02.09.11
No parabens or other preservatives. No animal products.No petrochemicals or artificial colors. Increasingly, what is not found in the product is just as important as what is featured in the ingredient call outs.As consumers demand products that are perceived to be safer and more environmentally friendly, major health and beauty marketers are responding to these trends with their own customized set of voluntary restrictions on a host of many time-honored cosmetic ingredients.
Coughlan Products, LLC, a Wayne, NJ-based custom formulator and manufacturer of innovative skin care, bath and other personal care products, is uniquely positioned to turn many of its customers’ “restrictions” into market advantages.The company specializes in non-aqueous products that do not require the use of preservatives, but that enhance the delivery of benefits and the value of the brands that market them. This can take the form of powders, oils, traditional and buttery scrubs, balms, solid perfumes, effervescents, and salts.
“Before we even sit down with a customer to discuss new products, we request their list of prohibited ingredients.Sometimes they send us a short list and other times they forward as many as eight full pages of non-preferred chemicals,” reported Pat Campbell, CEO. “In today’s market, benefits are still important, but the 'prohibited ingredients' lists are increasingly driving product development direction.”
These limitations, according to Coughlan, make formulating traditional liquids such as shower gels, creams and lotions especially challenging.With their high water content, these products must rely on preservatives and often require petrochemical-based ingredients to ensure good aesthetics and shelf stability.
“At Coughlan, our mantra is ‘no water,’” explained Dr. John Brahms, director of R&D. “Products that are dry or oil-based are often self-preserving or require minimal preservation since you are not creating an environment where bacteria can easily grow.”
Non-aqueous formulas also deliver the benefit of pure, undiluted product forms that add significant value for the consumer, according to the company.
Coughlan specializes in tailoring formulations to each company’s standards, whether that is NOP Certified Organic, NPA compliance or customer-specific performance-based objectives, noted Dr. Brahms.“Our range of product types adds texture, visual interest, in-use benefits and many can be formulated to be preservative-free, vegan, and/or petrochemical-free,” he said.
Some examples of recent innovations include a soft-powder facial cleanser specially formulated for dry, oily or sensitive skin that is easy to dispense and foams quickly with just a few drops of water; treatments for chronically dry skin in areas like elbows, knees and heels delivered in cosmetically elegant formulations of vegetable oils and natural butters; and a spray-on, after-shower moisturizer that instantly transforms into a luxurious lotion or oil treatment, according to the company.
More info: www.coughlanproducts.com