National Starch Personal Care Introduces DERMACRYL® C Film Forming Polymer for Color Cosmetics Applications

Wear resistant emulsion polymer offers volumization, enhanced curling, easy application and removal in mascara and eyeliner applications

National Starch Personal Care has introduced a new film forming polymer that has the potential to offer substantial performance improvement in color cosmetics, particularly mascaras and eyeliners. DERMACRYL® C film forming polymer, a new easy-to-handle, high-performance acrylic emulsion polymer delivers improved resistance to wear, allowing the creation of consumer products that last longer and perform better. The primary color cosmetic applications for DERMACRYL C film forming polymer will be in eye treatments such as mascara and eyeliners, with other applications possible including foundations, eye shadows, blushes and more. Tests conducted by National Starch Personal Care have shown that DERMACRYL C film forming polymer delivers substantially improved wear – reduced smudging and flaking – and water resistance in non-waterproof mascara systems, while remaining easy to remove. The thick, soft, flexible films provide natural volumizing and enhanced curling benefits to eyelashes.

According to Penny Vanemon, Marketing Director, the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer is a technology developed by the National Starch Personal Care team in Japan that allows the color cosmetics industry to innovate and differentiate its products based on new formulations. “In color cosmetics, much of the innovation that has occurred in recent times has focused on packaging and delivery systems. With the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer, personal care companies have the opportunity to develop new benchmark formulations that respond to consumer preferences for longer-lasting, higher performing products and tap into the 24/7 lifestyle trend,” she said. “The technology of the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer can deliver products with better sensory experience, that are easier to use and that help consumers look great all day,” she added.

Building on a National Starch technology strength

Film formation is one of National Starch Personal Care’s core technology platforms, with numerous ingredients based on this technology existing as industry standards in both hair care and skin care applications. National Starch has leveraged its expertise in film forming technology to create this new application in color cosmetics.

DERMACRYL C film forming polymer is a low-viscosity, high-solids aqueous emulsion polymer that is pre-neutralized and has a low Tg, providing a flexible film. It is APE-free and preserved with an ingredient that makes it acceptable for use in every market in the world. Because DERMACRYL C film forming polymer is an emulsion polymer, it has little impact on formulation viscosity, allowing formulation flexibility for delivery of ultimate performance. It offers soft, flexible and substantive films that build volume and provide reduced smudging and flaking for longer lasting wear.

From a manufacturing standpoint, DERMACRYL C film forming polymer is an easy-to-use ingredient. It is heat tolerant and can be added to the formulation while the formulation is hot or while it is cooling. In addition, its low viscosity allows for easy handling.

According to Vanemon, with the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer, consumers won’t have to accept trade-offs in performance. “Formulations made with the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer are longer lasting, yet they are more easily removed. Our test formulations are more substantive than industry benchmarks, but the feel is soft and natural. And the DERMACRYL C film forming polymer can help formulators create products that are volumizing, but at the same time are easily applied,” she said.