The packaging of cosmetics today can be very diverse and confusing to choose from, especially some packaging that seems to have special effects, is it really working or is it just a trick? Today, we’re going to dig into some glass comsetic jars.
Dark glass bottle
Many products prefer dark glass bottle packaging, especially raw material barrel-type pharmaceutical brands, this kind of amber glass bottle with a small dropper is particularly common, some open with a soft “bang”, like opening champagne.
The role of dark glass here is to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays, to avoid photosensitive active ingredients from decompsing. The same as red wine, dark glass bottles help protect red wine tannins, resveratrol and anthocyanins and other ingredients from photolysis, these are the soul of red wine, if the storage is not well protected, 82 years of Lafite only have to be poured out.
In skin care products, too, the active ingredients are the soul of the formula, photolysis and oxidation are the greatest enemies, especially these raw material barrels known for their efficacy, leaving the active substances there will be no selling point, and even some ingredients are toxic or allergenic after photolysis.
Previously asked why pharmaceutical brands have a fondness for teal 10ml glass dropper bottles. In fact, in addition to the practical aspects, there’re cultural factors. Many years ago, European doctors like to use this dropper bottle as a container to prescribe drugs to patients.
As mentioned earlier, some dropper glass bottles will have a soft thud when first opened, in fact, in order to protect the active ingredients prone to oxidation, the dropper glass bottles are filled with inert gas, usually nitrogen or argon. High concentrations of vitamin C, which is both afraid of light and easy to oxidize, so the ingredients need double protection. Some kinds of glass bottles like opal glass bottle is also safe and protective for ingredients.
Vacuum pump
The dropper bottle is an old packaging, the amber glass is good in terms of light shielding, but much worse in terms of air isolation. Even if it is filled with inert gas, it can only guarantee the protection of the material before the first opening on the shelf. After opening it is difficult to guarantee, argon gas is heavier than air, it may provide a longer protection, but with times of use the gradual failures. That is why this type of serum are required to be used up after the opening of a certain time. The efficacy can not be guaranteed after long time.
The biggest advantage of the vacuum pump is that it can separate the material and air for a long time, every time you press the pump head, the small piston at the bottom of the bottle will move up a little, the material will come out at the same time there will be no air into the bottle, with the use of the material less and less space, so that a product from the opening to the end of the use of air do not have to worry about.
Unlike dropper bottles, vacuum pump bottles are suitable for viscous materials such as emulsions, especially when the oil phase of the emulsion contains a large amount of unsaturated oils that are easily oxidized, such as tea seed oil, shea butter, etc.
Aluminum Tubes
Both dropper glass bottles and vacuum pump bottles have limitations. Vacuum pump bottles are usually made of PP due to the need for air tightness, and even if the color masterbatch is added to make it colored, the shading effect will not be too good. There is a key ingredient in skin care products powerful at anti-wrinkle, acne, whitening, but personality quirks, a bunch of side effects, often making people intolerant, easy to oxidation and photosensitivity and phototoxicity. Well, you should have guessed it, said the vitamin A alcohol.
This even formulators have to hide in the dark room only red light before they dare to configure the guy, contact with the air will be oxidized, by the light will be released poison, high concentration of vitamin A alcohol formula material can only be placed inside the aluminum tube, while completely isolated from air and light, so as to ensure the use of safe and effective.
Ampoules
The Ampoule, which has become very popular in the past two years, is actually something that has quite a historical origin, with the earliest records dating back to 305 A.D. The original usage of the word Ampoule was a small bottle used by Christians to preserve the blood of dead saints for ceremonial purposes.
Historical Ampoules, from Wikipedia
I hope you are not shocked, the modern Ampoule has basically nothing to do with the historical Ampoule, the cosmetic Ampoule is actually borrowed from the medical supplies side. In order to preserve some injectable preparations and must be isolated from the air high-purity drugs, the head of the glass bottle with high-temperature fusion encapsulation, can be stored for a long time without external contamination, to use when breaking the neck of the bottle, a one-time use of the drugs inside (when playing an IV to see the nurse sister dispensing drugs should have an impression).
The same is true of the cosmetic ampoule, where the air-sensitive, highly concentrated active substance is sealed in a small ampoule, and when used, the neck of the bottle is broken off and used up at once, somewhat similar to the use of capsules.
In terms of isolation from air and external pollution, ampoules are definitely the strongest, and darker ones can also provide light protection, which is perfect for ingredients like vitamin C.
Nowadays, the ampoule in cosmetics is actually a bit abused. Such ingredients like hyaluronic acid (hyaluronic acid) that are neither afraid of light nor easily oxidized are filled in ampoules. Why the high concentration is also encapsulated in the ampoule is really puzzling. In addition to the experience of usage, what additional benefits can be brought to the user? Every time you use it, you have to throw away a glass bottle, the environmental impact of the waste generated is quite heartbreaking.
Binary packaging
The difference is that the binary packaging will distinguish between sensitive and fragile ingredients and ordinary ingredients, easy to oxidize, hydrolysis of the ingredients, they are stored separately in a waterless environment, and then mixed when used to ensure the maximum activity when opened, as long as they are used up within a certain period of time The efficacy is guaranteed.
When it comes to binary packaging, it is important to mention the three sisters of the L’Oreal Group: Lancôme, Hershey, and L’Oreal Paris, have launched their own “freshly formulated” type of essence, the technology of the three is actually similar, the trick is hidden in the middle of the dropper. The technology of the three models is actually similar, the trick is hidden in the middle of the dropper. Unlike ordinary droppers, the dropper of these models is sealed before use, separated from the formula in the bottle, and then mixed and shaken when used.
The Lancôme Ampoule Black Bottle and L’Oreal Paris Fresh Essence, encapsulated in the dropper is a high concentration of ferulic acid, antioxidant and whitening effects are good, but it is too easy to hydrolyze, the smell after hydrolysis is also very unpleasant, so it should be stored separately. The double-extract essence is more interesting, the dropper is encapsulated in ganoderma lucidum spore oil, due to the clever design of the formula, the oil releasing into the water will occur self-emulsification phenomenon, the original transparent essence of liquid, mixed and will become opaque emulsion.
There are actually quite a lot of products in binary packaging, like this Lanzhi Intensive Repair Spot Serum, which encapsulates high purity Vitamin C instant powder in a small cavity, the first time you press the pump head to release the powder into the serum, then shake it well and use it to enjoy the high concentration of Vitamin C whitening and spot lightening effect.
Summary
The main purpose of packaging for skin care products is to protect the active ingredients, nothing to do with gimmicks. The formulators and packaging designers can be said to have done their best effort. If the efficacy of detachment is purely for the sake of decoration, then the use of often several centimeters thick, weighing several kilograms of plexiglass bottles to contain a few dozen grams of cream, but also really better than the simple and effective simple packaging.
Post time: Oct-28-2022