BEE International Blog

In 2010, Americans spent an impressive $33.3 billion on cosmetic & beauty products, up nearly 6% from the prior year (and continues rising past 2010). (1) A huge percentage of that value comes from creams and lotions that both men and women use on a daily basis. Companies trying to break into this multi-billion dollar, cutthroat market must therefore produce a cream/lotion that is more effective than that of competitors. High pressure homogenization is a preferred method of production for a variety of reasons; keep reading to better understand how this technique can improve your cosmetic cream or lotion.

Effective Particle Size Reduction

High pressure homogenization works by forcing a sample through a narrow space while imparting high pressure and multiple mechanical forces (e.g. turbulence, cavitation, shear). Because most other methods only impart a single mechanical force, high pressure homogenization is desirable for its ability to more effectively decrease particle size. Micronization is a desirable outcome for not just creams and lotions, but all cosmetic products, because of its significant effect on product quality. For example, it creates a more homogenous mixture, provides better active ingredient dispersion, and stabilizes the product emulsions (as described below).

Enhanced Texture & Consistency

For the skin to be able to absorb them, beauty creams and moisturizing lotions must have both the right texture and consistency. High pressure homogenization is recognized for its ability to create a uniformly mixed product, leading to smoother texture and better consistency than other mixing methods. Micronization ties in here, in that better droplet reduction contributes to product uniformity.

Increased Emulsion Stability

Semi-solid products like lotions and creams are comprised of emulsions, or mixtures of two immiscible liquids. Droplet micronization (as indicated above) can eliminate separation of the water phase, allowing for a more permanent mixture of oil and water. This can both extend the product’s shelf life and improve physical appearance by ensuring consistency in coloring.

BEEI: Homogenizers For High Quality Cosmetic Products

On the quest for a cosmetic homogenizer, it is important to select a high-quality model. Whether your product of interest is a cream, lotion, makeup, or personal care item, a high pressure homogenizer that is both highly capable and customizable will enhance its effectiveness. Start your search with BEE International, globally renowned for our laboratory homogenizers.

Contact us today if you're interested in learning how our technology can benefit your cosmetic application! Or if you're interested in learning more information on how to achieve efficient and consistent particle size reduction, download our FREE eBook now:

In the lifetime of an American woman, she should expect to spend $15,000 on makeup alone. (1) Of the products that comprise the cosmetic industry, this value doesn’t even take into account the creams, lotions, perfumes, hair color, deodorants, baby products, and many more. The women (and men) who contribute represent a huge customer base, so it is important that a manufacturer offers a high quality product that can entice the shopper over its competitor. Entwined closely with a product’s success over others is its quality of synthesis. Here we focus on the uses for homogenizers, as they can aid most manufacturers in their agenda to significantly enhance product quality.

Produce Stable Emulsions

Found in numerous cosmetic products (e.g. creams and lotions), an emulsion is a dispersion comprised of two immiscible liquids. Key to a stable emulsion are the type of emulsifier used and a powerful mixing process. Emulsifiers are comprised of both a hydrophilic and lipophilic part; their function is to stabilize two liquids into one continuous phase. The Hydrophobic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) system allows a user to calculate the optimal emulsifier for a product. (2) Once paired with an appropriate emulsifier, the dispersion can be homogenized. This process uses high shear, mechanical forces, and high pressure to create the finely dispersed droplets required of a stable emulsion.

Reduce Particle Size

As indicated above, small particle size contributes to formation of stable emulsions; yet this is one of many benefits of reduced particle size. Effective skin absorption is a huge challenge within the lotion and beauty cream market. Individuals with dry skin, in particular, require a highly absorptive product and are willing to pay for quality. Studies have shown that by reducing the particle size of active ingredients, more surface area is available for skin access. As an added bonus, this process uses active ingredients more efficiently, which reduces product costs. (3)

Scale Products from Lab to Manufacturing

The cosmetic industry would not exist if not for the research and development that goes into creating innovative products; cosmetic researchers therefore value the R&D side of the industry as critical to any successful and lasting company. When a quality product is developed in the lab, researchers need a way to scale it so that it can be sold in mass to consumers. Homogenizers are hugely helpful in their ability to easily scale up without necessitating a change in process. For example, lab homogenizers can handle small sample volumes while industrial homogenizers can process bulk volume. (4)

BEE International: Homogenizers For High Quality Cosmetic Products

On the quest for a cosmetic homogenizer, it is important to select a high-quality product. Start your search with BEE International, globally renowned for their laboratory homogenizers.

We deliver an array of key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions and dispersions and lipids and suspensions; these can be used for applications such as pharmaceutical drugs and drug development, beverages, chemical compounds, and importantly, cosmetics.

Learn more about how BEEI can help improve your cosmetic product by sending us a message or requesting a demo. Or if you're interested in reading more about how to get high quality cosmetics through efficient & consistent particle size reduction, check out our FREE eBook:

In 2010, Americans spent nearly $33.3 billion on cosmetic products. This represents a significant increase over prior years in an industry that pulls in BILLIONS more than other major product industries, for example foreign cars and televisions. (1) However, as a producer of cosmetic products, you are probably all-too-familiar with the difficulty of creating a high quality product; particularly in an oversaturated market, how can you make your product stand out? Much of that answer lies in the mixing process, specifically around the equipment you use. Below is a description and checklist of how homogenizers in particular can improve your cosmetic product quality.

Beauty and soft skin and fragrance aside, homogenizers are used for an array of purposes. They reduce particle size by forcing liquid through a narrow tube at high pressure; the resulting product can be used to create anything from tasty beverages to cancer treatments. Specific to cosmetic products, homogenizers can help to improve product quality by:

1. Diluting high active surfactants

Short for ‘surface active ingredients’, surfactants are commonly used in shampoos, detergents, bubble baths and other such cleaning products. Because they contain both a hydrophilic and lipophilic part, surfactants have the ability to reduce the surface tension in oil/water solutions. Whereas traditional surfactants are used at a concentration of 25-28%, high active surfactants are used at a concentration of up to 70%. Because high active surfactants and water have different viscosities, surfactants should be diluted before use; this will decrease processing time and ensure complete blending, the latter of which will contribute directly to a higher quality product.

2. Producing a stable emulsion

Most commonly found in creams and lotions, an emulsion is a dispersion comprised of two immiscible liquids (e.g. water and oil). The key to a stable emulsion lies in the emulsifier, a compound that stabilizes the two liquids into one continuous phase. Emulsifiers are comprised of a hydrophilic and lipophilic part, and act by wrapping their lipophilic portion around oil droplets to prevent them from coming together. To select an optimal emulsifier for your product, it is suggested that you use the Hydrophobic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) system, which uses a scale of 0-20 to rank water affinity. Low HLB values tend to be more lipophilic, while high HLB values are more hydrophobic. (2) Use the calculator here to determine your product’s HLB value.

3. Reducing particle size

Effective skin absorption is one of the biggest challenges in the lotion and beauty cream market. Individuals with dry skin, in particular, require a highly absorptive product and are willing to pay for quality. Studies have shown that by reducing the particle size of active ingredients, more surface area is available for skin access. As an added bonus, this process uses active ingredients more efficiently, which reduces product costs. (3)

BEEI: Homogenizers For High-Quality Cosmetic Products

On the quest for a cosmetic homogenizer, it is important to select a high-quality product. Start your search with BEE International, globally renowned for our laboratory homogenizers.

We deliver an array of key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions and dispersions and lipids and suspensions; these can be used for applications such as pharmaceutical drugs and drug development, beverages, chemical compounds, and importantly, cosmetics.

Learn more about how BEEI can help improve your cosmetic product by visiting us here. If you're looking for more information on how homogenization can improve your cosmetic products through efficient and consistent particle size reduction, download our FREE eBook below: