{"id":18994,"date":"2025-03-05T07:15:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T13:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=18994"},"modified":"2025-03-19T07:21:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T13:21:30","slug":"pcc-waterless-and-low-water-personal-care-formulation-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/18994\/pcc-waterless-and-low-water-personal-care-formulation-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterless and Low-Water Personal Care Formulation Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SelectingWaterless and low-water formulations are reshaping the personal care industry<\/a>, driven by sustainability concerns, consumer demand for concentrated products<\/a>, and advancements in ingredient technology. These formulations<\/a> minimize water content, reduce the need for preservatives, lower carbon footprints, and create more potent,
\ntravel-friendly products.<\/p>\n

Key Trends in Waterless Formulations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solid & Concentrated Formats<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solid bars<\/a> for skincare, haircare, and cleansing are becoming mainstream. These include shampoo and conditioner bars, solid facial cleansers, and balm-based moisturizers, which eliminate the need for plastic packaging and excess water. Brands like SBTRCT and Ethique lead this trend, offering waterless solid beauty bars that are eco-friendly and long-lasting.<\/p>\n

Powdered & Anhydrous Products<\/strong><\/p>\n

Powdered serums, face masks, and shampoos offer convenience and
\npotency, as they activate only when mixed with water before application. Green+Bare and Mirage Waterless LLC focus on powdered formulations<\/a> using botanical ingredients<\/a> like clay<\/a> and plant extracts<\/a>. These formulas require careful selection of powder-based surfactants and binders to ensure usability and stability.<\/p>\n

Waterless Concentrates<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some “waterless” formulations still contain small amounts of water in surfactants and active ingredients, but they are designed to be diluted at the point of use. Everist Inc. offers shampoo concentrates<\/a> in aluminum tubes, reducing plastic waste and the need for large bottles. These require specialized formulation with high active surfactant concentrations, glycerin for skin feel, and stabilizers like polyquaternium compounds.<\/p>\n

Ingredient Insights for Waterless Formulations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surfactants & Emulsifiers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Non-ionic surfactants (e.g., isethionates, sulfosuccinates) are commonly used in powder and solid bar formulations<\/a> to ensure effective cleansing with mildness.<\/p>\n

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Superfatting & Conditioning Agents<\/strong><\/p>\n

Balms<\/a> and solid skincare use plant-based butters (e.g., shea, mango, and cocoa butter) and oils (e.g., jojoba, almond, and squalane) to compensate for the lack of water.<\/p>\n

Stabilizers & Texturizers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starches and fast-hydrating gums help maintain powder flowability, improve texture, and enhance usability in powdered products.<\/p>\n

Active Ingredients & Antioxidants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concentrated botanical extracts, powdered vitamins (e.g., Vitamin C<\/a> in anhydrous form), and antioxidants (e.g., tocopherol<\/a>) ensure product efficacy and stability.<\/p>\n

Challenges and Considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texture and Application: Some consumers may find powdered or solid products harder to apply compared to traditional formulas. Preservation: While anhydrous products generally don\u2019t need preservatives, low-water concentrates still require preservative
\nsystems to ensure microbial stability. Consumer Education: Brands need to guide consumers on how to use and activate waterless products<\/a> effectively.<\/p>\n

As brands continue to innovate, we can expect expanded product categories, advanced ingredient delivery systems, and eco-friendly packaging solutions that will shape the future of personal care<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Waterless and low-water formulations are reshaping the personal care industry, driven by sustainability concerns, consumer demand for concentrated products, and advancements in ingredient technology. These formulations minimize water content, reduce the need for preservatives, lower carbon footprints, and create more … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":14061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[607,5],"tags":[206,379,1017],"ppma_author":[1245],"class_list":{"0":"post-18994","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-personal-care-cosmetics-cleaners","9":"tag-sustainability","10":"tag-personal-care","11":"tag-waterless","12":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nWaterless 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