As environmental regulations continue to significantly impact cosmetic products’ packaging and formulation, it’s only a matter of time before traditional aerosol technology is abandoned entirely. For this reason, finding a long-term replacement for the existing aerosol components is of utmost importance. That’s where the Solstice technology comes into play.
This groundbreaking technology delivers sustainable solutions that comply with global environmental regulations without compromising the quality and performance of the end products. While the Solstice line includes several innovative solutions, aerosol-based cosmetic products will primarily benefit from the Solstice Propellant and Solstice Enhance.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Solstice aerosol technology and how it is making a difference.
What Is the Solstice Propellant?
Solstice Propellant is a climate-friendly alternative to traditional aerosol propellants. As a low global warming potential (GWP) gas, it offers a sustainable future for aerosol-based products in the cosmetic and cosmeceutical industries. Using this innovative propellant requires minimal changes to the product formulation yet provides significant benefits.
What Are the Benefits of the Solstice Propellant?
Solstice Propellant has proven to be a worthy replacement for the high-GWP gases traditionally used for this role. Thanks to its many exceptional benefits, it’s already used globally as an integral part of many award-winning products.
Environmental Impact
The detrimental effect of traditional aerosol propellants is a primary reason why manufacturers are phasing out these gases. For this reason, the environmental impact reduction of the Solstice Propellant is at the forefront of the product’s benefits.
Solstice Propellant consistently stays ahead of the changing requirements for aerosol-based products thanks to the manufacturer’s Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology. This pioneering advancement allows the propellant to be ultra-low GWP. To put it into perspective, Solstice Propellant has a GWP of less than one, while the GWP for traditional aerosol gases can be in thousands or tens of thousands.
In addition, this Solstice solution meets the necessary volatile organic compound (VOC) targets, making the propellant non-ozone depleting. Due to the disastrous environmental effect of these chemicals, the acceptable VOC levels in aerosol products keep decreasing. As a solution, Solstice Propellant partly relies on water to reduce the VOC content in its formulation.
Safety Performance
Unlike most traditional aerosol gases, the Solstice Propellant is non-flammable. In fact, it’s currently the only non-flammable, ultra-low GWP liquefied gas propellant available on the market. As such, it’s much safer to use and can help reduce the product formulation’s flammability.
Moreover, this propellant exhibits a very low level of toxicity.
Product Performance
Solstice Propellant provides medium pressure, thus allowing cosmetic products to have an even and consistent spray with minimal overspray. Furthermore, products using it can be sprayed in small-sized droplets, allowing quick dry time.
It’s also worth mentioning that this propellant enhances the solubility of viscous formulations. As a result, it always produces a creamy and easy-to-spread end product.
Formulation Versatility
Solstice Propellant can be combined with Solstice Enhance to create novel products with exceptional formulating flexibility. In addition, this gas can also be mixed with other commonly used propellants, such as fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, and dimethyl ether. Finally, it performs well in formulations using zinc oxide and other inorganic compounds.
Packaging Flexibility
This innovative propellant is compatible with various packaging designs, maximizing its flexibility. Solstice Propellant is the only liquefied propellant useable in plastic aerosol bottles. This impressive feat stems from its non-flammable quality and moderate vapor pressure.
Additionally, this gas is compatible with:
- Common types of aerosol cans, such as PAM or epoxy-lined aluminum cans
- Aerosol valves from different grades of butyl rubber, buna, and neoprene
- Bag-on-valve four-layer laminated pouches
What Are the Applications of the Solstice Propellant?
Thanks to its versatility regarding formulation and packaging, Solstice Propellant is a preferred choice for a wide range of personal care products, including:
- Hair sprays
- Sunscreen
- Dry shampoos
- Body oils
- Barrier creams
Simply put, this flexible gas will work with most aerosol-based face, body, sun care, and hair products.
What Is Solstice Enhance?
Solstice Enhance is a breakthrough solvent and carrier fluid that helps create novel formulations for various cosmetic, cosmeceuticals, and personal care products. Since consumers constantly demand new textures, this innovative solution will allow you to stay on top of all the emerging trends. When combined with the Solstice Propellant, this carrier fluid offers superior dispersion of solid aerosol-based products.
What Are the Benefits of the Solstice Enhance?
This unique solvent and carrier fluid provides many production and distribution benefits, making it the go-to choice for developing innovative product formulations.
Environmental Impact
Solstice Enhance is manufactured using the same HFO technology as Solistice Propellant, making it much more environmentally friendly than similar fluids. With a GWP of less than one, Solstice Enhance can be the perfect replacement for harmful ingredients, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), cyclic silicones, and alcohol.
By combining this solvent with the propellant from the same line, you can ensure your products always stay ahead of the changing environmental regulations.
Safety Performance
Solstice Enhance is a non-flammable solvent that can effectively replace flammable ingredients traditionally used for this role.
Formulation Flexibility
This advanced carrier fluid can be mixed with other solvents, including:
- Hydrocarbon solvents
- Halogenated solvents
- Ketones
- Alcohols
Moreover, it can be combined with the most commonly used propellants.
Solstice Enhance can also solubilize a wide array of ingredients, such as:
- Sunscreen ingredients
- Triglycerides
- Ethers
- Esters
- Silicones
- Liquid fatty acids
Thanks to these features, Solstice Enhance allows excellent product spreadability, especially when combined with the propellant from the same line.
Materials Compatibility
When it comes to packaging, Solstice Enhance is compatible with a variety of commonly used materials, including:
- Typical aerosol packaging materials, such as lined and tinplate cans
- Aerosol valves from different grades of butyl rubber and buna-nitrile
- Bag-on-valve four-layer laminated pouches
- Typical plastics and elastomers
Marketability
Products formulated with the Solstice Enhance solvent offer several excellent marketing avenues. Here are some qualities that you can emphasize when marketing these products:
- The product absorbs heat from the skin, providing a cooling and refreshing skin sensation.
- The product is fast-drying.
- The product allows optimal spreadability, even on rough, uneven, or wrinkled skin.
This carrier fluid also creates visually-appealing foaming action in complementary products, convincing any customer to trust your product and formulation.
What Are the Applications of the Solstice Enhance?
The Solstice Enhance carrier fluid is ideal for body, face, and sun care products. Thanks to its non-irritating, fast-drying, and instant-cooling properties, it offers many exciting possibilities for developing unique formulations for products such as:
- Cooling gels
- Misting sprays
- Self-foaming face and body cleansers
Propelling Aerosol Products to a Sustainable Future
The ingenious and clean Solstice technology is undoubtedly the future of aerosol-based products. It delivers revolutionary solutions that are better for the environment while creating new opportunities for innovations in product design.
Now that you’re familiar with the many benefits and applications of the Solstice Propellant and Enhance solutions, you can determine whether they’re the right fit for your products.
If you’re interested in learning more about innovating spray applications for sunscreen, skincare, OTC products, and more contact us today to see how we can adapt our tested formulations for your brand.
