Raw Materials: Sourcing the Right Skincare Ingredients

Industry Expertise

13/10/2020 by The Red Tree

This article was written by Orean Personal Care.

Raw materials are the building blocks of any cosmetic product. The raw materials Orean use affect everything from the efficacy to the consistency and right down to the smell of the product, so it’s essential that whichever raw materials they choose, the ingredients’ properties work in harmony with one another.

There are so many different raw materials for a formulation team to choose from, and each one brings a beneficial property to the product. To give you an idea of how Orean’s raw materials work to make sure their products really perform, they’ve put together this blog on raw materials and how they use them at Orean.

The power of ingredients

Each and every skin and hair care product uses a selection of raw materials that work together to create a product that performs. There are many different types of all raw materials, and your experts at Orean will work with you to decide which ones will work the best for your next release.

Acids

Acids are used for a number of different reasons. They can serve as exfoliants, moisturisers, PH balancers and even preservatives, ultimately increasing the effectiveness of the product.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help the skin to combat the damaging effect of free radicals. They’re also used to ensure the products aren’t subject to oxidation over time.

Botanical extracts

Extracts harness the activity and quality of botanical materials such as Aloe, Centella, Green Tea to name but a few. They can be water-soluble, called hydrolates or oil-soluble, lipid extracts, and as such, can enhance any cosmetic formulation.

Emollients

Emollients provide a silky, smooth quality for the product. They work to soften and smooth the skin, building a barrier against water loss.

Emulsufiers

Emulsifiers are a particular category of surfactants used in creams and lotions to mix water and oil (or silicone) together, keeping them from separating. The choice of emulsifier has a strong influence in the resulting skin feel of the product.

Exfoliants

Sometimes dead skin cells don’t shed completely, which can result in dry, flaky patches and closed pores. Exfoliating assists in the removal of dead cells and can be achieved via a physical or a chemical process. Physical exfoliants can be anything from salts and seeds to minerals, and work by physically rubbing against the dead skin cells to remove them. Chemical exfoliants such as acids and enzymes work by dissolving the dead skin cells.

Fragrances

It is well known that when consumers pick up a product the first thing they do is smell it.

Fragrance is part of a product or brand identity and communicates to the consumer. Whether natural, nature-identical or synthetic, floral, fruity or oceanic there is a fragrance route to suit.

Gums & Thickeners

This is a key category of raw materials for influencing the texture, stability or application of products. These materials can be natural or synthetic in their origin and allow novel sensorial properties to be achieved.

Humectants

Humectants, such as glycerin hold and retain moisture in both the product and the skin, helping them to stay hydrated and prevent drying out.

Minerals & Trace elements

Minerals and trace elements include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, iron, zinc and selenium. They are proven to be very beneficial in topical applications with benefits including protection, hydration and soothing.

Oils, fats, waxes & butters

This group of ingredients forms an important cross-section of raw materials found in most cosmetics and toiletries. They are multifunctional in their benefits, used as emollients, conditioners, thickeners and can modify the sensory properties of a formulation.

Proteins

Proteins provide valuable protection, moisturisation and repair to both the skin and hair. Typically, proteins are sourced from either wool or plant sources, depending on whether they are vegetarian or vegan.

Silicones

Silicones play a key role in enhancing the sensorial elegance of a product. They improve the spreadability of a product, as well as the slip, plus, they create different textures and form a breathable layer on the skin.

Surfactants

Surface active agents, or surfactants are used as raw materials in cosmetic products to allow incompatible substances to mix together or to dissolve one another. They are multi-functional ingredients with properties such as foaming agents, conditioning agents, emulsifiers and solubilisers.

Vitamins

Vitamins make an incredible difference to skin and hair. Including A, B3, B5, B6, C and E, they have a range of functions such as antioxidants, moisturisers, skin conditioners, anti-pollution agents, anti-blemish and skin luminosity.

These are just a handful of raw materials; there are many more that lend themselves to the innovation and success of products. At Orean, they’re always looking for new raw materials to add to their collection, so that they can offer their clients the very best ingredients for their products.

Raw materials at orean

At Orean, they’re always straightforward, open and fair, so you can be sure that you’ll receive transparency around your raw materials at every stage of production. Their brand values include integrity and expertise, and this means that as well as honesty, they’re always looking to expand their knowledge, and find new, innovative ways of using raw materials in their products.

Their dedicated Procurement team is led by a very experienced manager of supply chains, meaning that they have the very best of relationships with all of their raw materials suppliers. Given their flexibility and speed to market, they’re frequently approached by their suppliers and presented with new raw materials for them to try, so they’re often the first to be able to offer innovative raw materials to their clients.

Their team is fully trained in complying with the industry best practices in the handling and storage of their stock of raw materials, giving you the confidence that your ingredients will be well-cared for and at their optimum performance levels. The exclusive raw materials they source for their clients are managed very carefully. They aim to procure only that which is needed to fulfill an order, and when this has to be exceeded, they work with the client to explore other options in addition to their original product idea.

At Orean, they pride themselves on their knowledge of the industry and their expertise in the science behind their products. That’s why they’re always confident that the products they produce will work for your customers and for your company. If you’d like to discuss which raw materials should go into your next product, get in touch with their intelligent and talented team.

The Red Tree is the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy and a powerhouse of ideas, insight and inspiration. For an informal discussion on how we might help you, please contact us.