Hot and Cold Cosmetic Applications Demonstrate Using New Silverson Videos

Silverson Machines has released two new videos in association with Beauty Science Labs UK that demonstrate the universality of their L5M-A Laboratory homogeniser mixer in two diverse cosmetic applications.

The first video depicts how a Cold Process Gel can be formulated using a Silverson Laboratory Mixer.

In this video, Beauty Science Labs' Principal Chemist Tumi Siwoku discusses the cosmetics industry and takes Silverson's James Cardus through a step-by-step process for creating a clear, thixotropic, aeration-free gel. She discusses how pH-sensitive polymers such as acrylates copolymer react to sodium hydroxide and shows how effective mixing technique is the key to success.

The final product is a cold-processed gel base. These pH-neutral gels are widely utilised in the cosmetics and personal care industry as the foundation for gel moisturisers, styling aids and topical treatments and other skin care products. They can simply be formulated with active ingredients, fragrances or colourants.

The gel is created only with a Silverson multi-purpose Laboratory mixer. The identical high shear mixer is used in the second video demonstrating a Hot Process Emulsion, demonstrating the ease of use of the Silverson L5M-A.

In the Hot Process video, Tumi defines the Hot Process Emulsion and how the Silverson Laboratory homogeniser enables high-quality lotions and creams to be made. She describes the individual phases, the individual ingredients and how each phase must be mixed at the correct temperature. The viewer can see how the Silverson Laboratory mixer maintains evenness all along, creating a stable even emulsion.

Silverson Laboratory mixers are used for a wide range of mixing operations varying from liquid/liquid blending, emulsification and particle size reduction to more complex mixing processes. They are especially well suited for routine laboratory use, R&D, QA analysis and pilot production.

The L5M-A model is the latest in laboratory mixing in high shear mixing technology. Unlike low-cost agitators and stirrers, the Silverson rotor/stator workhead design allows for high intensity mixing. The rotor blades pull material into the workhead, where they experience harsh mixing, then are flung back into the mix at high speed. This ensures complete ingredient integration and elimination of agglomerates.

Equipped with a tachometer, ammeter, and programmable timer as a standard feature, the L5M-A offers precise instrumentation that is essential for process validation and repeatability. A temperature probe can also be provided, especially for hot process applications as shown in the video.

As Tumi so succinctly states, temperature is a critical parameter, not just for water and oil phase blending, but in determining at what stage to introduce temperature-sensitive ingredients. Ingredients like fragrance, colour, preservatives and extracts must be introduced in amounts below a critical level in order to preserve their stability and effectiveness.

To learn more about Silverson Machines, go to the Silverson website: www.silverson.co.uk