Why Emulsifier is the Secret to Perfect Skincare & Makeup Formulas
2025-12-03
Have you ever wondered how your favorite lotion keeps its smooth, consistent texture? Or how that luxurious sunscreen blends oil and water into a silky, non-greasy finish? The magic ingredient behind these perfect formulas is often an emulsifier.
At its core, an emulsifier is a miracle worker for product stability. It brings together two elements that normally don't mix – like oil and water – and creates a stable, homogeneous blend. Without emulsifiers, your creams would separate, your serums would feel greasy, and your makeup would have a uneven application. They are the unsung heroes ensuring every drop of your product is effective and delightful to use.
Emulsifiers work by reducing the surface tension between oil and water, allowing them to mix into a stable emulsion. This process is crucial for delivering active ingredients evenly to your skin and hair, enhancing both the sensory experience and the efficacy of the final product.
While there are many emulsifiers on the market, selecting the right one is key to achieving your desired formula texture and performance. At Shengqing, our Emulsifier Series is designed to meet diverse cosmetic needs with precision and reliability.
For instance, if you're developing a lightweight yet rich formulation like sun care or face cream, SQ-EM 16P (INCI: Potassium Cetyl Phosphate) could be an ideal choice. This white powder emulsifier is versatile, perfect for sun care, face care, body care, makeup, and cleansing products, ensuring a stable and elegant texture.
Meanwhile, for formulas that require a smooth, milky consistency – such as skin care, hair care, sunscreen, or makeup products – our SQ-EM 35 (INCI: Polyacrylamide & C13-14 Isoparaffin & Laureth-7) and SQ-EM 45 (INCI: Sodium Polyacrylate & C13-14 Isoparaffin & Laureth-7) excel. Both appear as milky white translucent liquids and are excellent for systems with polar solvents or polyols, providing excellent stability and a luxurious feel.
How to Choose the Right Emulsifier for Your Product?
The core logic for selecting the right emulsifier for your product is to first clarify the product’s core needs (formulation type, skin feel, application scenario), then match the emulsifier’s key properties (HLB value, form, compatibility, safety), and make a comprehensive decision based on formulation conditions and regulatory requirements. Below is a step-by-step practical guide that balances professionalism and applicability:
1. Determine the Product Formulation Type and Emulsification System
Different formulations correspond to different emulsification types; the system type must be locked in first:
| Product Formulation | Common Emulsification Systems | Key Requirements | Suitable Emulsifier Types |
| Creams/Lotions (e.g., moisturizing creams, body lotions) | O/W (Oil-in-Water, lightweight type), W/O (Water-in-Oil, nourishing type) | O/W requires strong hydrophilicity; W/O requires strong lipophilicity | O/W: Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (e.g., SQ-EM 16P), Polyacrylamide-based (e.g., SQ-EM 35/45); W/O: Glyceryl Monostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate |
| Sunscreen Products (sunscreens, sunscreen sprays) | Mostly O/W (non-greasy), some high-SPF sunscreens use W/O (waterproof and sweat-resistant) | Water-resistant, UV-resistant, compatible with sunscreens (e.g., Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide) | O/W: Phosphate esters, Acrylate copolymers; W/O: Polyglycerols, Silicone emulsifiers |
| Color Cosmetics (foundation, cushion, eyeshadow cream) | O/W or W/O, some are multiple emulsions (e.g., long-wearing foundation) | Smooth, easy to blend, non-transferable, compatible with pigments/powders | Acrylate-based (e.g., SQ-EM 35/45), Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Lecithin derivatives |
| Cleansing Products (cleansing milks, cleansing balms) | Non-ionic emulsification systems (gentle and non-irritating) | Low irritation, easy to rinse, capable of emulsifying oil and dirt | Cocoyl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside (glucoside-based), Polyglycerols |
2. Lock in the Target Skin Feel and Texture
Skin feel is the core product experience, requiring matching of the emulsifier’s "form" and "film-forming properties":
• For lightweight and non-greasy textures (e.g., summer lotions, oily-skin sunscreens): Choose O/W-type, low-viscosity, highly hydrophilic emulsifiers (e.g., liquid emulsifiers like SQ-EM 35/45, or glucoside-based emulsifiers);
• For nourishing and rich textures (e.g., winter creams, dry-skin care products): Choose W/O-type, high-viscosity, highly lipophilic emulsifiers (e.g., Glyceryl Monostearate, beeswax + lanolin blends);
• For silky milky/matte textures (e.g., foundation, tinted moisturizers): Choose acrylate-based or polyglycerol-based emulsifiers; avoid mineral oil-containing emulsification systems (prone to shine).
3. Clarify Key Formulation Conditions
Other ingredients in the formulation will limit emulsifier selection, requiring advance screening:
• Oil phase ratio: High oil phase content (e.g., >30%, such as nourishing creams) requires emulsifiers with low HLB values (8-12); low oil phase content (e.g., <15%, such as lightweight lotions) requires emulsifiers with high HLB values (12-16);
• Polar ingredients: Formulations containing polyols (e.g., Glycerin, Propylene Glycol >10%) or polar solvents (e.g., Ethanol) require emulsifiers with strong compatibility (e.g., SQ-EM 35/45 is suitable for polar solvent systems);
• pH range: Most emulsifiers are suitable for pH 4.5-7.5 (e.g., phosphates, acrylates); for acidic products (e.g., acid serums/lotions with pH <4.5), choose acid-resistant types (e.g., polyglycerol esters); for alkaline products, choose alkali-resistant types (e.g., fatty alcohol sulfates);
• Active ingredients: If containing sensitive actives such as Vitamin C, Retinol, or Peptides, choose gentle emulsifiers that do not damage actives (e.g., non-ionic emulsifiers, avoiding ionic emulsifiers that may react with actives).
Explore the possibilities and elevate your formulations with emulsifiers that deliver consistency, quality, and performance. Visit our website or contact us to learn how our products can transform your beauty solutions!
