Raw materials for intimate hygiene products

Intimate hygiene products

Due to their exceptional sensitivity, intimate areas require specialised care. Traditional soaps, which can cause irritation, should be avoided in favour of dedicated formulations that combine effectiveness with gentleness.

Typical products used in daily care are lotions, liquids and cleansing emulsions. Before choosing an intimate hygiene product, it is worth checking its composition – substances with softening and soothing properties are key. Particular attention should be paid to preparations enriched with lipids, which moisturise and protect the skin’s hydrolipid barrier. Comfort of use is also important. The right product should provide a long-lasting feeling of freshness and cleanliness.

What should be the composition of an intimate hygiene wash?

The production of intimate hygiene liquids requires the use of raw materials with a high safety profile. Due to the sensitivity of the mucous membranes and their specific pH, the selection of components is much more rigorous than for other body care products.

Here are the key groups of raw materials used in these formulations:

• Cleansing agents

Cleansing substances (most often surfactants) used in intimate hygiene products must above all be gentle. They must not damage the delicate physiological barrier of the mucous membrane. Their task is to gently cleanse without altering the natural microflora. Stronger detergents, such as SLS and SLES, which are commonly used in shampoos and shower gels, are definitely not suitable for this type of formulation, as they could cause dryness and discomfort in intimate areas.

• Moisturising substances

These ingredients have a protective function. They help to maintain optimal moisture levels in the intimate areas and thus alleviate irritation. Allantoin and panthenol are particularly valuable additives – these substances not only soothe irritation, but also stimulate epidermal regeneration and have a softening effect. They make daily care more comfortable.

• Ingredients that support the natural microflora

It is crucial that the product does not disturb the physiological pH of the intimate areas. The addition of substances that support the natural microflora, such as lactic acid, helps to maintain the optimal protective barrier formed by bacteria (mainly of the Lactobacillus genus).

• Excipients and emulsifiers

The comfort of use of cosmetic products is largely determined by excipients. They affect rheological properties, act as emulsifiers, and increase the clarity and stability of finished formulations. Surfactants are excellent as base ingredients, but also as auxiliary substances. Thanks to their amphiphilic structure, they effectively reduce the surface tension between phases and facilitate the combination of individual ingredients.

Chemical raw materials for the production of intimate hygiene products offered by the PCC Group

In the production of intimate hygiene preparations, it is necessary to use ingredients with high cleaning potential and low irritation potential. The formula of such a product must meet unique requirements.

The PCC Group offers a wide range of chemical raw materials dedicated to the cosmetics industry, including specialised ingredients for the production of intimate hygiene products.

Among them, raw materials with excellent cleaning properties, such as EXOsoft L3/40, ROKAmina K45HC and SULFOROKAnol L290/1M, are of particular importance. The cleansing effect is mainly provided by anionic surfactants, supported by substances from the betaine group, which effectively mitigate the effects of stronger detergents. Particular attention should be paid to products from the EXOsoft series, dedicated to creating exceptionally mild formulations.

Foaming agents are also important ingredients, affecting both the comfort of application and supporting the cleaning action of the preparations (e.g. ROKAmina K40HC MB, ROKAtend LS, ROSULfan C/PH). They have very good foaming properties over a wide range of pH and water hardness. In combination with anionic surfactants, they exhibit a positive, synergistic increase in foam volume and improved stability of the preparations.

Why choose products from the PCC Group’s range?

• The range includes a wide variety of biodegradable products and products based on natural ingredients. The surfactants used meet the biodegradability criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on detergents.
• Selected products in the range have the prestigious international ECOCERT label. This means that they can be used without concern in Eco, Organic, Vegan, Paraben Free and GMO Free products.
• Commercial products are available in concentrated forms. The higher concentration of the product in the solution has a beneficial economic effect during transport and storage.