LAUSR

Abstract In recent years, the use of Pickering emulsions in topical formulation has received growing interest from academics to cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Compared to regular emulsions stabilized with synthetic low molecular weight surfactants, Pickering emulsions avoid the use of hazardous surfactants and show improved stability, making them as new targeting systems in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. However, most of the studies on Pickering emulsions were performed with non-biocompatible model oils such as toluene, n-dodecane or hexadecane. For a cosmetic or pharmaceutical application, the change for a biocompatible oil is necessary, but this often induces dramatic changes or modifications in the emulsion stability. Therefore, in this work, we try to fill the gap by applying the discovered rules drew from previous reported model studies to the Pickering systems of industrial cosmetic ingredients. In particular, we investigate the stability in Pickering emulsions produced from biocompatible oils including, silicone and ester-based oils that are commonly used in personal care products. Our result shows that the resultant emulsions preparation with biocompatible oils and stabilized with commercial fumed silica particles follow a rule that derived from our model study. Wettability of particles are discussed to predict the emulsion type and their stability during storage. The findings in this study will provide a practical guide to researchers to better understand the emulsion properties produced from commercial cosmetic ingredients and advance their possible industrial applications.