Clariant’s new Hostacerin® SFO sunflower ingredient adds natural touch to cosmetics

Muttenz, April 21, 2009 - New Hostacerin® SFO from speciality chemicals expert Clariant is helping cosmetic manufacturers bring the natural and sustainable power of sunflower seed oil to creams, lotions and sun care products. Based entirely on renewable, vegetable and GMO-free (genetically-modified organism) sources, and manufactured using an energy-saving process, Hostacerin SFO emulsifier offers all-round ecological appeal.

Hostacerin SFO is made from high oleic sunflower oil via a single step, low temperature oil process that leads to reduced CO2 formation. The sunflower oil-based emulsifier is manufactured by transesterification - a low-energy consuming process using natural ingredients that has an operating temperature almost 50°C lower than other esterification procedures.

Hostacerin SFO delivers a wide range of benefits to the cosmetics industry. It meets the market trend for polyethylene glycol (PEG)-free ingredients and, deriving from a natural renewable resource, reinforces the industry’s move towards products based on environmentally-friendly, natural materials. Officially certified by ECOCERT, one of the largest control and certification organisations for organic products, Hostacerin SFO is undergoing approvals by other promoters of natural ingredients including the eco-labels Nordic Swan and NaTrue.

Offering excellent skin compatibility, Hostacerin SFO is suitable for O/W and W/O formulations and provides a rich and refined skin feeling at low level concentrations of between 1-3%. Its compatibility with co-emulsifiers, various rheology modifying systems and oily phases means the product can be used in moisturising applications offering such benefits as UVA and UVB protection, non-greasy/non-sticky finish, and a light-feel. In combination with Hostaphat CK100, Hostacerin SFO synergistically stabilises inorganic sunscreen filters in high SPF formulations. Applications include revitalising soft under-eye cream with Q10, day cream, smoothing soft cream and sunscreen cream.

Elmar Busch, Global Business Director Personal Care for Clariant comments: “Increasing environmental awareness from consumers combined with an accelerating global wellness trend means that that the cosmetics industry, like the food industry, is placing greater emphasis on the use of natural, ecologically-friendly ingredients. Hostacerin SFO offers manufacturers a new vegetable-based, sustainable raw material without the need to compromise on end-product performance or the inclusion of highly-demanded active ingredients, such as self-tanning or anti-ageing.”

Clariant has more than 70 years’ experience in the personal care industry. Its broad product portfolio and tailor-made ingredients are supported by global manufacturing and R&D facilities, and regional sales support, allowing Clariant to work closely with manufacturers to meet their sector-specific challenges and demands.