Ashland Innovations for Skin & Hair

In Asia, the health and wellness trend covers a broad range of aspects from urban healthy lifestyles to personal care. An increased focus on these areas has led to stronger consumer demand for products that offer the benefits to fight harmful environmental pollutants associated with living in urban areas. At the In-Cosmetics Asia exhibition, Ashland introduced a trio of what it describes as “innovative market-changing technologies and customer-driven solutions” to address the impact that environmental pollutants have on skin and hair.


Suprastim biofunctional revives with superfruits
Hectic lifestyles, stress, too much sun and too little sleep are factors which can make skin look less luminous and less toned. Exposing skin to certain environmental stressors can also cause skin fatigue, making facial wrinkles appear more visible and dark rings under eyes more prominent. Ashland solved for these issues with Suprastim biofunctional, a solution to help relieve the visible signs of skin fatigue and provide an energy boost to skin care products. Suprastim enables skin cells to re-balance their natural energy flow, help revive skin and give it a healthy glow.


Rapid, silicone-free wrinkle correction
Ashland's new Optimage SF microgel provides rapid and significant improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The product's soft, flexible, silicone-free microgels do not interfere with other common skin care chassis ingredients, typically enhance formulation stability, and are easy to use due to their pre-dispersed liquid product form, according to the company.

“Women who are aging gracefully expect their cosmetics to provide instantaneous and long-lasting improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” said Joseph Torella, vice president, skin care and business intelligence, Ashland. “OptimageT offers formulators a robust solution, using polymeric microgels and a technology that works well across skin types, with demonstrated efficacy both on Asian and Caucasian skin.”


Picture-perfect hair color that can extend time between salon visits, and help strengthen hair
Ashland unveiled two hair-care solutions, ChromoHance 113 polymer, to shield color-treated hair from surfactant stripping and FiberHance solution, for superior hair strengthening. ChromoHanceT 113 polymer is designed to help reduce the color fading that occurs during the four to six weeks between salon visits. Several factors, including cuticle damage, intensity of color, and the number of washings and amount of water used all contribute to color fading. Although store shelves are full of rinse-out products touting color protection benefits, it's the leave-in products that are mostly used for styling that offer a higher level of protection. Shampoo and conditioner systems typically provide only minimal protection against fading.

FiberHance solution, a new patented chemistry is included in the arsenal of ingredients for hair strengthening. Evolved from glucose-based chemistry, it has a unique multifaceted mode of action and penetrates deep into the cortex to create new hydrogen and ionic bonds that support the damaged internal keratin structure and strengthen and provide manageability back to the hair.

Also during the show, Ashland highlighted long-lasting, comfortable cosmetics at the booth. Consumers expect longer-lasting cosmetics more than ever before, without compromising on performance or comfort. Ashland's unique multifunctional film formers like Ganex Sensory offer formulators a new tool to add wear, water, and transfer resistance while improving coverage and skin feel. Likewise, Ashland's rheology modifiers, such as Ultrathix P-100, offer simultaneous improvements in pigment dispersion and texture.

In-Cosmetics Asia Show highlights
Ashland's In-Cosmetics Asia booth delivered multiple approaches to protect and defend the skin, scalp and hair against various forms of environmental stressors with polymer shielding/repelling technologies through biofunctional ingredients. At the innovation zone, Ashland showcased its latest offerings, OptimageT SF microgel and Suprastim biofunctional at pods #5 and 45.

At the formulation lab, Ashland offered hands-on interactive training for R&D laboratory staff. In a special training session, Ashland expert demonstrated how to formulate a gentle shampoo with excellent foaming properties and without sulfates.

Ashland also hosted two wellness-related technical seminars. The first focused on Ashland's new Suprastim biofunctional skincare solution. During the second seminar, Ashland's solvers shared information about the company's cosmetic actives and pollution shielding technologies that repel dust deposition, shield against pollution exposure and rejuvenate hair.

Ashland builds on its core polymer technologies and expands its competencies with cutting edge technologies, such as Zeta Fraction, to capture concentrated benefits from plants, sustainably. The company's research and development teams help solve customers' toughest formulation challenges in personal care while respecting natural resources.


More information about Ashland can be found at www.ashland.com.