Texture and sensory analysis in stick formulations

A mixture design was applied to optimize the mechanical properties and the sensory acceptability of lip balm. The primary purpose of this study is to help formulators select the best lipstick formulations easily by using an e xperimental strategy. Several ingredients were studied: a silicone oil, two waxes and petrolatum. The results enabled us to formulate sticks with the desired texture and sensory qualities and to characterize the system fairly completely. Increasing concentrations of waxes showed a strong effect on t he texture and consistency of sticks. On the other hand, this work shows no differences between the two other products, i.e. silicone and petrolatum. These ingredients bestow an analogous effect in texture and sensory comport ment.