Water-Soluble Technology: The Solution For Personal Care Products

From the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep, personal care products are an integral part of our daily routines.  

Personal care products are divided into three categories:   

• Skin care: Facial cleansers, hand soaps, body wash, moisturizers, lotions, make-up, and bath bombs 
• Hair care: Shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, serums, and styling products 
• Oral care: Toothpaste, mouthwash, and lip balm  

What makes a consumer loyal to their personal care products? There are a few factors. First are the product’s sensory attributes – people want products that smell, feel, and in the case of oral care, taste good. Second, consumers prefer products that are easy to integrate into their daily routine and that are accurately dosed. Third, consumers need a product that consistently delivers the result or effect they are seeking.  

 In the past few years, CBD has become an important part of people’s health and wellness routines. Outside of it being a natural plant extract, consumers gravitate towards CBD for a number of reasons, including its ability to address dermal concerns such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.   

When infusing personal care products with CBD, product producers have two options to choose from – oil or a water-soluble emulsion. When weighing the pros and cons of each, it’s important to keep sight of the consumer’s priorities. If the product doesn’t look good on a store shelf, they won’t notice it. If it doesn’t smell good, they won’t apply it. If it doesn’t feel good, they’ll remove it. If they do buy it and it isn’t easy to use, they won’t buy it again.  

CBD Oil for Personal Care: The Problems  

CBD oil is extracted from the plant; this format can pose problems for both the consumer and producer. For the consumer, oil-based products can separate, which leads to inaccurate dosing. The pungent cannabis smell can be off-putting, and the residue of oil can stain clothing. For the producer, oil needs to be incorporated early in production and requires special equipment and additional production steps. Additionally, while oil makes sense for some personal care product formats, it is not compatible with many.  

Water-Soluble Emulsions for Personal Care: The Solution 

An emulsion is a transformation and dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid (in this case, CBD oil) into another in which it is not soluble. Because oil-based ingredients are tricky to work with, they are commonly emulsified for ease of use for product developers. There are many benefits to replacing oil-based ingredients with water-soluble emulsions that impact both the producer and the consumer. 

Improved Sensory  

With personal care, you’re not just selling a product; you’re selling a sensory experience. A water-soluble emulsion complements common personal care product ingredients such as jojoba, lavender, honey, and vitamin C. It does not carry the cannabis sensory elements that some consumers find unappealing, and it eliminates the residue associated with oil-based products.  

 Accurate Dosing 

The potency of CBD oil can vary from batch to batch, meaning loading levels need to be adjusted for accurate dosing. In contrast, a water-soluble emulsion is easy to formulate to a target potency. Because the emulsion is homogeneous, the CBD will be evenly dispersed throughout the product, resulting in consistent and accurate dosing.  

 Versatility 

Simple modifications to a base product formula allow product developers to create multiple SKUs. These modifications can include varying the dosage levels, offering new scents via essential oils and terpenes, and utilizing other sensory modifiers. The more SKUs offered, the more legitimacy the products have in the marketplace, and the more appealing the products will be to retailers and consumers.  

 Seamless Integration 

Most personal care products primarily consist of water. A water-soluble emulsion can replace a portion of the water in the product formulation in one step to achieve the desired cannabinoid content while still maintaining product integrity. A process that makes it easy to integrate the emulsion also means that it is easy to scale up. Using a water-soluble emulsion does not require extra heating or equipment and is compatible with small and large-scale manufacturing.  

To ensure successful commercialization of your finished product, look for a co-manufacturer to produce your finished product, make sure your co-manufacturer has produced a product similar to yours. Ideally the facility will be close in proximity to your target market, which will save you money when it comes time to distribute the product.  

SōRSE 7.5%: The Best Choice for Integrating CBD into Personal Care Items 

CBD–infused personal care products are not new, but they can be better by using water-soluble CBD emulsion. The consumer will benefit from an improved sensory and more consistent, accurate dosing experience. The producer will benefit from a seamless one-step integration into the product formula, which will allow for scale and multiple SKUs with simple modifications.  

Create a product that lives up to its hype; come to the SōRSE.​   

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