Textiles are essential to human existence since they are utilized as bed linens at night and as clothing during the day. Many contemporary textiles on the market assert to have multiple cosmetic advantages, including moisturizing, slimming, energizing, refreshing, calming or vitalizing properties despite their primary purpose being protection, warmth and support. These fabrics are referred to as cosmetotextiles as they have cosmetic qualities.
Cosmetotextiles are coated with a material that comprises solid microcapsules, each of which holds a certain amount of a cosmetic ingredient. These compounds are intended for direct application to the human body. Usually, when the textile comes into touch with the body, friction or pressure will cause the release mechanism in these microcapsules to activate. As a result, the cosmetic qualities are released from the capsules. Those who might find it difficult to use conventional cosmetics have an option in these inventive textiles.
The Cosmetotextiles History
Traditionally, Ayurvastra, a holistic health philosophy, has been applied to textiles. This entailed treating illnesses and promoting health by utilizing organic cotton infused with certain herbs and oils. There has been a resurgence of interest in textiles intended to maintain cleanliness during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes bed linens that release essential oils, curtains that repel insects, textiles with antibacterial qualities, and materials that release scents through active molecules. With their hydrophilic nano-cavity and hydrophobic inner wall, these particles’ nano-helical shape enables them to store a variety of active chemicals that serve a variety of purposes.
Practical Impacts
Although cosmetotextiles were not very resistant to washing in the past, technological advancements are making them more durable with repeated washings. Innovative fixing techniques and novel chemical substances are under development. Once the fibers are exhausted, these technologies allow them to be refilled with particles and active chemicals. Reloading entails adding a single dosage of the active ingredient or spraying it on during the last washing phase. Cosmetotextiles can provide a range of advantageous outcomes:
Elasticity and Firmness of Skin: These textiles produce natural compounds that help calm the skin, enhancing its elasticity and firmness. One such product is Padina Pavonica, which is made from the protective layer of brown algae that is prevalent in the Mediterranean Sea and is said to improve these characteristics of the skin.
Body Slimming: Around the world, both sexes aspire to have a trim physique. Wearing compression clothing can help you stay slender, protect your muscles from injury, and keep them functioning. These clothing items produce an aesthetically pleasing impact and improve the look of muscles by speeding up blood flow in the veins.
Skin Moisturizer: A key lipid component found in olive oil and other sources, squalane forms a protective layer over the skin to retain moisture and keep it supple and silky. Qualane also lessens wrinkles and fine lines because of its capacity to create hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Approved for quick-drying sports or outdoor clothing, textiles impregnated with squalane can transfer moisture in a regulated manner, and the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) can improve moisture absorption through photocatalytic processes.
Refreshing and Relaxing: The feeling of coolness in the summertime promotes both of these emotions. This can be accomplished by expanding the area of contact between the skin and highly moisture-transmitting fibrous surfaces or by using phase change materials in microcapsules. One such commercially available cosmetotextile is Skintex Supercool, which has a seamless micro-denier polyamide/elastane construction to improve body contact.
Revitalising: This category includes textiles that gradually emit invigorating scents derived from plant and fruit-based substances such as ginger, menthol, citrus, and rosemary. These textiles are perfect for bathrobes and other related goods since these components are usually incorporated utilizing microencapsulation processes.
Perfuming: Odor-absorbing and scent-releasing cosmetic textiles are made specifically for the purpose of perfuming. For their perfuming properties, ingredients including chitosan, acetyl-glucosamine, D-glucosamide, and a variety of essential oils like clove, jasmine, lavender, hyssop, sandalwood, rose, and frankincense are utilized.
UV Protection: Extended exposure to UV radiation can result in sunburn, allergies, early aging of the skin, and even skin cancer. UV protection in textiles is usually dependent on fabric density, stretchability, and weave type. These textiles have an increased UV protection factor (UPF) thanks to additions like carbon black, TiO2, and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles.
Manufacturing
Several techniques are used in the production of cosmetotextiles to incorporate cosmetic ingredients3 into textiles:
- Adding Additives to Fibre: Active agents are mixed into the material that is used to create fibers throughout the production process. Dope preparation is the term for this step that takes place prior to the fibers being extruded. Fibers with intrinsic qualities like conductivity, UV absorption, and de-clustering may be made with additives including carbon nanotubes, Zn nanoparticles, and TiO2.
- Chemical Component Grafting: To achieve desired cosmetic effects, materials like cyclodextrin (CD) are chemically linked to the surfaces of fibers, yarns, and textiles. Substances such as iodine, vanillin, and benzoic acid can be added to the CD-grafted fabric after successful grafting.
- Coating on Textile: To improve comfort and health, a variety of materials can be applied to textiles, including bed linens. Essential oils, antimicrobials, dust-repellent substances, and mite treatments are a few examples of possible coating ingredients.
- Microencapsulation Technique: By reducing their rate of oxidation and evaporation, the microencapsulation technology prolongs the shelf life of both volatile and non-volatile cosmetic chemicals. There are two main ways to attach microcapsules containing these substances to the textile substrate: the exhaust approach, which requires exact control over pH and temperature, or covalent grafting using a skin-friendly binder.
Security
- Carrying out a toxicological evaluation of the binders, capsules, and cosmetic recipe.
- Doing clinical research, which includes evaluating the product’s potential for irritancy (using patch testing).
- Doing dermatological research to find any residues that may be harmful if absorbed via the skin.
Effectiveness
- Monitoring the cosmetic product’s concentration following a certain number of care cycles in order to assess care resistance.
- Guaranteeing adherence to the Good Manufacturing Practices Regulation for Cosmetics.
Evaluation of the Skin
- Figuring out a compound’s Effective Dose (ED50) and how well it blocks radicals in the skin layer.
- Evaluating skin permeability using techniques for both in vivo and in vitro percutaneous absorption.
- Assessing the stratum corneum (SC), dermis, and epidermis for their antioxidant and antiradical properties.
Prospective Range
The role that textiles will play in supporting holistic wellness is a quickly developing trend. Fashioning skincare through clothing is only one of the creative uses made possible by intelligent and smart technologies that incorporate cosmetics into textiles. In the future, wellness finishes are anticipated to be vital in creating value-added goods that can differentiate themselves in a cutthroat, barrier-free market where consumer demands are always rising. The rapidly expanding cosmetotextile business is a result of industry cooperation to address the need for natural and eco-friendly materials for well-being throughout the world. Even if it’s a limited industry right now, the creation of new applications may create big prospects for the clothing and home furnishings industries.
