Building Up Chemicals in Cosmetics: Blush

Blush is a cosmetic to color up cheeks and enhance face makeup looks. Blush is applied to the area to give a warm impression on the face.?The blush comes in a range of colors from pink to crimson. Blush can be applied directly to the cheek skin. Blush also serves other important roles. Applying a neutral blusher behind the cheekbones helps provide structure to the face. Applying blush to the top cheekbone region softens the cheekbone. Blush can be creamery or powdered. Chemicals may be used in numerous industries, including cosmetics to make blush and has a role in makeup.

This is the first substance in blush. Pigments and textures in blush are supported by fillers. Fillers are generally white to help dilute the hues. Mineral powders including talc (magnesium silicate), mica (magnesium aluminum silicate), sericite (hydrated mica), and kaolin are commonly used in blush. The most often used filler is talc, which is almost transparent depending on particle size and very soft to the touch. Color extenders like talc are common. Fillers can also enhance the adhesion of powder to the skin. Mica is a popular filler because of its transparency and smooth texture. It produces a glossy look when applied to the skin and has poor compression properties when used in pressed powder.

Then absorbent. Absorbents improve powder density. They can absorb extra skin oil. Their usage in oil control formulations is common. They also help the completed product stick to the skin. Common absorbents include kaolin, calcium carbonate, and starch.

Binders repel water and help the cake stay. Cosmetic binder can be solid or liquid. Dry (solid) binders help the blush powder keep its shape. Dry binders are usually zinc stearate or magnesium stearate. Oils (sunflower, coconut, etc.) and esters (sorbitan ester) are liquid binders (beeswax, lanolin, etc.).

Colorants are important in compositions since they are the reason blush was developed. Chromium hydrate (green), chlorophyll (blue), carmine (red), manganin violet (violet), and lake colors can be used in blush (usually red and yellow). Colored and uncolored pearls can be used to powder blush to make the skin seem glossy.

Antioxidants can also be used in blush. Oxidation is the enemy of antioxidants. Antioxidants can also help stabilize cosmetic formulations. Decomposition, rancidity, color change, and odor creation are all prevented by the antioxidant. These include BHA, BHT, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), retinyl palmitate, ascorbyl palmitate, and panthenol.

Preservatives are also found in blush. They guard against microbial contamination. Starches are good preservatives. The same goes with powder blush. A common powder blush preservative is phenoxyethanol. Methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and imidazolidinyl urea are used in powder blush.

To make blush, all materials must be processed. The main step in the procedure is mixing. All materials, from fillers to colorants, must be ground to a fine powder. During mixing, the oil-based substance will coagulate powder materials into a cake shape. The powder blush is then squeezed into the container. The pressed powder blush in the tin is now ready for packaging and sale.

References

Barel, A. O., Paye, M., Maibach, H. I. (2009). Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology. 3 rd Edition. New York: Informa Healthcare

DiDonato, Theresa E. (2015). 5 Research-Backed Reasons We Wear Makeup [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meetcatch-and-keep/201502/5- research-backed-reasons-we-wear-makeup

Ditjen POM. 1985. Formularium Kosmetik Indonesia. Jakarta: Departemen Kesehatan Republik Indonesia

Elliot, A. J., Niesta, D. (2008). Romantic red: Red enhances men's attraction to women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1150-1164.

Jean, D. (2020). Enhance Your Features and Beauty with the Correct Application of Makeup. Available at: https://www.realwomenmakeup.com/sbsg_blusher.html

Project Vanity. (2017). This is Why Your Makeup Oxidizes, Plus Six Tips on How to Prevent It [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.projectvanity.com/projectvanity/oxidation