If there is one significant ingredient that is present in large quantities in beauty care products, it is undoubtedly water. Referred to as "Aqua" or "Water", the official designations for water in the I.N.C.I., it plays a crucial role in the formulation of skincare products, as well as in their effectiveness.
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What role does water play in skincare products?
Summary
- What is the purpose of water contained in beauty products?
- The role of water in beauty care
- The various types of water used in the field of cosmetology
Published February 1, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
4 min read
What is the purpose of water contained in beauty products?
A skincare product can be composed of between 60 and 90% water. Thanks to this significant quantity, this ingredient is listed at the top of its components. The democratization of water in beauty care came about when the cosmetic industry decided to replace ointments, primarily formed by fatty substances, with emulsions combining a volume of fatty substances and water. As a result, the skincare product presents a fluid and less greasy texture as well as a shiny and fresh appearance.
In skincare, haircare, or other similar areas, water is used as a solvent. This ingredient dissolves active principles to facilitate their transfer to skin cells or hair fibers. It is valued for its qualities, including its hydrating, soothing, or regenerating properties. Moreover, water, in its various forms, is beneficial for developing a product with a pleasant texture to handle.
The role of water in beauty care.
The water contained in beauty treatments is an active ingredient that impacts the effectiveness of the treatment and the skin cells in many ways. Indeed, since water and fatty substances or lipids are not miscible with each other, it is essential to establish an emulsion between these ingredients. To achieve a light emulsion, the amount of water is greater than that of lipids. Conversely, in the case of a thick emulsion, the amount of fatty substances is greater than that of water. These emulsions are effective in strengthening the hydrolipidic barrier. The water that carries the active ingredients into the epidermal cells also ensures the hydration of the horny layer. In galenic form, water allows control over the texture of treatments as well as their fluidity. It facilitates their application and distribution on the skin, hair, and elsewhere. In the case of a gel, water is used to support the gelling agents to establish the structure of the treatment. It helps to diversify the formulas according to their use, including lotions, hydroalcoholic solutions, or aqueous gels like shampoos.
The various types of water used in the field of cosmetology.
In order to obtain high-quality water that meets the needs of the cosmetics industry, it is essential to carry out certain treatments. Distillation is one of the processes used to obtain sterile water that is free of minerals. Reverse osmosis treatment is also adopted to benefit from mineral-free water, but it is not sterile. The use of filtration membranes or the ultrafiltration method are also among the treatment techniques that ensure sterile water that is partially free of minerals.
Beyond natural, thermal, sea, or other types of water, active waters are also being adopted in the field of cosmetology. These include floral waters obtained after the hydrodistillation of flowers, which generally have soothing and purifying properties. The hydrosols obtained by distilling other parts of the plant are a source of benefits. With their unique composition, special waters like glacier water are also incorporated into beauty care.
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