The use of natural products in the cosmetics industry has grown as consumers develop more of an environmental consciousness. Rice bran wax is one natural product that has found uses in the cosmetic industry as a base for cosmetics and ointments. Rice bran wax, an ester of lignoceric acid and myricyl alcohol, is a hard, non-tacky wax that is a byproduct of the rice bran oil industry. Does this Spark an idea?
Cost
Cosmetic producers have tried many waxes such as white wax and carnauba wax. Compared to these other waxes, rice bran wax is cheap, considering you can obtain it from natural sources and it is easy to find.
Skin Benefits
Rice bran smooths the skin. It also serves as an antioxidant. According to Nancy E. Kinkade of the Eastman Chemical Co. in an article in "Personal Care" magazine, Eastman Chemical tested its product, Nutrilayer, which uses rice bran wax, in 2006 and found that the product reduces skin aging and serves as an antioxidant. Eastman Chemical's research showed that the rice bran wax-based cosmetic product had advantages over other products in terms of its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties.
Ointment Base
An ointment base helps carry medicinal ingredients. The composition of the base helps determine how effectively the medicine penetrates your skin. It also helps determine how effectively your skin transfers the medicine to body tissues. A 2009 article in the "Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences" says that rice bran wax is better at this function than many other bases. It could effectively replace other, costlier bases in the cosmetics industry.
Tags: rice bran, Eastman Chemical, base helps, cosmetics industry, determine effectively