Body and Face Powders Flashcards
Dr. Salako
What is the use of body and face powders?
Body and face powders are used to dry and smoothen the skin.
Mention 5 ideal properties of a powder.
- It must adhere to the skin.
- It must produce a lasting effect so that frequent application is unnecessary.
- It should make the skin pleasant to look and touch.
- It should produce a smooth finish to the skin.
- It should mask small visible imperfection of the face and shine due to moisture or grease from precipitation or secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands.
What are the characteristics of a powder?
- Bloom
- Adhesiveness.
- Covering power
- Absorbency
- Slip
BACAS
What are the uses/functions of powders?
- For shine control
- For UV light protection
- Improving skin tone
- Improving skin conditions
- Covering up imperfections
Classify powders based on skin type.
Dry skin - Light powder [Slight covering power, with large quantity of talc]
Normal or oil skin - Medium powder [Comparatively higher covering power
Lesser talc and balanced by Zinc oxide]
Very oily skin - Heavy powder [High covering power
What covering agent can be added to powder formulations to make them stay longer on skin?
Mica
Highlight a typical body powder formulation.
- Talc (absorbent) 50-60%
- Calcium carbonate (absorbent) 10-15%
- Zinc oxide (astringent) 15-25%
- Zinc stearate (binder) 5%-10%
- Perfume, dye (trace)
Highlight a typical face powder formulation.
- Talc (absorbent) 60-70%
- Zinc oxide (astringent) 10-15%
- Magnesium and Zinc stearate (texture) 5%-15%
- Cetyl alcohol (binder) 1%
- Mineral oil (emollient) 2%
- Lanolin, perfume, dye 2%
Describe the general method of powder preparation.
It entails dry mixing of finely powdered materials. Perfume can be added with a part of the absorbent and kept aside.
Colour is properly mixed with a part of talc and then the other powders and the perfume mixture are added.
The powders are mixed using geometric mixing then the mixture is sieved using a silk mesh.
Briefly describe the three methods of powder preparation.
- Wet method- The basic materials, colours and binders are kneaded into a paste with water. They are then pressed into a mould and air dried slowly. This method is rarely used because it can produce cracks.
- Dry method- Materials and binders are mixed and compressed by simple pressure in special presses.
- Damp Method- This is the widely accepted and commercially used method. Here the base powder, colour and perfume are uniformly mixed, then liquid binder like aqueous mucilage is blended. The powder is then screened and compressed by a cosmetic powder press machine and dried.
Describe 5 evaluations of powders
- Pay-off Test: This test is carried out to check the adhesive property of powders with the puff. This test is mainly carried out on compact powders.
- Colour Dispersion Test: This is to assess the homogeneity of colour distribution in a powder. A sample of powder is spread on a white paper andwith the help of magnifying glass, segregation or bleeding of the colour is observed.
- Shade Test: A sample of powder is spread on a white paper andwith the help of magnifying glass, segregation or bleeding of the colour is observed.
- Breakage (Friability) Test: In this test, compact powders are allowed to fall on a wooden surface froma height of about 8-10 inches. This is carried out several times and then you check if any breakage has occurred on the compact powder. If the compact powder remains unbroken, then it shows the resistance to travel and normal handling by the users.
- Pressure (Hardness) Test: With the help of penetrometer, uniformity of hardness of the cake is checked. This is done by taking the reading at different points on compact powder and then comparing them.
- Abrasive Character: This is determined by rubbing thepowder on a smooth surface of the skin. Then with the help of a microscope, the effects of powder are studied.
- Flow property test
- Particle size determination
- Moisture content
