SK-Influx Ceramide Complex 5 g

SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex: Reinforce Your Skin's Natural Barrier

Empower your cosmetic formulations with SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex, a cutting-edge active ingredient meticulously developed in Germany. This sophisticated blend of essential skin lipids, presenting as an opalescent, opaque liquid, is readily soluble in the aqueous phase, making it an effortless addition to a wide range of skincare products. With precise usage recommendations tailored to different skin types, SK-Influx is the ultimate solution for restoring, strengthening, and protecting the skin's vital barrier function.

Description and Key Features

SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex is a powerful, ready-to-use concentrate of skin-identical lipids, designed to replenish and fortify the skin's natural protective barrier. Its unique composition, as reflected in its INCI name (Ceramide 3; Ceramide 6 II; Ceramide 1; Phytosphingosine; Cholesterol; Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate; Carbomer; Xanthan Gum), mirrors the lipids naturally found in the stratum corneum. This synergistic blend of ceramides, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine is crucial for maintaining skin hydration, integrity, and resilience against environmental aggressors.

The complex's opalescent, opaque liquid form indicates its rich lipid content, while its water solubility ensures it disperses easily into water-based formulations without requiring complex processing. This makes it an incredibly user-friendly ingredient for formulators. By directly addressing deficiencies in the skin's lipid barrier, SK-Influx helps to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), improve skin elasticity, and calm irritation.

Versatile Applications and Usage Areas in Cosmetics

SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex is specifically engineered for high-performance cosmetic products that target barrier repair, hydration, and skin health. Its adaptability makes it ideal for a diverse array of formulations:

• Sensitive Skin Care Products:
  • Creams, lotions, and masks: Designed to soothe and strengthen compromised skin, these products benefit immensely from SK-Influx's barrier-restoring properties, reducing redness, itching, and discomfort often associated with sensitivity.
  • Toners for sensitive skin: A gentle way to deliver ceramides to the skin after cleansing, preparing it for subsequent treatments.
• Anti-Aging Cosmetics for Mature Skin:
  • Creams, serums, and masks: As skin ages, ceramide levels naturally decline, leading to dryness, dullness, and increased susceptibility to damage. SK-Influx helps to replenish these vital lipids, improving skin texture, firmness, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Products for Dry Skin:
  • Intensely hydrating creams and lotions: Crucial for severely dry skin, SK-Influx helps rebuild the skin's ability to retain moisture, alleviating flakiness, tightness, and discomfort.
  • Body butters and balms: Can be incorporated into rich formulas for widespread relief of dry body skin.
• Restorative and Protective Products:
  • Barrier repair creams: Essential for very dry or damaged skin, such as after aggressive treatments (e.g., peels, laser) or for conditions like eczema and psoriasis, where barrier function is severely compromised. High inclusion rates (up to 15%) are particularly effective here.
  • Protective creams: Forms a robust barrier against environmental stressors, pollutants, and harsh weather conditions, making it suitable for daily protective face and hand creams.
• Facial Cleansing Gels and Washes:
  • Gentle cleansing formulations: Incorporating SK-Influx into face washes helps to prevent stripping the skin of its natural lipids during cleansing, maintaining barrier integrity even during the washing process. This is particularly beneficial for dry and sensitive skin types.

Recommended Inclusion Rates:

• Normal Skin: 1.5 - 5%
• Dry Skin: 3 - 5%
• Aging Skin: 3 - 5%
• Very Dry Skin Recovery / Protective Products: 3 - 15%

SK-Influx is incorporated into emulsions at approximately 45°C. Its ability to be added to the aqueous phase simplifies formulation, ensuring a stable and effective final product. This advanced complex empowers formulators to create superior skincare products that actively restore and protect the skin's fundamental health.

Cosmetic Recipe: "Barrier Reset" Hydrating & Repairing Facial Cream

Create a nourishing and protective facial cream designed to replenish the skin's barrier and provide lasting hydration, featuring SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex.

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 heat-resistant beaker, combine distilled water, glycerin, and panthenol. Heat this phase to 75-80°C.
3. Prepare Phase B: In a separate heat-resistant beaker, combine jojoba oil, shea butter, emulsifying wax NF, and cetyl alcohol. Heat this phase to 75-80°C.
4. Emulsification: Once both phases reach 75-80°C, slowly pour Phase B into Phase A while continuously stirring with a stick blender or high-shear mixer. Blend for 2-3 minutes to form a stable emulsion.
5. Cool Down: Continue stirring occasionally as the emulsion cools. Once the temperature drops to around 45°C, begin adding Phase C ingredients.
6. Add Phase C Actives: Add the SK-Influx - Ceramide Complex, Allantoin, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E) to the cream. Stir well until all ingredients are fully incorporated and the cream is homogeneous.
7. Add Preservative & Adjust pH (Phase D): Once the cream has cooled further (below 40°C), add your chosen broad-spectrum preservative. Stir thoroughly. Check the pH of the cream using pH paper or a pH meter. Aim for a pH between 5.0 and 5.5 for optimal skin compatibility. If needed, add diluted lactic acid drop by drop, stirring well after each addition, until the desired pH is reached.
8. Final Transfer: Transfer the finished cream into clean, sterilized jars or airless pump bottles.

Recommendations for Application and Use:

• Incorporation: SK-Influx should always be added to the aqueous phase during the cool-down phase (around 45°C) of your formulation. This ensures its stability and optimal performance.
• pH Stability: The pH range of the final product should ideally be between 4.5 and 7.0 for optimal SK-Influx stability. Aim for the skin's natural pH (around 5.0-5.5) for facial products.
• Homogenization: Due to its opaque nature, ensure thorough mixing after adding SK-Influx to achieve a homogeneous product. A stick blender or homogenizer is recommended.
• Compatibility: SK-Influx is compatible with a wide range of cosmetic ingredients. However, as with any new formulation, always conduct a small-scale compatibility test before scaling up.
• Dosage: Adhere to the recommended inclusion rates based on the specific skin type your product targets (1.5-5% for normal/aging/dry skin, up to 15% for very dry/damaged skin).
• Storage: Store the finished product in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. The product itself (SK-Influx) should also be stored according to manufacturer guidelines, usually in a cool, dry place.