Chocolate Becoming Hot Ingredient in Beauty and Personal Care Products
Dow Corning enables chocolate-inspired formulations
Midland, MI - While chocolate lovers around the world swear that their dark delicacy can elicit feelings of well-being, euphoria and sensuality, personal care formulators are discovering that tasting is not the only way to savor its delights.
Chocolate is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient for a wide variety of products in the estimated $13 billion personal pampering market, including shampoos and conditioners, body care products, bath scents and scented candles.
"We find that many consumers can derive similar pleasure from chocolate-based products when they are smelled as when they are eaten," said Myriam Delvaux, skin care segment leader, Dow Corning. "Scents and textures in personal care products can often provide the chocolate satisfaction without the guilt of consuming the calories."
Used for thousands of years as medicine by tribes in Central and South America before being used as a drink and eventually as the basis for chocolate candy, cocoa contains more than 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of numerous scientific studies. Some scientists theorize that cocoa contains molecules that can stimulate the release of endorphins and increase theta brain waves when smelled, resulting in relaxation.
Dow Corning's first chocolate-inspired formulation came in 2004 when the company introduced Chocolate Delight, a fluffy face care formulation with the texture and aroma of chocolate mousse. The prototype formulation was developed using a Dow Corning elastomer powder to provide a softer skin feel and better absorption. It also incorporates Vitamin E to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and a sunscreen agent to protect skin from the elements.
Last month, Dow Corning worked with Solabia Group to develop a prototype formulation for CocoaSlim, a recipe that combines chocolate mousse with skin cream to leave skin silky smooth with a pleasant cocoa scent. Solabia's formulation contains Dow Corning silicone waxes, fluids and powders for texture and skin feel benefits, and an active ingredient from Solabia Group that limits fat storage.
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