The personal care and cosmetics ingredients supplier has launched Gransil GVL, a silicone elastomer delivery system that is 85 percent naturally sourced.
Instead of using a petroleum-derived solvent the company used an Ecocert-certified vegetable alkane, combining it with Grant’s polysilicone-11 ingredient, explained Grant’s director of regulatory affairs John Gormley.
According to Gormley, Gransil GVL benefits from the new choice of solvent, surpassing the industry’s expectations in terms of performance and skin feel.
“When you apply this product it feels very light, the vegetable alkanes exit the scene and volatise very quickly, leaving the ‘ball bearings’ of the silicone elastomer,” explained Gormley.
“These can then carry actives to the skin and pick up excess oil, leaving a soft powdery finish,” he added.
Increase brand loyalty
According to the company, these qualities combine to make Gransil GVL an ingredient that will help formulators increase brand loyalty. It’s a benefit that consumers really notice, said Gormley.
In addition, the new ingredient replaces the need for using D4 and D5 cyclomethicones, more traditionally used silicone-based solvents, Gormley added.
Although the company maintains that cyclomethicones are safe, Gormley mentioned that regulations in some areas, particularly Canada, were stricter regarding the silicone-based ingredients.
“Although Grant believes silicones to be safe, we are in the business of providing our customers with options” he said.
Back in 2008 the Canadian Ministers of Environment and Health asked for more data regarding the environmental fate of D4,5 and 6. D6 has been judged to be safe by the regulatory authorities, but the Canadian Environment minister said D4 and D5 could warrant environmental regulatory measures.
No measures have yet been taken, but Grant Industries claim Gransil GVL provides an alternative to formulators should one be needed.
Although at first the ingredient will be slightly more expensive than its non natural cousins, it will remain comparable, particularly when volumes start going up, said Gormely.