Quantitative analysis of cosmetics waxes by using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)/supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and multivariate data analysis

Waxes play an indispensable role in the formulation of modern cosmetics. Quantitative measurement of the level of different waxes in cosmetics is essential to the understanding of the performance characteristics of the cosmetics. Conventionally, waxes in cosmetics are extracted by Soxhlet extraction using an organic solvent. This extraction is not quantitative. By using SFE, quantitative extraction of the waxes was easily obtained. Due to the complexity of the natural waxes and the coexistence of several types of waxes in a cosmetics product, the level of different waxes in a mixture is best determined by using SFC and multivariate data analysis. Application of this approach in analysis of waxes in mascaras is reported.