Materials Tech Pulse

As the cosmetics industry continues to strive for higher product performance, transparency and formulation stability have become critical features in a number of products, especially in everyday products such as lotions and sunscreens. These products require not only a pleasant feel on the skin, but also long-term stability. Traditional materials such as SBS often fall short in oxidation resistance and weatherability, limiting their transparency and performance.

LCY’s high-performance and transparent hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC) offer a solution. Engineered for superior transparency at over 97% and enhanced formulation stability, it delivers an improved sensory experience. Furthermore, it enables flexible product performance control, making it an ideal thickening agent for lotions, sunscreens, and other personal care products. This advanced material enables formulators to meet product manufacturing demand, making it the perfect solution across product categories.

Applications and Advantages

In cosmetics, transparent HSBC's primary function is to act as a thickener that effectively adjusts the viscosity of the product. This is particularly important in liquid or cream-based formulations such as lotions and sunscreens, where added thickness enhances the richness of the texture and improves ease of application. By adjusting the amount of HSBC used, viscosity can be precisely controlled to meet the requirements of different product types. For example, sunscreen lotions often require higher viscosity to form a stable protective layer while remaining light and easy to spread.

In addition to thickening, transparent HSBC contributes to product stability by preventing ingredient separation in lotions and sunscreens, resulting in a silky smooth texture upon application. It also improves spreadability and adherence to the skin, offering longer-lasting protection and a richer user experience.

With its high transparency, HSBC is an important ingredient for makeup and gel-based skincare products. It helps enhance the overall harmony of the formulation, improves fragrance stability, and maintains scent fidelity and product consistency over long-term storage.

Areas of Application

Transparent HSBC is widely used in lotions and sunscreens due to its excellent transparency and thickening performance. As a thickener, it effectively increases viscosity, allowing lotions to spread more smoothly and adhere better to the skin for an improved user experience. In sunscreen formulations, transparent HSBC is often supplied in a high-viscosity pre-blend form, which supports stability during transportation and manufacturing. When incorporated into the final product, manufacturers can easily adjust the viscosity to meet specific formulation needs - balancing protection, ease of application and user comfort.

In addition to lotions and sunscreens, transparent HSBC is also suitable for creams and other skin care products. Its thickening performance and clarity help maintain visual and tactile consistency, creating a more refined and delightful experience. In addition, the viscosity of HSBC can be flexibly adjusted to meet different formulation goals, whether to enhance texture or improve overall stability, offering greater versatility in product applications.

Formulation and Design Flexibility 

HSBC's transparency is closely linked to its manufacturing process, particularly the catalyst removal step that follows hydrogenation. This step effectively removes impurities that could affect clarity, resulting in a final product with a clean and crystal clear appearance. This visual purity enhances both product aesthetics and sensory experience for greater consumer satisfaction.

LCY's transparent HSBC also offers high flexibility in product design due to its adjustable usage levels. By fine-tuning the amount of HSBC added to a formulation, manufacturers can precisely control viscosity, texture and product stability. For example, increasing HSBC levels in sunscreen formulations can improve texture and adherence to the skin for a smoother application. On the other hand, in lighter products such as serums, a lower HSBC content can maintain a refreshing feel and avoid heaviness. This adaptability makes transparent HSBC a versatile solution for a wide range of cosmetic applications, allowing formulators to create different product experiences based on specific design goals.

Technical Advantages and Certifications

As a global leader in chemical materials, LCY delivers transparent HSBC with over 97% clarity. This high level of clarity ensures a visually pure appearance and significantly reduces color distortion - an especially important feature for color-sensitive applications such as lipsticks and cosmetic gels. For formulations that require precise shade control, transparent HSBC offers a strong competitive advantage because it has minimal effect on shade.

Thanks to its superior thickening properties and high transparency, transparent HSBC shows strong potential throughout the cosmetics industry. It helps to create stable textures and a smooth, refined application experience in lotions, sunscreens, serums and creams.

As technology evolves, transparent HSBC is set to drive the next wave of innovation in cosmetics. If you're looking to elevate your formulations, we invite you to connect with LCY and discover how our solutions can help you create higher-quality, more competitive products.