What are Pearlescent pigments?

Pearlescent pigments are widely used in the cosmetic industry to add luster, sparkle, impart color or color -travel effects, and provide coverage. Pearls are used in many cosmetics applications including nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick, and blush.
Pearl pigments are also gaining wide acceptance in skin care applications, such as creams, lotions, and sun care where their addition significantly change and modify the skin tone in very subtle yet dynamic ways. Toiletries, such as cleansers, fragrances, toothpastes, antiperspirants and deodorants are adding a sparkle or interference luster to their appearance where eye appeal provides a unique distinction for other alternatives on the consumer shelves.

How to disperse a pearlescent pigment?

Pearl pigments do not tend to agglomerate but disperse evenly. The pearl pigment should be added to the water (or oil) phase before the anti-settling agent is dispersed. Stabilization of pearl pigments in rinse-off and gel products In highly viscous systems (hair styling gels, after sun gels, hydro gels) pearl luster pigments are stabilized within the gel base. Only in low viscous systems (shower gels, shampoos, and bath products) do pearl luster pigments need to be stabilized against sedimentation. An increase in viscosity alone will not prevent settling; a thixotropic gel is needed. Acrylates Copolymers, Xanthan Gum, Silica, | Dextrin Palmitate etc. build a gel network which is compatible with many detergent systems.

How to achieve a pearl shimmer effect?

A pearl shimmer effect may be achieved by adding a single silver pigment. Attractive effects can be created by highlighting the base color, with a corresponding pearlescent pigment. The luster of the interference color will underline the mass tone. This effect cannot be obtained by using pearlizing agents. Two-tone and unusual effects can be created if the base color is combined with a pigment of different interference color. This effect also cannot be achieved with pearlizing agents.