Abstract:

Liquid crystal emulsion system is a new type of emulsion system, in which the surfactant （emulsifier） molecules locate at the oil/water interface and form a long-range ordered and short-range disordered liquid crystal structure （usually lamellar liquid crystal）. The lamellar liquid crystals formed by emulsifier are similar to the skin stratum corneum lipid structure, which enable it a broad application prospect in the field of cosmetics, biomedicine, etc. With the further understanding of the liquid crystal and the gradual recognition of the advantages of liquid crystal emulsion products, the liquid crystal emulsion system has been used in high-end cosmetics widely in the past few years. In this paper, the liquid crystal and the liquid crystal emulsion system are introduced firstly and then the factors of affecting the formation of liquid crystal in emulsions are summarized. The properties of liquid crystal emulsion systems including the stability, water locking property, sustained-release property, penetration enhancing property as well as the skin sense are also provided. On this basis, the application of liquid crystal emulsion system in the cosmetic field is expounded. Furthermore, the novel liquid crystal emulsion system developed in recent years, including crystal encapsulated in liquid crystal emulsion and multiple liquid crystal emulsion are introduced. Finally, the limitations of the application of liquid crystal emulsion system in the field of cosmetics are put forward and personal views on the problems to be solved are proposed, which may provide necessary reference for the development and effective application of liquid crystal emulsion system.

Key words: liquid crystal emulsion system, cosmetics, product performance