ABSTRACT
The applications and functions of surfactants in cosmetics are old but still not extremely well understood combinations of science and art, rivaled in complexity by few other areas, food applications being one. In order to take maximum advantage of the direct and indirect effects of surfactants in cosmetic formulations, it is important to have a good working idea of what one can expect from the presence of a given surface active material. Such ideas must be based on both fundamental knowledge and empirical experience. Theoretical concepts and characteristic properties determined for “pure” surfactant systems are indispensible for providing a good basis for the development of a complex cosmetic formulation. However, knowledge of the basic principles can serve to narrow significantly the possible options for surfactants to fulfill a given need and thus save the formulator significant time and money.
