Dow Corning releases a petrolatum alternative

The soy-wax blend marketed under the name HY-3051 can replace petrolatum in skin and hair care products, according to the company.

"In a nutshell, all the benefits linked to petrolatum we have been able to prepare with a unique soy wax.

The soy wax gives the structure which when combined with silicones offers multifunctional benefits" project leader Yan Cortes told CosmeticsDesign.com.

The product is a combination of hydrogenated soy oil and Dow Corning's soy wax HY-3050, which is also a new release.

The two new ingredients that are both naturally derived are designed to offer formulators a wide range of structure and sensory characteristics and can be included in hair care, skin care, color cosmetics and underarm products.

Indeed function and sensory properties are key to market success, according to the Michigan-based chemicals company who is equally directing the ingredients at formulators attempting to tap into the 'green' trend.

Soy wax as a conditioning agent Dow Corning HY-3050 Soy Wax can act as a conditioning agent due to its moisturizing and emollient properties as well as adding structure to sticks and pomades, according to the company.

Furthermore, the wax is compatible with a wide range of cosmetic oils making it a particularly flexible option for formulators.

The soy wax blend is the first 'acceptable alternative to petrolatum for personal care applications' according to the company, and can be used in skin care products as a moisturiser and in hair care products as an anti-frizz ingredient.

For this reason the company also states that the ingredient is perfect for products designed for African hair types, another growing trend within the industry.

Growing demand for petrochemical alternatives The market for petrochemical alternatives is growing for two major reasons.

Firstly consumer demand for 'green' products is increasing and petrochemicals and their derivatives are the first to be chucked off the green stage.

Secondly rising oil prices are forcing companies to look for cheaper alternatives.

A number of the major finished goods manufacturers have highlighted rising raw materials costs as affecting their financial results and any way to cut down on costs whilst benefiting from the 'green' trend is likely to be popular.