Last summer Dow completed its acquisition and restructuring of the Dow Corning silicone business. In a press release circulated at the time, Andrew Liveris, Dow’s chairman and CEO, proclaimed “Dow Corning’s world-leading silicone position brings a complementary new chemistry and technology to Dow, with it being a hand-in-glove, strategic fit for our material sciences portfolio.”
He went on to forecast that “by linking our two robust innovation engines, we will bring greater value to our shareholders and a wider range of differentiated, high value solutions to our customers.”
And it’s with the benefit of these newly combined ingredient portfolios and innovation methods that Dow is developing product formulation concepts and prototype collections. At last month’s California Suppliers’ Day event, the team was showing a collection for damaged hair care as well as an infinite beauty demo kit for skin care and color.
Damaged hair
The company used the California Supplier’s Day tradeshow to launch its damaged hair care platform for the North American market.
Kristen Agbato, a commercial manager at Dow who specialize in hair care, baby care, and oral care, tells Cosmetics Design, that the concept began with an aesthetic assessment of damaged and restored hair. From there the company sought to develop a product collection that would deliver the aesthetics of restored hair and produce “a feel that lasts longer than one wash.” The target was for a result that consumers would still perceive after 15 washes.
From this project, Dow created a 4-formula collection. The prototypes Agbato showed Cosmetics Design comprise a sulfate-free Daily Rescue Shampoo, a 3-in-1 Therapy Conditioner, a rinse-off conditioner cream called First Aide Booster, and a leave-in conditioner spray called Quick-Fix Protect Spray.
As marketing material on the damaged hair platform explains, “select Dow Corning brand silicones form a homogeneous silicone that mimics the hydrophobic lipid layer on the cuticle of virgin hair, these silicones not only restore the hair’s hydrophobic state, but they also provide long-lasting conditioning and protect the entire shaft from hair breakage.”
Skin and makeup
The Dow Infinite Beauty concept “highlights the company’s portfolio of film formers,” according to Verna Talcott, North American beauty care regional market leader, who also spoke with Cosmetics Design at the California Suppliers’ Day event last month.
And, she went on to explain the company is continually testing its ingredients to assess prospective multifunctional benefits. Recent testing has looked at the potential of film formers to protect against pollution and to provide comfortable feel for long-wear products.
Talcott showed this publication materials outlining the Infinite Beauty concept and a list of nearly 20 film formers and their suggested uses in lipsticks, eye shadows, mascaras, and skin care. Dow Corning FA 4003 ID Silicone Acrylate, for instance, is featured for its “superior performance for skin and BB / CC formulations, including anti-pollution claims,” according to company ‘notes’ on in-house testing.