Ingredient
COCOA BUTTER GLYCERYL ESTERS
Substance information
This ingredient contains glycerol as alcohol component in esters or condensed with other (poly) alcohols or sugars. "Ester" or "esters" refers to an esterification product (condensation product of alcohol and acid) or a trans-esterification product obtained through direct reaction of fats (mostly triglycerides) with alcohols.
Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products
EMULSION STABILISING
Supports emulsion formation and improves product stability
HAIR CONDITIONING
Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume
SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
Softens and smoothens the skin
SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Allows the formation of finely dispersed mixtures of oil and water (emulsions)
VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products
Background information on use in cosmetics
Cocoa is obtained from cocoa beans and is a popular foodstuff which contributes to our wellbeing in the form of chocolate or drinking chocolate. Mainly the theobromine contained in it can create a mood-lifting effect. The most well-known product from cocoa production is cocoa butter. In some cosmetic products cocoa is also included in the form of cocoa butter (INCI: THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER). Because of the skin caring properties, cocoa butter is used in lipsticks and as a caring addition to lotions, bath additives, skin creams and for body butter, here often in combination with shea butter. Emulsifiers are often used in cosmetics as excipients. They allow actually unmixable components like oil and water to be brought in a permanently stable emulsion. In this way both aqueous and oily care and active ingredients can be used in one and the same product in cosmetics. Emulsifiers are able to do that since their molecules consist of a lipophilic and a hydrophilic part. In this way they can reduce the interfacial tension which actually exists between two incompatible substances like fat and water. Emulsifiers are, more particularly, used for creams, lotions and cleansing agents. At present emulsifiers are, however, more than only excipients which keep an emulsion stable. Fatty acid esters on the basis of sugar, lecithin or glycerin monodistearate contribute, for instance, to improving the moisture balance of the skin and are, therefore, also considered as cosmetic active ingredients.
Belongs to the following substance groups
Regulating cosmetics
Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.