Description

Saccharum Officinarum Leaf/Stem Powder. Powder obtained from the leaves and stems of the sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum), a member of the Poaceae family, used in cosmetics for its natural properties.

Composition and Chemical Structure:

Cellulose: Provides structure and texture, contributing to the powder's physical properties.
Carbohydrates: Includes polysaccharides that offer hydration and skin benefits.
Organic Acids: Contains acids like glycolic acid, known for its exfoliating properties.
Minerals: Provides minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron, beneficial for skin health.
Vitamins: Contains trace amounts of vitamins like B vitamins and vitamin C, which support skin vitality.
Antioxidants: Contains natural antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and protect the skin.

Physical Properties:

Appearance: Fine, dry powder with a light brown to beige color.
Color: Light brown to beige, depending on the processing and source.
Solubility: Not soluble in water; typically used as a physical exfoliant or additive in formulations.

Production Process:

Harvesting: Sugarcane is grown and harvested when the leaves and stems are mature.
Cleaning: Leaves and stems are cleaned to remove any debris or impurities.
Drying: The cleaned leaves and stems are dried to reduce moisture content.
Grinding: Dried material is ground into a fine powder.
Screening: Powder is screened to ensure a consistent particle size.
Formulation: The powder is incorporated into cosmetic formulations or used as a standalone ingredient.

Applications:

Cosmetics: Used in exfoliating products, masks, and scrubs for its gentle abrasive action and ability to remove dead skin cells.
Personal Care Products: Included in body scrubs and facial masks for texture and exfoliation.
Hair Care: Used in hair treatments for its natural properties, although less common compared to other forms of sugarcane extracts.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Sustainability: Ensure that harvesting and processing practices are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Safety: Generally considered safe for use in cosmetics. Allergy and irritation testing should be conducted, especially for sensitive skin.

INCI Name:


Antioxidant agent. Ingredient that counteracts oxidative stress and prevents cell damage. Free radicals, pathological inflammatory processes, reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the ageing process and many diseases caused by oxidation.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.

Nail Conditioning agent. It is an agent that creates protection against harmful or chemical substances by strengthening the nail structure against external elements and can repair any chipping, cracking or brittle nails. It helps keep the nail's outer layer and keratin protein in good condition. It can also prevent cracking and peeling of the nail.
Synonyms:

CAS: 91722-22-4 EC number 294-424-5