Clean, green and certified claims continue to grow in personal care, driven by consumers who want to know where ingredients come from and what happens to them once they go down the drain.
Microplastic pollution is also a global environmental concern and regulations are changing. The EU restriction on intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles aims to limit the release of plastic particles that persist in water, soil and ecosystems. Rinse-off products must comply by October 2027, and leave-on products by October 2029.
Syensqo’s Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB was developed as a non-microplastic, readily biodegradable opacifier designed as an alternative to opacifying synthetic polymers, to support the natural and sustainable claims consumers are looking for and to help formulators prepare for the EU restriction.
What is Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB?
Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB is a white, opaque liquid concentrate (41.0 to 43.0% solids) of glycol distearate microspheres, formulated with water and cocamidopropyl betaine. The microspheres are shaped and sized to give a creamy white appearance without the dull, bluish cast often seen with synthetic opacifiers.
Under the microscope, Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB shows very small, near spherical crystal shaped particles. Pearlisers based on EGDS (ethylene glycol distearate) show needle or lamella shaped particles, which reflect light and create a pearlescent effect. The very small particles in OPR-2 are not needle or lamella shaped, and are designed for optimum opacifying performance.
Key Benefits
- Superior opacifying power: In Syensqo’s shampoo testing, 1.8% as is gave higher opacity and whiteness than 1% as is styrene/acrylates copolymer, without the bluish cast.
- Natural Origin Index: 0.89 according to ISO 16128
- Brighter, more vibrant colour: The whiter base enhances the intensity of the formulation colour, making it easier to create bold shades.
- Vegetable origin: 91% of the ingredient is of vegetable origin, supporting natural and sustainable positioning.
- Biodegradable: Rated A on the Beauty Biodeg Score, supporting a more environmentally considered formulation.
- Non-microplastic and sulphate-free: A non-microplastic, sulphate-free opacifier suited to both sulphate and sulphate-free formulas, helping formulators prepare for the EU restriction on synthetic polymer microparticles.
- Easier to formulate: A cold processable concentrate that can be added at any stage of the process.
- Creamy white appearance at low use levels: Delivers a rich, milky finish at just 1.5 to 2.0%.
INCI: Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate
Performance data
Opacity was tested in a sulphate-based shampoo, with styrene/acrylates copolymer at 1% as the reference. The L value shows how white a sample appears, and the covering effect (the L value on black divided by the L value on white) shows how well it hides a dark background. For both, a higher figure means better opacity.
Images courtesy of Syensqo. Please contact us for further testing data.
Applications
Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB suits rinse-off products, including shampoos and body washes. It works in both sulphate and sulphate-free systems. Syensqo has also reported that the lipid microspheres work well alongside cationic polymers, which supports conditioning performance in hair and skin cleansing products.
Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB is also suitable for homecare formulations.
Find out more
To request a sample of Miracare® OPR-2 NDPE RSPO MB or to talk through your formulation, get in touch with our technical team.
