Cocopure® EMOL 500 is an ECOCERT ingredient derived from sustainable coconut. It can effectively disperse and suspend organic UV Filters, which is an essential step in formulating sunscreens.
Summer is here and consumers look for ways to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Even after the hot season, consumers need sunscreen to prevent skin aging and skin cancer.
Consumers have also become more eco-conscious and more aware. The trend of seeking products that are natural and more environmentally friendly is here to stay.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AADA) recommends the use of sunscreen with the broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and UVB rays) that has SPF 30 or higher and water resistant. AADA advises reapplying sunscreen every two (2) hours or after swimming or sweating to ensure full coverage and protection.
COCOPURE® EMOL 500
INCI Name: Cocoglycerides
Cocopure® EMOL 500 is a medium-spreading natural emollient derived from certified sustainable coconut oil. This moisturizing oil is the perfect ingredient for skin care products that guarantees smooth, lightweight and non-sticky feel. It contains skin-loving fatty acids that help in repairing and strengthening the skin barrier. An effective emollient, Cocopure® EMOL 500 is an excellent UV Filter solubilizer and pigment dispersant. Furthermore, it contains lauric acid, a natural antimicrobial active.
UV FILTER SOLUBILIZER
Consumers use skin care products with SPF, like sunscreen, all-year round to protect themselves against harmful sunrays. Avobenzone is a UVA Filter that is usually found in most sunscreen formulations due to its efficacy in absorbing harmful UVA rays. However, dissolving higher dosage of UV Filters like Avobenzone in sunscreen formulations, has been a challenged to formulators. UV filters are hard to suspend and stabilize in emulsions and tend to result to sunscreens that feel sticky and oily.
An in-house solubility test for Avobenzone was conducted using five (5) samples, including Cocopure® EMOL. In the procedure, 10% of avobenzone was added to 90% of the solvent samples and mixed at 600rpm for one (1) hour. After one (1) hour the samples were assessed visually to see if there are undissolved avobenzone left. The results are as follows:
SPF VALUE ENHANCER
Sun protection factor (SPF) value is crucial in sunscreen formulations. The higher the SPF value, the longer hours of protection under the sun that the sunscreen formulation can provide. However, it must be noted, that in 2019, FDA proposed to limit SPF values to 60 and require increased UVA protection (FDA 2019).
In formulations, the increase of the UV Filters does not guarantee a yield of high SPF value. Formulators need to know the right combination and dosage of UVA and UVB Filters to provide high SPF value.
In an in-house study using the UV-Vis Spectroscopy and the Mansur Equation, it was determined that Cocopure® EMOL 500 has an SPF value of 4. This can help contribute to the total SPF value of sunscreen formulations. This 2-in1 function of being an emollient and an SPF enhancer reduces the cost of the formulations.
REEF-FRIENDLY
Studies have shown that some UV Filters in sunscreens are potentially harmful to aquatic life. That is why most consumers are looking in the market for reef-friendly sunscreens that can protect not just their skin but will be kind to the environment as well.
Derived from sustainable coconut oil, Cocopure® EMOL 500 is biodegradable, COSMOS-certified ingredient which has a 99.9% natural index based on ISO-16128. Another noteworthy property is that Cocopure® EMOL 500 has a highly impressive EWG rating of 1, signifying it is a low environment hazard, very reef-friendly and will not harm aquatic life.
