First silicone rubber for hair-now chocolate and elastomers for skin care

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Midland, Michigan-Dow Corning Corp. has followed its development of silicone rubber materials for hair care with a new chocolate and silicone elastomer concoction for skin pampering. Is your mouth watering yet?

Chocolate is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient,” in the estimated $13 000-million market for products such as shampoos and conditioners, body care products, bath scents and scented candles, according to a Dow Corning press release.

We find that many consumers can derive similar pleasure from chocolate- based products when they are smelled as when they are eaten,” pointed out Myriam Delvaux, skin care segment leader, Dow Corning. And she reveals a major selling point for use of chocolate in these products: "Scents and textures … can often provide the chocolate satisfaction-without the guilt of consuming the calories."

Dow Corning's first foray into chocolate was in 2004, with 'Chocolate Delight,' which it calls a fluffy face care formulation with the texture and aroma of chocolate mousse.” The original formulation used a Dow Corning elastomer powder to provide a softer skin feel and better absorption, and incorporated Vitamin E to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and a protective sunscreen agent.

Now, with Solabia Group, Dow Corning has a prototype formulation for CocoaSlim-combining chocolate mousse with skin cream to leave skin silky smooth with a pleasant cocoa scent.”

Meanwhile, Dow Corning says its latest hair care silicone combines the benefits of amine emulsions and elastomers in one product. The company's 5-7070 Si Amino Elastomer Emulsion helps in hair styling, shampoo and conditioning products.

The firm describes the product as a unique combination of amino functionality (enhanced conditioning performance) and elastomer technology (styling benefits).”

In styling aids, fixative products and rinse-off products such as shampoos and conditioners, the material aims to provide soft feel and flexible hold, through its novel ability to retain nearly 200 percent more water on hair.

The amino elastomer also gives protection during heat styling, claims the manufacturer. With one ingredient, formulators get the combined benefits of silicone amine emulsions and silicone elastomers,” said Alvaro Gomes, senior technical service representative for Dow Corning's Beauty and Personal Care business in South America.