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Kobo

Kobo Products Inc is based in New Jersey, USA and Toulouse, France.

Kobo USA specialises in the following product areas:

Surface-treated powders - Powders and pigments can be surface-treated to make them hydrophobic, hydrophilic or lipophilic, hence increasing their dispersibility in a range of carriers. Surface-treating can also help to reduce surface activity, improve skin compatibility, improve physical and chemical stability and increase the achievable pigment loading in formulations.

Dispersions of powders - Kobo can pre-disperse pigments and inorganic sunscreen powders in a wide range of carriers. During dispersion the particle size of the powders is often decreased, which increases the colour strength and gloss achievable with pigments, and increases the protection and transparency achievable with sunscreens. Dispersion of powders also makes them much easier to use during formulation development and production.

Microspheres and Microsphere Complexes - Microspheres are discrete spherical particles made from a range of materials and in a range of particle sizes. Their shape and particle size distribution enables them to scatter light to diminish the look of fine lines on the skin, an effect known as 'optical blurring' or 'soft focus'. Microspheres also provide a 'ball bearing' effect on the skin, giving finished products increased payoff, an elegant silky texture, enhanced slip and better blendability for a more natural finish. Depending on the level used, they can provide a non-tacky, velvety or powdery after-feel. Porous Microspheres can also be used to absorb or deliver oils.

Microsphere Complexes consist of two materials bonded together by Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate treatment, yielding a spherical complex that has the optimum combination of the two materials' properties. These complexes offer the benefits of the Microspheres and can also bring a lightweight feel to many other product forms.

Kobo's laboratories in Toulouse specialise in the research and development of delivery systems made from natural ingredients for the delivery of cosmetic actives. These include:

Glycospheres - These are supramolecular systems, consisting of a stable inner core made of starch, with lipids layers organized around this core. The small size of this spherical system (200 nanometers) allows controlled penetration of the Glycospheres into the first layers of the epidermis, but no deeper. Both hydrophilic and lipopilic active ingredients can be entrapped in the Glycospheres for delivery into the upper layers of the epidermis. Experiments on ascorbic acid, free-radical scavengers, enzymes and antibacterial agents have shown that entrapped actives are more stable than the non-entrapped form, and that they remain active after entrapment and delivery.

Softspheres - These are large spherical particles in a wide range of colours and with a range of diameters between 0.7mm and 2 mm, which can be used for their visible effect and for the delivery of active ingredients. The Softspheres are made of vegetable-derived agar-agar, and are soft enough to be rubbed on the skin without leaving any residue. A range of lipophilic and/or anionic ingredients can be trapped in the Softspheres, including oils, proteins, vitamins, fragrances etc.

Web site: www.koboproductsinc.com/

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