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Surfactants 101
A surfactant, also known as a surface-active agent, is a substance that lowers the surface tension between two substances. It is a molecule that contains both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-hating) parts, allowing it to...
Menthol Crystals – well-being the natural way
Mint has been rumoured to have been in use across Japan for more than 2000 years, alleviating fever symptoms, headaches and re-energising both the body and the mind. In the west, we’ve come to appreciate these same effects. Mentha...
Lactic Acid – Building blocks for the future
Lactic Acid is a versatile material found in a variety of innovative products that was first discovered by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1780 and produced commercially by Charles E. Avery in 1881. It’s Applications in...
Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) – The green surfactant
The development of surfactants based on carbohydrates and oils is an exciting expression of the ‘green chemistry’ that led to new surfactant classes: namely, alkyl polyglucoside (APG). It was first developed in 1893 by German...
Caffeine – Better, stronger, faster, smarter
In 1814 a German scientist named Friedrich Ferdinand Runge developed a method to extract pure cocoa powder into its most potent form. The result was a white powder containing both fat molecules (known as acids) and sugars, which create...
Glycerine – Sweet humectant
Glycerine, Its name comes from the Greek word Glykys, meaning sweet, but this once considered insignificant product sprung from less humble beginnings. Glycerine is a trihydric Sugar Alcohol (polyol) that presents as a colourless,...
Phenoxyethanol – a safe stabilizer
Found naturally in green tea, the commercial grade Phenoxyethanol is synthetically produced in a laboratory creating what’s termed a “nature identical”. Introduced in the 1950s, it has had a long history of safe use as a cosmetic...
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate – bubbles and foam
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) continues to be the darling of manufacturers of household products because it’s inexpensive and an effective foam builder, helping to produce the bubbles that consumers associate with greater cleaning...
Amphoacetates – the gentler choice
Contact Dermatitis or skin irritation is a common problem that afflicts many and a typical cause can be hidden inside your skin care products. Answering the call for a milder and more thoughtful alternative are the range of Amphoacetates...