Long-lasting cosmetics: What ingredients to select and why?

Today, everyone is super busy. In such a busy world, people want makeup that lasts all day without needing touch-ups. This is more than a passing trend – it's a growing demand. During the 2024-2032 forecast period, the global makeup market is expected to grow.

 

Increasing demand for long-lasting cosmetics

Continuous advancements in formulations, application methods, packaging, and cost, fuel consumer interest and product preference and encourage market expansion. The market is still expanding due to the use of advanced technologies including sustainability and long-lasting, high-performance formulae.¹ 

This rise shows how much consumers value long-lasting makeup that can keep up with their hectic lives. For cosmetic formulators, this shift is both a challenge and an exciting chance to create products that stay put from morning to night. Select long-lasting makeup ingredients on our platform!

The goal? To deliver long-lasting makeup that doesn't sacrifice quality or care for the skin. 

The worldwide makeup industry is projected to rise from $85.5 billion in 2023 to $131.2 billion by 2033 at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. Makeup products help enhance one's appearance. These products include lipsticks, mascaras, foundations, and eye shadows. The makeup market is driven by fashion, beauty, and personal care trends impacted by technology improvements and societal changes.² 

 

Market size of makeup²

The makeup market is expanding rapidly due to changing consumer tastes and new product developments. 
 

1. The market is headed by the facial makeup category, especially foundation and concealer, driven by the desire for beautiful skin.
2. Products like mascara and eyeliner cater to consumers' desire for expressive looks. The make-up is the second-highest performing subsegment of the eye makeup market.
3. Significant progress is also seen in lip cosmetics, such as glosses and lipsticks, which signal a return to vivid color trends.²
4. The makeup products contributing to this market are powders, liquids, creams, sticks, gels, and loose and pressed products.

Technologies being used to create these products are waterproof technology, organic compounds, long-lasting formulations, and cruelty-free technology. The final consumers who use these makeup products are professional beauticians, salons, individual buyers, and the film and theatre sector.² 

Consumption of makeup is increasing as the middle class grows, especially in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Because of increasing spending power, shifting lifestyles, and growing knowledge of beauty trends, nations like China, India, and Brazil are emerging as important markets.³ 

Innovation in products is essential for pushing market expansion. Long-lasting makeup, moisturizing foundations, matte lipsticks, and non-comedogenic products are among the new formulations in high demand.³ 


 

Key performance expectations from consumers

Consumers expect long-lasting cosmetics to maintain their appearance throughout the day without the need for frequent touch-ups.
 

1. Durability is crucial for individuals seeking makeup that withstands daily activities and environmental factors.
2. Comfort is equally important; products should feel lightweight and non-irritating, ensuring they can be worn for extended periods without discomfort.
3. Additionally, consumers desire cosmetics that retain their initial appearance – color, texture, and finish – over time, ensuring a fresh and polished look from application to removal. Meeting these expectations is essential for product acceptance and consumer satisfaction in the competitive cosmetics market.

Customers seek out makeup that is colorful, blendable, long-lasting, and simple to apply. They also adhere to current fashions, including glowing, natural, or vibrant makeup.⁴

 

Factors influencing the consumer's choice of a makeup product

According to Clootrack's customer experience tracker that evaluates millions of consumer conversations when choosing or rejecting a makeup product, consumers are influenced by five main factors - color, ease of use, design and looks, customer experience, and effect longevity.⁵

 

Factors influencing a consumer's choice to accept or reject a makeup product⁵

One of the preferences of all cosmetics enthusiasts is long-lasting. When makeup smudges or fades when traveling, perspiring, or even drinking water, the customer experience suffers. 80.77% of consumers expressed pleasure with the long-lasting makeup items, according to Clootrack's consumer insights.⁵

Which consumer benefit are you looking for? Select from our Master Catalog of long-lasting cosmetic ingredients, request samples, and download technical data with ease!
 

Importance of selecting the right materials for innovative formulations

Selecting the right materials to formulate long-lasting cosmetic formulations is vital. Ingredients used within cosmetics should meet consumer expectations like achieving durability, comfort, and appearance retention. 
 

1. Film-forming agents create a resilient barrier that enhances product longevity.^6,7
2. Silicones ensure smooth application, long-lasting qualities, and non-greasy textures.^6,7
3. Emollients create a coating on the outermost layer of your skin, draw water to it, and stop it from drying out. They can improve the comfort of your skin.⁸
4. Antioxidants and moisturizers contribute to product functionality, offering added skincare benefits.

Leveraging cutting-edge materials enables formulators to strike a balance between efficacy and user experience. 

The choice of ingredients is one of the most important aspects of the cosmetic formulation process. The quality and efficacy of the finished product are greatly influenced by the selection of ingredients. Each ingredient's unique qualities, advantages, compatibility, and stability within the formulation must all be taken into account.⁹ 

Formulators use a set of guiding principles and methodologies while creating cosmetic products. This is done to guarantee the development of safe and efficient formulations. These guidelines take into account several variables including: 
 

• viscosity,
• shelf life,
• emulsion stability, and
• pH balance

Cosmetic formulation is also heavily influenced by industry standards and regulations. These standards guarantee both product safety and adherence to legal requirements. Formulators follow these standards when they observe limitations regarding ingredients, labeling specifications, and production procedures.⁹ 

Every ingredient used in cosmetic formulations is put through a rigorous testing process. This is done to guarantee an ingredient's purity, stability, and compatibility. To remove any impurities that could lower the final product's quality, this process is crucial. 

Formulators now have access to advanced methods that improve product performance. Thanks to technological breakthroughs like emulsion stabilization, nanotechnology, and microencapsulation. These methods enhance the stability, effectiveness, and sensory qualities of cosmetic formulations.⁹
 

The growing demand from consumers for long-lasting beauty products, improvements in cosmetic formulations, and the growing use of waterproof cosmetics across a range of demographics have all contributed to the waterproof cosmetic market's recent strong growth. The term "waterproof cosmetics" refers to a variety of items like eyeliners, lipsticks, mascaras, and foundations that are made to be long-lasting and water-resistant.¹⁰ Waterproof mascaras and waterproof eyeliners are much in demand these days.

The market for waterproof makeup is largely driven by consumers' growing desire for long-lasting and robust cosmetics. Because modern lifestyles frequently involve long hours and exposure to a variety of environmental conditions, consumers are looking for cosmetics that don't need to be reapplied frequently.¹⁰

 

By providing products that hold up despite activities like swimming, working out, and weathering humid weather, waterproof cosmetics meet this requirement. People who live in areas with high humidity and are active are especially fond of this trend. New developments in film-forming agents and encapsulating technologies have led to products with increased lifespan and water resistance. These developments guarantee that waterproof cosmetics operate well while remaining comfortable and simple to use, drawing in a larger customer base.¹⁰

Customers who participate in sports, swimming, and beach trips need makeup that is resistant to sweating and water. The required durability is provided by waterproof cosmetics, which guarantee that makeup stays perfect even after vigorous physical activity. The market's growth is aided by the rising interest in outside activities and active lifestyles.¹⁰

Select waterproof ingredients used in decorative cosmetics on our platform. 
 

Materials that repel water and prevent product breakdown

Hydrophobic polymers

Polymers that are hydrophobic, or water-resistant, are substances that do not dissolve in polar solvents like water. Examples include¹¹:
 

These polymers encourage a hydrophobic layer to form on the application site. Water-resistant cosmetics, including blush and foundation, are typically designed to be applied to the skin where the adherence cannot be very intense to permit sweating. In the case of lipsticks, the presence of polymers enables the product to stay affixed to the skin for a greater number of hours, even when water is present. This shows that long-lasting products have an intermediate performance.¹²

Hydrophobic polymers can be used in eyeliners, mascaras, and foundations as they allow these products to be affixed to the skin for a long time and prevent frequent re-application, thus being helpful in long-wear makeup. 


 

Silicones

A highly desired quality for many surfaces is water repellency. It shields them from moisture, stains, and possible harm from exposure to water. Silicone water repellent has become very popular among the many water-repellent products on the market. This is because of its remarkable performance and adaptability. By utilizing silicone's special qualities, these products produce an extremely strong barrier that prevents water entry.¹³

The synthetic polymer that makes up silicone is made up of silicon and oxygen atoms, with organic groups (usually methyl groups, or -CH₃) joined to the silicon atoms. Due to its distinct chemical structure, silicone has a number of advantageous qualities such as: 
 

• low surface tension,
• chemical inertness, and
• thermal stability

One of the main factors contributing to silicone's capacity to repel water is its low surface tension.¹³

The solid surface that comes into contact with water will attract water molecules, which will spread and wet the surface if the solid surface's surface tension is less than that of water. Water molecules will be repelled if the solid surface's surface tension is greater than that of water, producing a hydrophobic or water-repellent effect.¹³

When compared to most other materials, silicone has a surface tension that is remarkably low—lower than that of water. The silicone molecules create a thin, continuous layer that sticks to the substrate using a variety of forces when a silicone water-repellent is applied to a surface. Water can bead up and roll off more easily. This is because this film forms a barrier between the water and the underlying surface, preventing water penetration.¹³

Outstanding film-forming, hydrophobic, and moisturizing qualities make silicone long-lasting, wash-resistant. They are ideal for eye makeup, lip gloss, non-stick lipstick, foundation, and other formulations. The final product's color consistency, system stability, difficulty of color fading, and lack of skin irritation are all benefits of silicone.¹⁴


 

Strategies to balance waterproof properties with easy removability

 Their special combination of ingredients is what sets waterproof cosmetics apart from conventional ones. Some frequently combined ingredients in waterproof formulas include:
 

• Waxes
• Silicones, and
• Film-forming agents

They provide a strong barrier against perspiration, water, and tears. Because of these ingredients, the mascara can stay on the lashes for a long time, even in difficult situations.¹⁵

Waxes like carnauba wax, beeswax, or synthetic wax increase the toughness of waterproof mascaras. Tear-prone occasions, like weddings or emotional get-togethers, call for makeup that lasts without streaking. The usage of waterproof mascara is also justified by sports, humid environments, and situations involving water, like swimming. The waterproof characteristics make it difficult for such long-lasting makeup to be removed easily.

In order to remove waterproof formulas without damaging lashes, specific eye makeup removers are usually needed. These removers are usually oil-based. The creation of waterproof mascaras that are easy to remove represents a breakthrough in cosmetic chemistry. Here, the goal is to make products that work well without making removal more difficult.¹⁵

Conventional waterproof formulations usually have a high concentration of oils and waxes, which create a long-lasting barrier against moisture. Although these compounds work well for resistance, they can make it harder to remove mascara without the use of strong agents. Easy-to-remove waterproof mascaras, on the other hand, use a carefully balanced combination of milder waxes and emollients. This guarantees that they stay effective all day long in addition to making removal easier.¹⁵

Formulators may now make mascaras that are both soft on the skin and waterproof, able to tolerate tears and wetness. Innovative polymer technologies can provide remarkable lash adherence while dissolving readily in the presence of particular solvents. These mascaras can withstand a variety of situations while dissolving easily when it's time to take them off thanks to the development of flexible film-forming substances.¹⁵

Additionally, manufacturers are adding more and more skin-friendly components to these formulas. They enhance the application experience and enable a friendlier removal procedure by utilizing the qualities of natural oils and plant extracts. Eventually, the science behind waterproof mascaras that are easy to remove strikes a careful balance between the need for makeup that lasts for a long time and the need for gentle cleansing products, appealing to customers who value both convenience and performance.¹⁵
 

Having looked at how makeup resists water, the next big factor is managing oil and shine so your look stays fresh throughout the day.