Characteristics and Classification of Good Cosmetics

Cosmoceuticals:

Cosmeceuticals describe those products that are marketed as cosmetics but have drug like effects.

Properties of good Cosmetics:

A good cosmetics should have the following properties-

• All the raw materials used should be of highest quality and they should be standardized for their qualities.
• All water used in cosmetics should be distilled or purified water.
• The color used should be the permitted color.
• The perfumes used should be compatible with other ingredients of the preparation.
• They should be tolerated all conditions particularly extreme of temperature and humidity condition to which they are likely to encountered in the market.
• They should be economic.

Learn more about Cosmetology here!

Classification of cosmetics:

Generally cosmetics can be classified in the following way-

1)      According to their function

2)      According to their uses

3)      According to their physical nature

According to the function, cosmetics are classified into the following groups-

                         i.            Decorative function (Example; Lipstick, Nail polish etc.)

                        ii.            Corrective function (Example; Dry cream and heavy face powder)

                        iii.            Protective function (Example; Dry cream and heavy face powder)

                        iv.            Curative function (Example; antiperspirant, hair preparation etc.)

According to their uses, Cosmetics are again subdivided into the following classes-

a)      For the skin (Example: Powder, Cream, Lotion, Deodorant, Bath and cleansing preparation, Make up etc.)

b)      For the Hair (Example: Shampoo, Hair tonic, Hair dressing, Shaving preparation, etc.)

c)       For the nails (Example: Nail polish, Nail conditioner, Polish remover etc.)

d)      For the teeth and mouth (Dentifrices, Mouth washes etc.)

e)      Border line products (Example: Foot powder, Insect repellants, Eye products etc.)

According to their physical nature, cosmetics can be classified into the following ways-

                             I.            Sprays (Example: Perfumes, after shaving spray, hair spray etc.)

                            II.            Emulsions (Example: cold cream, liquid cream etc.)

                           III.           Jellies (Example: Hand jelly, hair jelly et

                            IV.           Mucilage (Example: Hand lotion, body lotion etc.)

                             V.           Oils (Example: Hair oils, body oils etc.)

                            VI.          Cakes (Example: rough compacts or face powder)

                           VII.          Paste (Example: toothpaste, Deodorant paste)

                          VIII.          Powder (Example: Talcum powder, tooth powder   

                             IX.          Soaps (Shaving soap, toilet soap etc.)

                               X.         Solution (Example: After shave lotion, astringent lotion etc.)

                               XI.        Sticks (Example: Lipsticks, deodorant sticks etc.)

                             XII.         Suspension (Example: Liquid powder, cosmetics etc.)