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Functional cosmetics: encapsulation of active ingredients for efficient skincare
In the contemporary beauty landscape, consumers are increasingly focusing on products formulated to offer tangible results, in addition to a pleasant sensory experience.
Functional cosmetics fit into this context, a formulation approach that integrates scientific knowledge and technological innovation to optimize the performance of.
Many natural ingredients, despite having interesting cosmetic properties, are sensitive to environmental factors such as light, oxygen, and pH variations, or are challenging to integrate stably into formulations.
Sphera Encapsulation, an Italian company specializing in the research and development of encapsulation technologies, aims to address these critical issues through advanced technological solutions.
The role of Encapsulation in modern skincare
The effectiveness of a cosmetic product depends mainly on the stability of its active ingredients and their proper interaction with the skin’s surface.
Many cosmetic active ingredients, including vitamins, polyphenols, and essential oils, can degrade over time, reducing product performance.
Encapsulation technologies protect these ingredients within a structured matrix, helping to preserve their properties until application. In the cosmetics industry, encapsulation offers three main advantages:
• Protection of the active ingredient: Encapsulation helps limit the ingredient’s exposure to external factors that can compromise its stability.
• Modulated release: The encapsulating structure can promote gradual distribution of the active ingredient on the skin’s surface during use.
• Better integration into the formulation: Encapsulated particles can be designed to improve the compatibility of the active ingredient with the cosmetic base and its interaction with the stratum corneum.
These characteristics support the development of more stable, reproducible, and optimized cosmetic formulations in the use of raw materials.
SpherAQ®: a technology for the aqueous dispersion of lipophilic active ingredients
One of the main challenges in cosmetic formulations is integrating lipophilic substances into aqueous systems, which is often achieved using surfactants.
Sphera Encapsulation has developed SpherAQ®, a technology that promotes the dispersion of hydrophobic active ingredients in the aqueous phase, reducing the need for traditional surfactants.
This technology allows for formulations characterized by:
• Uniform and clear appearance, even in the presence of functional oily ingredients;
• Greater cosmetic availability of the active ingredient, thanks to a more homogeneous distribution within the formulation;
• Clean Label-oriented formulation approach, aligned with INCI simplification strategies and the use of predominantly physical processes.
SpherAQ® represents a technological solution designed to meet the needs of brands focused on formulation quality, product stability, and the growing demand for cosmetics inspired by sustainability and transparency.
Research and innovation for functional cosmetics
Encapsulation is now a fundamental tool in the development of functional cosmetics, enabling the enhancement of complex ingredients and improved formulation management.
The precision with which an active ingredient is protected and distributed on the skin contributes significantly to the overall quality of the cosmetic product.
Sphera Encapsulation provides cosmetic brands with its technical and scientific expertise to support the development of advanced formulation solutions that meet regulatory requirements and market expectations.
For information on research and development projects and available encapsulation technologies, the Sphera Encapsulation team is available for a dedicated technical discussion.
Research is constantly evolving. Follow Sphera Encapsulation on our social media channels to discover our technologies, scientific insights, and the latest news from the world of functional cosmetics.
