Oat Cosmetics selects Charkit Chemicals for North America distribution

UK-based Oat Cosmetics has selected specialty ingredients company Charkit Chemicals to distribute its Collodial Oatmeal and Oat Oil ingredients in North America.

Oat Oil and Collodial Oatmeal ingredients, made from freshly harvested oats, are used in the preparation of skin care and cosmetic products.

Collodial Oatmeal, an Ecocert and Cosmos certified natural and organic ingredient, is rich in essential fatty acids, phospholipids and tocopherols, claims the company.

The ingredient, which is said to be rich in saponins that have UV-B protectant properties and temperature-independent, soothes, cleanses, buffers, moisturises and protects.

Oats Cosmetics UK and worldwide operations managing director Cark Maunsell was quoted by cosmeticsdesign.com as saying that even though Collodial Oatmeal was recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2001, technological advancements by the firm have improved the scope for the ingredient.

"Through the extrusion technology that we developed in collaboration with our partner, Polar glucan Oy, we were able to improve standard colloidal oatmeal and achieve high microbial purity without the need for irradiation," Maunsell said.

"This modification drives new opportunities in the development of natural skin and cosmetic products and overcomes safety, sustainability and traceability issues."

Charkit executive vice president Jay Lang told the website that the company agreed to distribute Oat Cosmetics ingredient because of its ability to form colloids by altering interfacial tension and microbial load reduction.

"Oat Cosmetics’ oat oil allows formulators to reduce the amount of other emulsifiers they may be using. It provides rapid emulsification of water-in-oil emulsions through its polar lipids. Its low viscosity and good stability are another plus," Lang added.