The use of cornflower hydrosol in the formulation of makeup removers.

At the end of the day, it is essential to remove one's makeup to prepare the skin to receive the active ingredients of one's skincare routine and promote its nocturnal regeneration. Moreover, the accumulation of makeup particles can lead to the obstruction of skin pores and may promote the appearance of imperfections or dullness of the complexion. That's why, if you wear makeup, it is crucial to proceed with makeup removal, even if you subsequently cleanse your face with a cleanser based on water.

In light of this, cornflower hydrosol could present itself as an interesting active ingredient for use within a makeup remover. The cornflower floral water indeed has a particularly gentle composition and is less concentrated than essential oil, making it generally very well tolerated by all skin types, whether they are sensitive, combination or oily. Furthermore, its richness in anti-inflammatory molecules, such as flavonoids, allows it to have a soothing effect and to make the makeup removal step gentler. The anti-inflammatory properties of the cornflower hydrosol could also help to counterbalance the slightly aggressive nature of certain surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate for example, an ingredient frequently found in the formulation of makeup removers.

Furthermore, some studies have shown that cornflower hydrosol has antibacterial properties, which are beneficial in the context of makeup removal to allow thorough skin cleansing by eliminating accumulated impurities, as well as bacteria. It can also be assumed that the antibacterial properties of cornflower hydrosol could help to prevent bacterial proliferation, which could lead to skin infections, inflammations and the emergence of blemishes. Cornflower hydrosol could therefore be a relevant active ingredient during the makeup removal stage.

However, it is crucial to understand that, like all hydrosols, the one extracted from cornflower is primarily composed of water. Therefore, it can only bind with hydrophilic molecules, unlike the surfactants found in makeup removers, which have an amphiphilic configuration, meaning they have both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic part. This unique characteristic of surfactants allows them to attract oily particles with their lipophilic end and remove them during rinsing thanks to their hydrophilic end. This is not the case with cornflower hydrosol, which does not have a hydrophobic part in its chemical structure.

Cornflower hydrosol cannot be used alone as a makeup remover. However, when incorporated into a formulation, it can provide several benefits, including gentle makeup removal.