Cosmetic Product Forms

• Product forms are an essential part of quality control in the cosmetic industry. Some cosmetics must have certain forms to prove useful for their designed purpose.
• When we talk about cosmetic product forms, viscosity is very vital. Viscosity refers to the resistance to flow. It also refers to how the product behaves and flows when put in a particular container.
• The viscosity and product form is vital because of the following reasons: to make it easy to apply, to make it easy to dispense and use the right amount, to suit customers’ perception.
• To make it easy to apply - A body mist must have low viscosity for it to flow freely and be distributed in an even manner, while lipsticks and lip balms must be highly viscous to stick on one’s lips and protect the skin.
• To make it easy to dispense and use the right amount – Shampoo must be viscous enough to pour it from a bottle in a controlled amount and need to stay in the hand while applying it on the head. 
• To suit customers’ perception – customers often judge the conditioning benefits of a conditioner by how thick and creamy it is. 
• Liquid - It can flow freely from runny like water to runny like honey. Water-based liquid can only contain a small amount of oils appropriately solubilized. Examples: perfume, body mist, skin toner
• Gel - It is thicker than liquid and has limited flow properties. It is formed through the use of gum or thickening agents.
• Foaming Gel - It is used to describe foaming products with honey-like viscosity. It has limited flow capacity and prevents the product from running out of the hand since it foams up.
• Serum

  • It varies from low viscosity gel to almost lotion-like.
  • It is used to deliver critical ingredients in a light product form.
  • It is made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin and deliver a high concentration of active ingredients.
• Lotion

  • It contains low viscosity emulsions.
  • Emulsion –  is a mixture of two naturally not soluble substances (like oil and water) by use of a material to hold them together (emulsifier)
  • It can readily be pumped or squeezed from packaging with a little effort or may run semi freely.
  • The viscosity of lotions can be altered by using different emulsifying agents, consistency factors (beeswax or other waxes), or gums or thickening agents.
• Cream

  • It contains medium to high viscosity emulsions.
  • It is suitable to be put in jars or small bottles with a wide mouth or bigger pump nozzles.
• Creams can be in the form of:

  
  

  Oil in water emulsions (o/w)

  • droplets of oil in water continuous phase 
  • tends to have a light-after feel on the skin being water-based 
• • Water in oil emulsions (w/o)
  • droplets of water in a continuous oil phase
  • has a greasier-after feel since it is oil-based
  • It has higher viscosity because of its high oil content.
• Balm

  • It is mostly or entirely oil-based with semi-solid consistency.
• Mud

  • It is often presented as a semi-solid product with the use of different clay and with the presence of oils.
• Scrub

  • It contains various sized particles to exfoliate skin mechanically.
• Powder

  • It is utilized readily in the color cosmetics industry like eye shadow, blushes, pressed, loose powder, and mineral make-up.