Lecithin is the only natural emulsifier currently available in the natural skin care industry for those who want 100% truly natural products. Although, traditional emulsifiers provide convenience, thanks to their ease of use, the nutritional benefits provided by lecithin cannot be rivaled.

Lecithin is packed full of natural fatty acids known as phospholipids. These phospholipids maintain the skins natural barriers due to their dense lipids content.  A we樂威壯akened barrier would leave the skin drier, more prone to wrinkling, and sagging.  Lecithin gives the skin a more resilient first line defense against environmental aggressors, it also increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture, keeping the skin soft, plump and hydrated.

For skin care,  lecithin is extracted from soybeans or sunflower and it comes in the form of a thick liquid or dry granules. Lecithin contains about 60 to 70% natural phospholipids, Vitamin B8, ethanolamine, glycerol, biotin, and choline. It is also rich in fatty acids like linoleic acid 16%, linolenic acid 55%, palmitic 30%, oleic 26%, stearic 15%, these nutrients are vital for skin and hair health.

Lecithin is an excellent emollient and occlusive, making it wonderful in products for extremely dry skin, it is particularly beneficial for hand and foot cream where you need deep moisturization and slow absorption. Lecithin also contributes a beautiful creamy consistency to anhydrous lip products.

It is found naturally from sources like eggs, soy and sunflower seeds. Lecithin was first isolated in 1845 by the French chemist and pharmacist Theodore Gobley from egg yolk. It can also be derived from sources such as soybeans, milk, marine sources, rapeseed, cottonseed, and sunflower.

In cosmetics and personal care products, lecithin can serve a variety of purpose, including as an emollient, an emulsifier, a penetration enhancer, and skin feel enhancer when you want a non-greasy, dry feel in emulsions. Lecithin also thickens products, and functions as a humectant. It is an effective softening and conditioning agent for hair and skin, a natural occlusive, and a super hydrator helping to prevent trans-epidermal water loss.

Read on for more reasons to use this skin and hair loving ingredient in your formulations.

EXCELLENT EMOLLIENT

As an emollient, products with lecithin can soften and soothe the skin. Its high concentration of fatty acids creates a barrier on the skin that effectively seals moisture in, while keeping air and other environmental elements out. These fatty acids last a lot longer because of their slow and even release; this is due to the phospholipids binding to keratin, the protein in the skin. This property makes lecithin an excellent ingredient to add to restorative creams, for products designed for mature dry skin, or overworked skin. They are also often used as a skin softener in hand and foot creams to make rough skin luxuriously soft.

In Hair Care, the choline and inositol present in Lecithin are important for healthy hair growth, as they are part of the complex B  vitamins. Lecithin supports and enhances the required amount of protein for hair growth while improving the texture and look of hair by adding luster. Its high concentration of fatty acids creates a barrier on the skin and hair that effectively captures and seals in moisture.

This moisturizing advantage makes lecithin perfect for dry and brittle hair. It adds shine, seals in moisture, and restores the hair’s natural protective coating often damaged by styling, chemical or heat. Lecithin is popularly used in natural shampoos and conditioners to help improve the look and structure of damaged hair, it is highly conditioning and moisturizing for hair conditioners and masks.

BARRIER REPAIRER

One of the biggest advantages of lecithin is its ability to repair the barrier function. When the skin’s barrier is weakened, it is more susceptible to penetrating foreign substances because of its irritated state. Phospholipids easily merge with the skin’s membrane structure, keeping it soft, supple, and hydrated, this keeps the barrier in its natural and optimum condition, which ultimately slow down premature ageing.

NATURAL EMULSIFIER

Lecithin is a natural emulsifier that can be used alone or in combination with other emulsifiers.  Natural skincare formulations who require emulsification of water-in- oil emulsion (W/O emulsion) favour the use of lecithin due to its suitability. Lecithin acts as an emulsifier binding oil and water molecules thus preventing separation of the two. Lecithin acts as an emulsifier in many barrier creams where a thicker and richer texture is required.

PENETRATION ENHANCER

Lecithin is classified as a penetration enhancer, this means it has the ability to penetrate deeply enhancing the penetration of other active ingredients. The ability of Lecithin to control the viscosity of liquids also aids with product penetration into the skin or hair.

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