58 COLOUR COSMETICS
Figure 5: Brow cream comparison without (left) and with (right) microfibrillated cellulose
Bronzer bouncy formulation The effect of microfibrillated cellulose on pigment dispersion was further evaluated in a bouncy bronzer formulation. Compared to the placebo, the formulation containing 5% microfibrillated cellulose exhibited a markedly more homogeneous surface appearance, indicating a more uniform distribution of both colour and pearlescent pigments throughout the formulation. In contrast, the placebo showed visible pigment inhomogeneities, suggesting incomplete pigment dispersion. The improved pigment distribution was further
reflected during application. The formulation containing microfibrillated cellulose provided enhanced colour payoff and more uniform colour development on the skin, whereas the placebo produced less homogeneous colour deposition. These observations are consistent with the described ability of the three-dimensional fibrillar network to promote pigment separation, minimize pigment agglomeration, and maintain a homogeneous pigment distribution within the formulation. As a result, the pigments are transferred more uniformly during application, leading to improved colour intensity and a more even visual appearance.
Colour booster performance across personal care applications The colour-boosting performance of microfibrillated cellulose can be employed across a wide range of personal care applications to enhance the visual appearance of formulations through improved pigment distribution and optical properties.
Skin care In skin care emulsions, the material creates a brighter and more luminous appearance while improving coverage and gloss, resulting in a more uniform visual appearance.
Sun care In sun care formulations, the material improves coverage and enhances the dispersion of UV filters, contributing to a brighter, more radiant finish.
Colour cosmetics In colour cosmetic formulations, improved
PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE October 2026
pigment dispersion promotes enhanced colour development, greater coverage, and a glossy, vivid, and more intense colour appearance. Typical applications include lipsticks, tinted creams, foundations, and eye make-up. These results indicate the potential of
microfibrillated cellulose to enhance the visual appearance of formulations beyond decorative cosmetics, supporting its versatility as a multifunctional ingredient in personal care applications.
Conclusion The results demonstrate that microfibrillated cellulose improves pigment dispersion and dispersion stability in cosmetic formulations with its interconnected three-dimensional fibrillar network. This network restricts pigment mobility, reduces sedimentation, and minimizes pigment agglomeration, thereby maintaining a homogeneous pigment distribution within the formulation. The accelerated sedimentation study provides
experimental evidence for this stabilization mechanism. Increasing microfibrillated cellulose concentration resulted in progressively higher resistance to particle sedimentation under centrifugal force, while the stabilization performance remained largely independent of pigment concentration within the investigated range. Visual observations further indicated that the
pigment particles remained embedded within the fibrillar matrix during centrifugation, supporting the proposed mechanism of physical entrapment within the cellulose network. The formulation studies demonstrated that the
improved dispersion stability is reflected in the optical performance of finished cosmetic products. In lipstick, brow cream, and bronzer formulations, incorporating microfibrillated cellulose resulted in more homogeneous pigment distribution, increased colour intensity, improved colour uniformity, and enhanced colour payoff compared with the corresponding placebo formulations. These observations are consistent with the
proposed relationship between homogeneous pigment distribution and improved optical performance. Collectively, the experimental and formulation
Figure 6: Bulk bronzer bouncy formulations without (top) and with (bottom) microfibrillated cellulose
Figure 7: Bronzer bouncy comparison without (left) and with (right) microfibrillated cellulose
results indicate that microfibrillated cellulose can improve colour performance across a range of personal care applications containing inorganic pigments or mineral particles, including colour cosmetics, skin care, and sun care formulations. In addition to its technical functionality,
the material is derived from renewable wood cellulose and is produced through a purely mechanical process, providing a naturally derived alternative for pigment stabilization in cosmetic formulations.
Reference 1. Precedence Research. Natural and Organic Cosmetics Market Size, Share and Trends 2025–2034. Ottawa: Precedence Research. 2025.
https://www.precedenceresearch.com/ natural-and-organic-cosmetics-market
www.personalcaremagazine.com
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