OILY SKIN - Complex for oily skin, 1 L

OILY SKIN Complex (ENNACOMPLEX 264): Your Ultimate Solution for Balanced Skin

Discover the transformative power of OILY SKIN Complex, also known as ENNACOMPLEX 264, a specialized active ingredient meticulously crafted in the United Kingdom. This potent liquid blend, ranging in color from dark yellow to dark brown, is water-soluble and designed to address the specific needs of oily and combination skin. With a flexible inclusion rate of 1-15%, it’s a powerful ally for formulators seeking to create truly effective and balancing skincare solutions.

Description and Key Features

OILY SKIN Complex (ENNACOMPLEX 264) by Ennagram is a synergistic blend of botanical extracts, each carefully selected for its proven efficacy in managing sebum production, refining pores, and promoting a clearer complexion. This liquid complex boasts excellent water solubility, ensuring seamless integration into a wide array of water-based formulations. Its natural dark yellow to dark brown hue may subtly influence the final product color, adding to its natural appeal.

The INCI list reveals the sophisticated composition of this complex: Extracts of Watercress, Burdock, Sage, Lemon, Ivy, and Soapwort. Each component contributes unique benefits:

• Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) Extract: Known for its purifying and detoxifying properties, it helps balance oil production and promotes a clearer complexion.
• Burdock (Arctium lappa) Extract: Traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and purifying actions, it helps soothe skin and control excess sebum.
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) Extract: Offers astringent and antiseptic qualities, helping to tone the skin, reduce shine, and minimize the appearance of pores.
• Lemon (Citrus limon) Extract: A natural source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and vitamin C, it contributes to gentle exfoliation, brightening, and pore refinement.
• Ivy (Hedera helix) Extract: Possesses astringent and toning properties, aiding in skin purification and improving overall texture.
• Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) Extract: Contains natural saponins, offering gentle cleansing properties without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

This powerful combination works holistically to address the root causes of oily skin concerns, making ENNACOMPLEX 264 an indispensable ingredient for targeted skincare solutions.

Versatile Applications and Usage Areas in Cosmetics

The comprehensive action of OILY SKIN Complex (ENNACOMPLEX 264) makes it exceptionally versatile for a wide range of cosmetic products aimed at oily, blemish-prone, and combination skin types:

• Facial Cleansers and Washes:
  • Enhance purifying gel cleansers, foaming washes, and micellar waters designed to effectively remove excess oil, dirt, and impurities without over-drying the skin. The soapwort extract provides gentle cleansing.
  • Ideal for daily facial washes that aim to control shine and prevent breakouts.
• Toners and Astringents:
  • Formulate balancing toners and pore-refining astringents that help to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, rebalance the skin's pH, and reduce excess oil after cleansing.
  • Perfect for mists and essences that provide a refreshing, mattifying finish.
• Serums and Spot Treatments:
  • Create targeted serums for oily and blemish-prone areas, delivering concentrated active ingredients to regulate sebum, soothe inflammation, and promote clearer skin.
  • Excellent for formulating rapid-action spot treatments that help to dry out blemishes and reduce redness.
• Moisturizers and Mattifying Creams:
  • Incorporate into lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers, lotions, and gel-creams designed to hydrate oily skin without contributing to shine or breakouts.
  • Ideal for mattifying day creams that provide long-lasting oil control and a smooth, shine-free complexion.
• Face Masks (Clay and Gel-Based):
  • Boost the efficacy of purifying clay masks or refreshing gel masks, helping to draw out impurities, absorb excess oil, and leave the skin feeling clean and balanced.
  • Excellent for weekly treatments to maintain skin clarity and minimize congestion.
• Body Care for Blemish-Prone Areas:
  • Extend its benefits to body washes or sprays for areas prone to breakouts, such as the back and chest, helping to clarify and balance the skin on the body.

The OILY SKIN Complex offers a sophisticated and effective solution for managing oily skin, providing formulators with a powerful tool to create innovative and results-driven products that deliver a healthier, more balanced complexion.

Cosmetic Recipe: "Pore Perfecting & Mattifying Gel-Serum"

Create a lightweight, fast-absorbing gel-serum designed to control oil, minimize pores, and leave the skin with a smooth, matte finish.

Instructions for Preparation:

1. Sanitization: Thoroughly sanitize all your equipment (beakers, stirring rods, containers) using isopropyl alcohol. Allow everything to air dry completely.
2. Prepare Phase A: In a clean beaker, measure out the distilled water. Sprinkle the Xanthan Gum slowly over the surface of the water while continuously stirring (preferably with a whisk or high-shear mixer) to prevent clumping. Continue stirring until the Xanthan Gum is fully hydrated and a smooth gel forms. This may take 15-30 minutes. Once the gel is formed, stir in the glycerin.
3. Incorporate Actives (Phase B): Add the OILY SKIN Complex (ENNACOMPLEX 264), Niacinamide, and Zinc PCA to the gel base. Stir thoroughly for several minutes until all active ingredients are completely dissolved and uniformly dispersed within the gel.
4. Add Preservative (Phase C): Add your chosen broad-spectrum preservative to the serum. Stir well for at least 2-3 minutes to ensure even distribution throughout the gel.
5. pH Adjustment: Check the pH of your serum. For facial products, a pH between 5.0 and 6.0 is generally ideal for skin compatibility and optimal ingredient performance. If needed, add a diluted solution of lactic acid drop by drop, stirring after each addition and rechecking the pH until the desired range is achieved.
6. Final Transfer: Carefully transfer the finished gel-serum into a clean, sterile airless pump bottle or a dropper bottle for easy and hygienic dispensing.

Recommendations for Use:

• Optimal Dosing: The recommended usage rate for OILY SKIN Complex is 1-15%. For a facial serum designed for daily use, 5% is a good starting point. You can adjust based on the desired strength and other active ingredients in your formulation.
• Incorporation: As OILY SKIN Complex is water-soluble and liquid, it's best added to the water phase or the cool-down phase of an emulsion, ensuring the temperature is below 40°C (104°F) if other heat-sensitive ingredients are present. In gel formulations, it can be added at room temperature.
• pH Stability: Always check the pH of your final product. The complex itself has a characteristic pH, and ensuring the final product's pH is within a skin-friendly range (typically 4.5-6.5) is crucial for efficacy and skin comfort.
• Layering: This serum can be applied to clean skin before a lightweight moisturizer. For very oily areas, it can be used as a targeted treatment.
• Storage: Store the finished product in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, to maintain ingredient stability and prolong shelf life.
• Sensory Evaluation: Always perform a small test batch to assess the final product's texture, clarity, and overall feel on the skin before scaling up production.
• Appearance: The natural color of the OILY SKIN Complex may impart a slight tint to your final product, especially in clear or very light formulations. This is normal and indicates the presence of the botanical extracts.