The new ingredient is part of the company’s LexFeel portfolio, a collection of some 16 ingredients including emollients, esters, silicone alternatives, and more.
That collection is core to the Inolex corporate identity. In 2012 the company rebranded its business to better match its innovation focus and alignment with the current personal care market. At the time, Conrad Plimpton, then the chair of Inolex, told the press, “Inolex has risen rapidly to the forefront of ingredient innovation, and our new brand reflects that. It represents our forward-thinking approach to formulating with naturals and to helping our clients stay on top of the important consumer and regulatory trends.” (Ann S. Plimpton has since become chair of Inolex, as Cosmetics Design reported.)
Work in progress
LexFeel Vibrant is the latest addition to the LexFeel line. “As consumers demand more tailored cosmetics, we are addressing the need for ingredients that deliver superior performance. LexFeel Vibrant significantly boosts sensory, aesthetic and formulation results compared to other ingredients, which is very exciting,” explains Fana Makonnen, technical marketing manager at Inolex, in a media release about the new color cosmetics ingredient.
Color contrast
The new ingredient is a non-crystalline wax (Palm Acid/Adipic Acid/Pentaerythritol Crosspolymer) developed to be an alternative to other oils, butters, and waxes used in color formulations. The Inolex release described the patented wax as “a structuring and pigment wetting agent that provides a rich yet light skin-feel.”
“The product is a sensory modifying polyol polyester suitable for emulsions and anhydrous systems. Unlike typical waxes and butters, LexFeel Vibrant is a non-crystalline wax which stays clear when mixed with other clear oil phase ingredients, thereby enhancing color quality in numerous applications,” explains the company.
Inolex materials on the new ingredient also boast that as a structuring agent LexFeel Vibrant is much less heavy and greasy than conventional options even while having an impressive spreadability and not diminishing any pigment in the formulation.