20 MEN’S GROOMING


Men are getting into the anti-ageing game


n Alfeda Cho – Stepan Company, Singapore


The pursuit of youthful looking skin is old hat for many women in Asia, but for men, has become increasingly important. According to Million Insights, men’s grooming product’s market size is driven by the rising awareness about the importance of overall body grooming and beauty consciousness among men.1 The demand for natural and organic


products in Asia is increasing exponentially as cited in Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Sixty-nine percent of Southeast Asian consumers prefer products made with fresh, natural and/or organic ingredients such as argan oil and detoxifying agents.2 Stepan Company has seen these trends around natural, safe, mild, sustainable, concentrated and easy-to-use solutions for the personal care market first-hand. As such, Stepan considers not just the form and performance of the products we manufacture, but also the origin of our raw materials, environmental impact of products after use, and the mildness and safety of our products. Stepan has developed a gentle,


exfoliating facial wash with charcoal that is based on our novel Structured Liquids Technology: a surfactant-based suspension system that can indulge the senses with fun textures, striking visual appeal, and a luxurious skin-feel. Unlike other suspension technologies, this innovative surfactant system is: l Free of synthetic polymers and microplastics


l Based on glyceryl caprylate/caprate, a 100% natural, vegetable-based emollient


l Flexible for the incorporation of almost any additive or ingredient


l Adaptable for clear or opaque formulations


l High yield stress and viscosity demonstrate stability in elevated temperatures, even up to 80°C


l Thixotropic (shear-thinning) behaviour The Structured Liquids Technology


relies on the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance PERSONAL CARE ASIA PACIFIC


(HLB) of the ingredients in the formulation. To achieve the suspension power, glyceryl caprylate/caprate interacts with the other surfactants in the formula to form multilamellar vesicles: liposome-like structures that provide substantial stability and yield stress, even in elevated temperatures. Stepan’s Gentle Exfoliating Facial Wash


with Charcoal formulation contains glyceryl caprylate/caprate, which also gives the skin a moisturised and hydrated feel; and sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate, a sulfate-free surfactant that rinses off well and easily; together with charcoal powder which is used to clarify the skin. This naturally derived cleanser is gentle and mild, and it also offers a perceived smoothness and hydration to the skin. (see Formulation 1)


Fuss-free skin care routines Asia is known for its busy and fast-paced lifestyles. For men, time and diligence are the two primary considerations when approaching skin care.3


skin care routine does not have to be complicated. Stepan has curated a fuss-free


formulation, The Modern Vintage Collection Shaving Soap, to care and protect the skin on a daily basis. Historic shaving soaps were just that — soap made from animal fats and an alkali. Soap is effective at cleansing but can remove natural skin lipids and disrupt the skin’s surface. This modernised shaving soap uses mild ingredients, sodium laureth sulfate, two moles of EO and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate that produce copious and rich lather but are significantly milder to the skin (see Formulation 2) For men seeking to


November 2020


Less is more. A good


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