Bayer extends facilities and begins production of Baycusan

Bayer Material Science has extended its facilities in Dormagen, Germany, to bring the Baycusan range of waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUD) to market.

Designed to improve the feel and water-resistant quality of cosmetics, the products were originally presented to the beauty industry at in-cosmetics in 2008.

Bayer Material Science has since invested €2.3m in a new production line for the range and production of the ingredients is now underway.

Spokesperson Andrea Knebel-Kyriakidis told CosmeticsDesign.com that the company had spent the last year consulting with clients to adjust the products to their needs.

Interest in Baycusan 'considerable'

Dr Steffen Hofacker, head of cosmetics at Bayer Material Science, added: “The interest has been considerable. Now the business can really start to meet the needs of the market.”

Bayer Material Science has also been busy testing the Baycusan range, which is suitable for hair care, decorative cosmetics, sun care, and skin care products.

Both Baycusan C 1000 and BaycusanC1004 can be used in decorative cosmetics where their film forming ability helps maintain color intensity after exposure to water.

Applying black mascara to a piece of cotton fabric and then immersing it in water for 30 minutes, Bayer Material Science claimed that specimens with no polyurethane dispersion lost 22 percent of their color intensity while those containing Baycusan C 1000 and BaycusanC1004 lost only 8 percent and 5 percent respectively.

Provides water resistancy for sun care products

In sun care products, Baycusan C 1000 can also be added to provide water resistance and a pleasant skin feel.

Knebel-Kyriakidis said what separates the product out from its rivals is this good skin feel even at high SPF levels as well as its non-sticky and non-greasy properties.

Meanwhile, in hair care Baycusan C 1001 was developed for hairstyling products. In tests Bayer Material Science repeatedly pulled on strands of hair and let them spring back. The force needed to dent the hair declined with increasing repetitions but to a much lesser extent when Baycusan C 1001 was added.

The company said this shows how Baycusan C 1001 helps keep hairstyle shape, in spite of any mechanical influences.

Another of the products in the polyurethane dispersion range is Baycusan C 1005 which Bayer Material Science says has a variety of favourable properties when added to skin care and make-up products. In particular, the company claims its recent tests show it can absorb more oil than other frequently used powders and can therefore reduce the greasiness of the skin.

Bayer Material Science claims its research and development efforts will not slow down with the commercial launch of the Baycusan range. The company said it plans to invest 30 percent more in research projects and customer-related developments this year than it did in 2007.