Chemistry ConnectionsEpisode #7Welcome to Chemistry Connections, my name is Victoria Villagran and I am your host for episode #7 called The Chemistry of Makeup Today I/we will be discussing what exactly is going on in our makeup chemically.  Segment 1: Introduction to Makeup ChemistryWhat is Makeup? Cosmetics that are used to enhance or alter someone’s appearance Lipstick, eyeshadow, powders, and creams They contain water, emulsifier, preservative, thickener, emollient, colour, fragrance and pH stabilisers (buffers) The water dissolves other ingredients, it helps them mix together, acting as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients and forming emulsions for consistency.  Oil and wax help makeup go on smoothly, and is often used to help skin stay soft  Many other chemicals go into makeup. Normally, an emulsifier is included, a chemical that makes oil and water mix together or keeps unlike substances from separating Most makeup has preservatives, as well. These keep the makeup usable longer, preventing the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, which can spoil the product and possibly harm the user; they can be natural or synthetic  Emollients soften the skin by preventing water loss. They are used in a wide range of lipsticks, lotions and cosmetics.  Thickening agents work to give products an appealing consistency from four families; lipid thickeners, naturally derived thickeners, mineral thickeners, and synthetic thickeners. Chemicals, both natural and synthetic, are added to cosmetics to provide an appealing fragrance. Even ‘unscented’ products may contain masking fragrances to mask the smell of other chemicals. Manufacturers do not have to list these individual fragrant ingredients or chemicals as fragrance is considered to be a trade secret. Many types of makeup also have a coloring agent. Any makeup with a color contains a coloring agent. These come from minerals, plants, and even animals. This is why some people have certain reactions to different colors of makeup as they may come from a source that the user is allergic to Ingredients can be naturally occurring or artificial, but any potential impact on our health depends mainly on the chemical compounds they are made of. So Makeup can be Harmful? There is a lot of controversy as hundreds of internet sites relating to potentially toxic substances present in cosmetics and the dangers they pose to the public. These include parabens, aluminium, triclosan, formaldehyde, phthalates, and other possible chemicals that could affect someone’s skin condition or surface Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind Specifically LipstickNow let’s go into the chemistry concepts specifically behind lipsticks.  The chemical properties of water have a major role in lipstick Somewhat Universal Solvent: Water is used as a solvent in cosmetics and personal care products in which it dissolves many of the ingredients that impart skin benefits, such as conditioning agents and cleansing agents. It allows for addition for many ingredients in the products, and allows for them to be combined uniformly.  Water is a polar molecule with partially-positive and negative charges, it readily dissolves ions and polar molecules. It is therefore referred to as a solvent: a substance capable of dissolving other polar molecules and ionic compounds. The charges associated with these molecules form hydrogen bonds with water, surrounding the particle with water moleculesWhen ionic compounds are added to water, individual ions interact with the polar regions of the water molecules during the dissociation process, disrupting their ionic bonds. Since many biomolecules are either polar or charged, water readily dissolves these hydrophilic compounds. Water is a poor solvent for hydrophobic molecules such as lipids. Nonpolar molecules experience hydrophobic interactions in water: the water changes its hydrogen bonding patterns around the hydrophobic...