The excipient constitutes the base on which the formula of cosmetic product rests.
They have the highest percentage in quantity of the ingredients or association of ingredients and may constitute up to 90% of a
cosmetic product
. Generally the excipient appears first in the
INCI
list and it defines also the
galenic
form of the product.
Among the most widespread excipients:
water
,
flower waters
,
vegetable oils
,
mineral oils
or synthetic oils (
silicones
) …
Excipients may be neutral to the skin (if composed of ingredients without other cosmetic interests which constitute the
galenic
form of product), or may already constitute a full-fledged active ingredeint (for example if manufactured with
vegetable oils
rich in fat acids and vitamins, or
flower waters
exerting properties of vegetable extracts from which they originate).