One of the primary ingredients among Dow’s sun care portfolio is the new waterbased synthetic film-former, Epitex™ 99 Polymer. The new film polymer is a hybrid mixture of silicone and organic acrylates that gives formulators maximum process flexibility while enabling the high product performance in delivering high SPF and long-lasting wear that consumers expect in Asia. 

Epitex 99 Polymer appears as a white liquid emulsion, and has a maximum 10% recommended use level. This water-based film-former is designed to deliver the longlasting wear performance of traditional silicone acrylate technology while being a more affordable silicone solution for mass market products. The polymer enables excellent sensorial properties that are ideal for skin and sun care products, exhibiting low tackiness, high smoothness and high slipperiness after absorption. Its tactile property is soft, but not brittle, and the polymer presents very high wash-off resistance. 

The hybrid film-former performed as well as a benchmark in testing, while also exhibiting high water repellency, high sebum repellency and high film flexibility. The water-based film-former forms a continuous film for excellent wash-off and rub-off resistance. Its film flexibility provides wearing comfort and is aesthetically pleasing for consumers, and the longlasting benefits offer a rewarding skin care experience that protects skin from the sun’s harmful rays. 

In addition to its many end-user benefits, the ingredient also boasts a number of advantages for formulators. As a water-based film-former, it allows for greater formulation and manufacturing process flexibility because of its ability to achieve optimal performance in pure film, water-in-oil and oil-in-water formulations. The polymer is also readily compatible with common cosmetic ingredients, which means formulators can bring the sensory benefits that consumers desire into their sun care, skin care and even cosmetic products like alphabet creams.