Lipid & Cosmetics Solutions

Lipids play a vital role in the formulation and efficacy of cosmetics, especially in skin and hair care products. By incorporating lipids into cosmetic formulas, manufacturers can help replenish and strengthen the skin's natural lipid barrier, promoting improved hydration and elasticity. Among them, liposomes are highly similar in structure to biological membranes and have many excellent properties such as good biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, low side effects, targeted delivery, sustained and controlled release, etc. At present, liposomes have been widely used in the cosmetics industry (both water-soluble and oil-soluble), such as ceramide liposomes, astaxanthin liposomes, centella asiatica liposomes, acetyl hexapeptide-8 liposomes, retinol liposomes, etc. BOC Sciences offers a full range of high-quality lipid solutions designed specifically for cosmetic development, including fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, sterols and more. These lipid solutions are derived from premium natural and synthetic sources, ensuring the highest levels of purity and potency.

Advantages of Liposomes in Cosmetics

• Liposomes can be used as components of cosmetics. Lecithin can act on the skin in the form of liposomes to increase the absorption of lecithin by the skin.
• Liposomes can penetrate the skin barrier and promote the penetration and absorption of active ingredients.
• Liposomes can slowly release the active ingredients of skin care products and prolong the action time of active ingredients on the skin.
• Liposomes can activate cells and retain moisture in the deep layers of the skin. They can also reduce skin roughness and improve skin feel.
• Liposomes penetrate into the stratum corneum of the skin more easily than other substances, fill the intercellular spaces, act as an adhesive, prevent the outward diffusion of moisture in the skin, and maintain moisture.
• Liposomes have a wrapping effect, which can prevent many active substances from being damaged by the influence of climate and other external environmental factors, thereby extending the validity period of cosmetics.
• Mask the undesirable properties of active ingredients such as odor and reduce irritation.

Liposome-encapsulated Cosmetic Active Ingredients

BOC Sciences offers comprehensive lipid solutions designed specifically for cosmetic development. Our lipid products are derived from premium natural and synthetic sources, ensuring the highest levels of purity and potency. Our lipid portfolio includes a wide range of lipid components including fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids and sterols. In addition, our liposome encapsulation capabilities for cosmetic active ingredients include:

Mechanism of Action of Liposomes

Liposomes are both good fat-soluble and water-soluble carriers. It is composed of phospholipids and cholesterol, and is a microvesicle with a lipid-like bimolecular layer. Water-soluble substances are encapsulated in the interlayer of the vesicle hydrophilic group, while fat-soluble substances are dispersed in the interlayer of the vesicle hydrophobic group. Generally, the transdermal mechanism of liposomes mainly includes:

1) Hydration mechanism. Liposomes provide exogenous lipid bilayer membranes, causing structural changes between keratinocytes. The disordered arrangement of the hydrophobic tails in the lipid bilayer can promote the entry of active substances into the intercellular matrix through diffusion and other effects, thus facilitating the absorption of water-soluble cosmetic ingredients.

2) Penetration mechanism. As a carrier for transporting efficacy molecules, intact liposomes can enter the skin through keratinocytes, the gaps between keratinocytes and the openings of skin accessory ducts. Therefore, liposomes can smoothly pass through the stratum corneum of the skin, increasing the penetration rate of cosmetics, thereby increasing the degree of skin absorption.

3) Fusion mechanism. The fusion of liposomal phospholipids and stratum corneum lipids changes the composition and structure of the stratum corneum, forming a flat particle structure, reversing its barrier function. Liposomes can smoothly pass through the gaps between these lipid particles, promote the transdermal absorption of active substances, and facilitate the penetration and absorption of various cosmetic ingredients.

BOC Sciences can also design development plans for liposomes or lipid nanoparticles based on different transdermal mechanisms. Our development programs typically include a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical properties of liposomes or lipid nanoparticles, such as size, surface charge, and stability, to ensure optimal performance for transdermal delivery. We also consider the selection of lipid components and the incorporation of penetration enhancers or targeting ligands to enhance the efficacy of the delivery system. Additionally, we can perform preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the penetration kinetics, skin permeability, and tissue distribution of formulated liposomes or lipid nanoparticles. This integrated approach allows us to optimize the formulation and design of delivery systems for specific transdermal mechanisms.

What Can We Offer?

• Moisturizing agents (such as glycerin or squalane)
• Natural extracts (such as licorice extract or grape seed extract)
• Skin barrier repair ingredients (such as niacinamide or linoleic acid)
• Anti-inflammatory agents (such as chamomile or aloe vera)
• Skin firming ingredients (such as peptides or DMAE)
• Natural oils (such as argan oil or jojoba oil)
• Skin-soothing ingredients (such as oat extract or allantoin)
• Skin-brightening ingredients (such as arbutin or licorice extract)

Our PEG Solutions for Cosmetics

PEG has a compatibilizing effect and is suitable for the manufacture of various high-quality cosmetics. In cosmetic formulas, adding PEG can improve the skin's ability to absorb additives. For example, PEG-1500 can be used as a water-soluble base for cosmetic creams and hand creams, and PEG-400 can be used as a water-soluble base for lotions. As a leading supplier of PEG derivatives, BOC Sciences launches one-stop PEG solutions for cosmetic development and manufacturing. Our PEGylation services support the synthesis, manufacturing and characterization of emulsifiers, moisture stabilizers, detergents, consistency regulators and more.