Emulsifiers
In skin care, emulsifiers are ingredients that are added to a formulation in order to bring together lipophilic and hydrophilic ingredients in one unique and stable phase, or, more simply, they make it possible for the water and oil to be mixed together and to be kept stable through time. That function is made possible because each emulsifier has a hydrophilic (water-loving) and lipophilic (oil-loving) part that acts as a physical barrier that keeps the dispersion droplets from separating. Emulsifiers are usually insoluble or partially soluble in water. The most common emulsions created in natural skincare are water-in-oil emulsions (W/O), where fine drops of water are dispersed in oil, and oil-in-water emulsions (O/W), where fine drops of oil are dispersed in water. W/O emulsions are generally oily and greasy in their sensorial feeling, while O/W have a more light feeling. Emulsions, in general, are used to maintain the balance of oil and water on the skin and as a vehicle for active ingredients.
