Sapun i deterdženti - Kratka istorija

Soap and Detergents - Brief History

Soap and detergents date back to prehistoric times, as early humans knew about cleanliness through water.
A soap-like material was found in ancient Babylon as early as 2800 B.C. , demonstrating early soap-making techniques.
Egyptian medical documents describe using animal and vegetable oils combined with alkaline salts to create soap-like substances for treating skin ailments and washing.
Roman legend associates soap's name with Mount Sapo, where animal fat and wood ash mixed by rain created a substance used for washing.
Galen, a Greek physician from the second century, recommended soap for medicinal and cleaning purposes.
Soap production became established in Europe by the 7th century.

Soap and Detergents - Chemistry

Soap is often made from natural materials like animal fats or vegetable oils, combined with alkali or fatty acids.
Detergents are made from synthetic materials derived from petroleum.
Soap is not effective in hard water, but detergents are.
Soap forms scum in hard water, detergents do not.
Major differences include raw materials, formation processes, effectiveness in hard water, and environmental impact (biodegradability).
Soap and detergent examples include Sodium palmitate, Sodium stearate, alkyl sulfate, and benzene sulphonic acids. Nicholas Leblanc patented making soda ash (sodium carbonate) from common salt in 1791, and Ernest Solvay invented the ammonia process in the mid-1800s, to make soda ash from common table salt, which further reduced the cost of obtaining soda ash. In 1916, Germany created the first synthetic detergent to meet wartime soap shortages.

Cosmetic Products - Ingredients Types

Functional Ingredients: These are the primary ingredients with the main function of the product. Example: Moisturizers, cleansers.
Structural Ingredients: These give structure and shape to the cosmetic product. Examples: Emulsifiers, waxes.
Supportive Ingredients: These improve the stability and shelf life of the product.
Added Extras: these are included in small amounts to enhance consumer appeal and marketability.

Cosmetic Products - Viscosity

Viscosity refers to the resistance of a product to flow.
Viscosity is important in cosmetics for ease of application, dispensing and perceived quality.
Different cosmetic products require different viscosities to function as intended. (Example: a body mist requires low viscosity, lipstick high viscosity).

Cosmetic Product Categories / Forms

Liquid: Can flow freely, from runny water-like to honey-like consistency. Example: Shampoo, body mist.
Gel: Is thicker than a liquid, with limited flow properties. Example: Hair gel.
Foaming Gel: A type of gel that creates foam when used. Examples: Foamy cleansers.
Serum: Varies in consistency from a thin gel to a lotion-like substance, used to deliver active ingredients that penetrate the skin deeply. Example: Vitamin C serum.
Lotion: A low-viscosity emulsion, mix of oil and water, easy to apply and dispense. Example: Hand lotion.
Cream: Medium to high viscosity emulsion, often for thicker creams used for rough skin. Example: Body cream.
Powder: Used in color cosmetics, as a finishing product, and in some skincare products (e.g., baby powder). Example: Eye shadow, blush, powder.
Balm: Oil-based product with a semi-solid consistency. Examples: lip balm.
Mud: Semi-solid cosmetic product, typically with clays and oils, often used as a face mask. Example: Mud mask.
Scrub: Contains particles to exfoliate the skin mechanically. Examples: Sugar scrubs, salt scrubs.

Cosmetic Product Ingredients - Function

Abrasives: These remove dead skin cells or plaque. Examples: Crushed jojoba, salt, sugar, walnut shell powder, or silica.
Antioxidants: Reduce oxidation and rancidity, improving shelf life. Examples: Vitamins (like Vitamin E), plant extracts (like green tea, rosemary, chamomile, or grape seed).
Chelating Agents / Sequestrants: Improve product stability by binding metal ions. Examples: Citric acid, EDTA.
Colorants: Give cosmetic products their color. Examples: Acid Green, Basic Yellow, iron oxide, chromium oxide.
Cosmetic Astringents: Induce a tightening and firming effect on the skin. Example: Alcohols, witch hazel extract.
Emulsion Stabilizers: Prevent separation of oil and water in emulsions. Example: Xanthan gum, cellulose gum, hydroxyethylcellulose, acrylates, alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, carbomer.
Exfoliants: Remove dead skin cells. Example: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, or salicylic acid.
Fragrance: Enhances the product's smell or masks unpleasant odors. Examples: Essential oils.
Hair Conditioning Agents: Improve hair appearance, shine and reduce static.
Hair Fixatives: Hold hair in styles. Example: Acrylic acid/VP cross polymer, VP/VA copolymer.
pH Adjusters: Adjust the pH of the product. Example: citric acid, lactic acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine.
Preservatives: Prevent microbial growth. Examples: Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.
Skin Conditioning Agents: Softens, and moisturizes the skin. Example: Emollients and Humectants such as glycerin, propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, cocoglycerides, caprylic/capric triglycerides or dimethicone.
Solvents: Dissolve ingredients or act as carriers. Example: Water, alcohol, butylene glycol, glycerin, propylene glycol.
Sunscreen Agents: Protect skin from UV radiation. Examples: Benzophenone-3, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide.
Surfactants: Increase the surface activity of products. Example: Sodium lauryl sulfate, cocoyl glucoside, decyl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, or sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate.

Cosmetic Product Classifications

Based on body part usage: Skin, hair, eye, or other parts like dental or oral classifications. Various classifications exist, these are only some of them.
Based on product form: Emulsions, powders, sticks, solutions, gels. Further breakdown of types per category is provided.

Creams and Lotions - Emulsions

Creams and lotions are emulsions, mixtures of two immiscible liquids.
Milk, a water-lipid emulsion, is an example.
Emulsifiers, like proteins and phospholipids, prevent separation by suspending the liquid dispersed in the continuous phase.

Surfactants (in Emulsions)

Most emulsifiers are surfactants (surface-active agents).
They reduce water's surface tension.
The HLB (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance) measures the polarity of a surfactant, determining its function in the mixture.

Emollients

These are fats and oils, which soften and moisturize skin.
Examples: Animal fats, vegetable oils, and acids. A trend is to use vegetable-based alternatives instead of animal products such as tallow.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers are different from emollients, they hold water; they are water-soluble.

Waxes

Waxes are solid long-chain esters used in cosmetics for their sealing, structuring and water-proofing properties. Examples: beeswax, candelilla, carnauba, polyethylene, paraffin. They are useful in hand creams and mascara as well as lip balms.