What Are the Main Ingredients in Cosmetics?

From lipsticks and balms to makeup, nail polish, face masks, scrubs and hair care products, millions of Aussies use cosmetic products every day to accentuate their features and enhance their appearance—but what actually goes into these products? 

While individual ingredients and formulations will vary between different cosmetic products, there are some common ingredients you’re likely to encounter in many of the cosmetic products sold in Australia and across the globe.

Here we provide a run-down of the key ingredients you’re likely to find in most cosmetic products on the market.

Ingredients Commonly Used in Cosmetics

Cosmetic products are typically made using a combination of ingredients including water, emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners, emollients, pH adjusters, pigments, shimmer and fragrances.

Water

Water is a key ingredient that is used in almost every type of cosmetic product, primarily acting as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients and ensure the emulsion has the right consistency. 

Often forming the basis of a product, the water used in cosmetics is distilled or purified to ensure it is free from microbes, toxins and other pollutants.

Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers are used in cosmetic products such as creams and lotions to prevent the ingredients used in the product (such as water and oil) from separating, ensuring the product maintains a consistent and even texture.

Examples of emulsifiers commonly used in cosmetics:

• polysorbates
• laureth-4 
• potassium cetyl sulfate

Preservatives

Cosmetics use either natural or synthetic preservatives to extend the shelf life of the product while ensuring it remains safe for use by preventing the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.

Examples of preservatives commonly used in cosmetics:

• parabens
• benzyl alcohol
• sodium benzoate
• phenoxyethanol

Thickeners

Thickening agents are often used to adjust the viscosity and consistency of a product. Thickening agents fall into four different categories: 

• lipid (thickeners which are solid at room temperature)
• naturally derived (water-absorbing natural polymers)
• mineral (another form of water-absorbing natural thickeners)
• synthetic (man-made polymers)

Examples of thickeners commonly used in cosmetics:

• lipid thickeners – cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, carnauba wax   
• naturally derived thickeners –  hydroxyethyl cellulose, guar gum, xanthan gum, gelatin
• mineral thickeners – magnesium aluminium silicate, silica, bentonite   
• synthetic thickeners – carbomer, cetyl palmitate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate    

Emollients

Emollients are ingredients which prevent water loss, which works to keep skin soft and moisturised.

Examples of emollients commonly used in cosmetics:

• beeswax
• olive oil
• coconut oil 
• lanolin
• petrolatum (petroleum jelly)
• mineral oil
• glycerine
• zinc oxide
• butyl stearate
• diglycol laurate

pH Adjusters

pH adjusters are used to modify the pH balance in water-based solutions to ensure the finished product is stable and effective.

Examples of pH adjusters commonly used in cosmetics:

• alkaline bases
• citric acid

Pigments/colours

A variety of pigments and colouring agents are often used in makeup and some body products. These are typically derived from mineral or natural sources and can be categorised as either organic (carbon-based molecules) or inorganic (metal oxides).

Examples of pigments commonly used in cosmetics:

• iron oxide
• mica flakes

Shimmer

Some products also include ingredients which add a light-reflecting shimmer effect.

Examples of shimmers commonly used in cosmetics:

• mica 

Fragrances

Fragrances (which can be either natural or chemical) are often added to cosmetic products to make them more pleasant and therefore more appealing to use. 

Creating the Perfect Formulation 

It’s common for cosmetic products to include anywhere between 15 and 50 ingredients. This demonstrates just how complex the process of finding the precise combination, concentration and balance of ingredients that will produce a product that is both appealing and effective can be.

Successfully creating a product formulation that features the desired attributes doesn’t just require an extensive knowledge of chemistry, but also an in-depth understanding of regulatory restrictions, product marketability and the latest industry innovations.

In many cases, the product development and testing that’s required to successfully develop a new cosmetic product can take many months (or even years). For this reason, many cosmetics manufacturers offer a private labelling service, allowing cosmetics brands to select from a range of pre-developed cosmetic formulations to dramatically shorten the amount of time required to bring a new product to market.

We Do Things a Little Differently at Wild Child

At Wild Child, we’re passionate about creating beautiful products using premium quality ingredients.

Adopting an artisanal approach to product development with the capability to manufacture at scale, we’ve made the process of developing a new cosmetic product simple.

With a team of resident expert chemists with more than 30 years of experience, you’ll have the option to select from our range of ready-to-manufacture products including a range of nature-derived formulations, or we can work with you to create your own custom formulation. 

Find out more about cosmetics manufacturing with Wild Child or contact us to discuss your ideas for a new cosmetic product.