*3.5.1 PEG free nanoemulsions and emulsion based wet wipes*

The recent trends are shifting towards highly effective safer and natural cosmetic products. Cosmetic manufacturers are developing new methods to prepare nano versions of formulations for better permeability, effectiveness and increased customer satisfaction. This new technology is based on manufacturing low viscosity oil in water nanoemulsions which are free of synthetic chemicals like PEG. The phase inversion method of fabricating nanoemulsions leads to an important application in the cosmetic industry -formulating lotions to be impregnated in wet wipes. These are primarily used for make-up removal and wet wipes [11].

Industries are working on developing low energy methods coupled with low input homogenizers and absence of PEG, energy input for heating/cooling steps to formulate natural products [11]. The main constituents of this formulation are PEG free emulsifiers, cosmetic oils in high amounts and co-surfactants. When water is added to such a liquid and clear oil phase, a temporary micro-emulsion is formed which is then converted to stable, low-viscosity nanoemulsion. This low viscous phase is beneficial as it helps in converting the emulsion from water in oil to oil in water nanoemulsion. This step being dependent on water concentration is termed as phase inversion concentration which occurs by elimination of the co-surfactant into water. Some of these products developed are TEGO Wipe DE and TEGO Wipe DE PF which are based on nanoemulsions impregnated in wet-wipes and also used for lotions and sprays [41, 42].

*Nanoemulsions - Properties, Fabrications and Applications*

• Improve stability of food ingredients.

• Reduce Evaporation of food aroma.

• Decrease air-induced food degradation.

when consumed in adequate amounts) (**Figure 7**).

Another important application of this technique that is worth mentioning is in probiotics [38]. (Probiotics are the microorganisms that provide health benefits

Biologically active lipids such as omega-3 fatty acids can be encapsulated by nano-emulsions from food grade ingredients. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has a protective effect against cancer, cardiac death, sudden death, cognitive aging, asthma, inflammation and myocardial infarction [38]. *α*-Linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fatty acid, is one of two essential fatty acids together with linoleic acid. ALA is necessary for health and cannot be synthesized within the human body [38].

**What are cosmetics?** *'Personal Care Products' or 'Beauty Products' such as skin creams, lotions, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and face make-up products, hair dyes and deodorants which are used by people to cleanse or change the look of the face or body are cosmetics. They do not alter the body's structure and function. Cosmetics* 

Nanoemulsions are potential vehicles for optimum dispersion of active ingredients and their controlled delivery in particular skin layers. Their lipophilic interior makes them more suitable for the transport of lipophilic substances when

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**Figure 7.**

**3.5 Nanoemulsions in cosmetics**

*are superficial and can also be therapeutic.*

*Applications of nano-emulsion based delivery systems in food industry [38].*
