• Inulin

    Posted by belassi on October 14, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Is anyone using inulin in skin or hair products? It looks interesting. According to the patent it can act as a natural cationic conditioner and a humectant. I suspect that being a polysaccharide it may form stable emulsions with glycyrrhizic acid, like pectin or xanthan gum does.

    belassi replied 1 year, 1 month ago 8 Members · 12 Replies
  • 12 Replies
  • johnb

    Member
    October 14, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    I’ve looked at inulin in the past but didn’t find any special attributes that would sent the world of cosmetic science into a tizzy.

    Looking at the claims on the patent, it seems that most (all) of the validity is greatly diminished by having Claim 1 full of provisos (“free from”, “apart from”) and such like.

    The patent has a priority date of 2003. Nothing has appeared on the marketplace which utilises any attributes that this patent may offer so, I assume it’s not any good - although the patent legal processes are still being pursued.

  • beautynerd

    Member
    October 14, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Am playing around with a facial mask formula with Fructan Gum (chicory inulin) from Sensient. The fat like texture is a useful attribute. Good for emulsifier free claims.

    The gelling properties are well researched in the low-fat food science arena. Careful with your suppliers, many grades are available and the chain length dictates the minimum concentration needed for the product to gel.

  • belassi

    Member
    October 14, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    It sounds as if it could be used as a thickener?

  • heraklit

    Member
    October 14, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    I tried it in a shampoo at 1% for moisturizing effect, but didn’t noticed any difference. Also it’s a bug food…

  • beautynerd

    Member
    October 14, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    Thickener, yes. It is sticky though…

  • belassi

    Member
    October 15, 2016 at 12:36 am

    OK. I’ll not bother. Thanks!

  • ElenaZaharevich

    Member
    October 31, 2017 at 7:44 am

    I used 1% in hair conditioner (pH5.1). Real good result and it surprised. Inulin give more hydration, smoothing and anti static effect. I have curl hair. To get good combing and shine with natural solution real - challenge for me. Inulin - cheap and effect ingrediant.

    P.S. I use only natural compounds and natural cosmetics.

  • belassi

    Member
    October 31, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Thanks for the update Elena.

  • jeremien

    Member
    November 2, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Imutec SP1 from Beneo is a polymeric surfactant derivated from Inulin. It provides very good steric repulsion in dispersions.

  • Sawsen_123

    Member
    August 12, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    As I know inulin is non ionic so we can use in shampoo also and give good hydration to hair

  • suswang8

    Member
    February 11, 2023 at 11:45 pm

    @Belassi

    Did you ever end up experimenting with this in a shampoo?

    • belassi

      Member
      February 12, 2023 at 12:59 pm

      After reading the above responses I decided not to.

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