Porous silicon for oral hygiene and cosmetics

Abstract

Porous silicon particles could be utilized in a variety of consumer care applications if their cost of manufacture becomes low enough. Silica and porous silica are already widely used by the toothpaste and cosmetic industries, and porous silicon offers superior mechanical properties for teeth cleaning and very different optical properties for cosmetics. Partial thermal oxidation has been used to improve shelf life in liquid formulations and to match brown skin tones. Preliminary mouthfeel testing for oral hygiene products has been carried out, but formalized skin-feel testing and optimization is required for numerous dermatological products. Product examples discussed include multifunctional dentifrice abrasives, sunscreens, bronzers, foundation and makeup additive, and anti-aging formulations.