermint oil contains from 50 to 78% of free /-menthol (Fig. 13.12.1) and from 5 to 20% combined in various es- 

The main constituents of spearmint oil are /-carvone (Fig. 13.12.7) and /-limonene (Fig. 13.12.8). Oil of spearmint contains from 45 to 60% /-carvone, 6 to 20% of alcohols, and 4 to 20% of esters and terpenes, mainly /-limonene and cineole (see Fig. 13.12.4) The optically isomeric form of carvone, (/-carvone, is found in oil of caraway and oil of dill. Carvone appears to co-occur with limonene when present in a plant. 

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