Applying lipstick each morning has not always been easy: up until the 19th century, it was even a religious taboo. Then the practice became widespread with stars such as Sarah Bernhardt and later Marilyn Monroe, who made this beauty product a symbol of glamour and seduction as well as power and independence. The generalization of lipstick application came along with technical developments that helped improve application techniques. In 1915, Maurice Levy invented the twist-up tube. It was no longer necessary to apply lipstick with fingertips or a brush, and it became much easier to bring it into the daily cosmetic routine.

A symbolically feminine ritual

What people like about applying makeup is not so much the result but also the ritual that goes along with it. There is very strong symbolism in applying lipstick: it means showing your seductive side, revealing your femininity. The famous stick is a beauty gadget part of their life. At the age of ten or even younger, little girls imitate their mothers’ movements in front of the mirror, building their own femininity based on that example. Later, they uphold that reassuring makeup ritual which enables them to feel confident about themselves in any situation. Still a reference in old age, lipstick is often the last beauty product that many women continue to apply to bring their faces a healthy glow: a touch of color to the lips adds a touch of color to life.

How to apply it: the new business of beauty influencers 

In addition to the enjoyment of application, of course, lipstick users expect hold and a color effect. Applying lipstick is a very specific art. Give the same lipstick to 10 different persons and each one will apply it in a different way and create a different look. The natural lip shape and color have an effect on the final appearance of the color and texture, and therefore on the expression of the mouth and the smile.

That is why today a whole business is developing around learning: the influencer phenomenon is currently revolutionizing the lipstick market.

Progressively dethroning beauty journalists and makeup sales assistants, these young professionals provide precious advice for makeup application through online tutorials, offering everyone the possibility to learn all the tips and tricks for an impeccable result… Without leaving the comfort of their own home. Blending five shades together to create your own color like Marilyn Monroe did; combining different textures; using a pencil correctly or opting for an applicator… Anything is possible, easy, and just a click away.

At the moment, full lips are all the rage. New, rather advanced techniques are available to plump lips without resorting to plastic surgery. For example, to accentuate the lips’ volume with an optical illusion, some people prefer to draw a contour slightly outside the natural lip line with a suitable pencil and/or use a gloss, creating the appearance of fuller lips. Each new fashion corresponds with new application techniques, and new packaging innovations appear, such as built-in applicators and sharp-edged slanted sticks, to apply various shades and textures even more precisely to the desired areas.

The application technique of the future? Where tradition meets innovation

Through research and development, brands seek to determine the application technique of the future. Might the “stick” soon be a distant memory? A number of brands are already opting for rechargeable lipsticks . The products must continue to be easy to use, and consideration is going into formulas that provide an ever-more-precise color result while also providing skincare effects to address consumers’ specific needs (moisture-rich formula, plumping, anti-age, glow booster, etc.).

While it still looks that people have an affection for the glamorous, sexy traditional form of lipstick, that doesn’t prevent the development of future innovations that will revolutionize these habits. For example, pigments could be made active inside the lips to color and plump them. Less futuristic, the simple idea of including a small built-in mirror as part of the lipstick package, as Guerlain has already done, is a way of facilitating daily touch-ups for durable perfection.

Consumers at the heart of the co-creation approach

Over the last ten years, the consumer has been central to the Aptar innovation process. Through focus groups coordinated throughout the world, the company tests its products and surveys women of all ages and of all origins on their expectations and consumption habits. The Aptar group has thus developed a true expertise in research and development in the fields of lipstick application (studying the techniques clients use) and packaging. Thanks to keen consumer knowledge, Aptar guides brands through their co-creation approach to tomorrow’s products.

Behind this centuries-old makeup ritual lie a good number of aspiring innovations that are set to bring considerable changes to the continually reinvented lipstick market.

Rely on the quality of Steriflow autoclaves for the sterilization of your pet food products.
Steriflow industrial autoclaves, using superheated water cascading sterilization process, are effective for the sterilization of pet food in cans, pouches, casings, aluminium or plastic trays, plastic bottles or glass jars. Our employees adapt our solutions to your needs, whether it is to meet an increase in your production or to replace obsolete equipment. We work on manual solutions but also on projects for fully automated lines. In the space of two years, Steriflow has doubled its sales in the pet food industry. With more than 320 units installed and a presence on five continents, the pet food industry relies on the Steriflow sterilization process. Find our solution for the sterilization of your pet food products by water cascading process: choose flexibility.

The inner layer of the sustainable bottle is 100 percent virgin high density polyethylene (HDPE), while the external layer is primarily made from PCR with an overall balance of 50% virgin PE and 50% PCR. The virgin HDPE inner layer and accurate selection of PCR assure product integrity and the visibility of the filled product level.   Additionally, all external components such as corner protectors, plastic feet or plastic pallets are produced with recycled polyethylene.

The PCR is generated from the collection of empty IBCs which are then treated by reconditioning and recycling partner facility in Russia.

“This was a very rewarding project for the Greif Russia team, and we are pleased that this product is now commercially available in our region,” commented Konstantin Chetverikov, quality and technology manager for IBCs Greif Russia. “Being able to generate our own source of PCR from IBC bottles that might otherwise end up in landfill, means we can support customers in achieving their sustainability goals by decreasing raw material consumption and reducing CO2 emission into the atmosphere. It is also a significant step towards ad vancing our own circular economy principles.” 

The GCUBE PCR bottle is an extension of Greif’s EcoBalance product line which includes drums and other containers made using PCR. The EcoBalance product line helps support many of Greif’s customers with their sustainability goals including reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption and diverting waste from landfills.

GCube EcoBalance is already available in Italy and Russia while being implemented in Germany and Spain. Further expansions will follow in the coming months with the target to produce this sustainable product in most of our GCUBE facilities including APAC and North America.

If you would like to find out more about the GCUBE EcoBalance with a PCR bottle please contact your local account manager. 

Coca Cola has announced that will be replacing its plastic bottles with paper ones. They have teamed up with partner Paboco to look for alternatives involving paper and creating a bottle using it. 
The first-generation prototype consists of a paper shell with a 100% recycled plastic closure and liner inside. The next step, Franssen, says, is to create a paper bottle without the plastic liner. The paper bottle is not yet complete. Even though the outer layer is made of paper, the inside of the bottle still has a plastic layer to prevent it from damaging the paper. Additionally, even the capping area and the cap itself is made from plastic.
The paper bottle concept supports The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste sustainable packaging goal to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030, while substantially reducing use of virgin packaging materials and using only 100% recyclable packaging materials. Achieving this vision requires investment in innovation and collaboration with partners to drive collection, recycling and sustainable design.

Aptar Pharma, a global leader in drug delivery systems, services and active packaging solutions and Noble, an Aptar Pharma company, world leader in drug delivery training device programs, today announced their collaboration with dne pharma, a leader in addiction medicine in Northern Europe.

Using Aptar Pharma’s patented Unidose Liquid System, Ventizolve® is a ready-to-use rescue treatment that can quickly reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Noble’s Unidose trainer kit, which replicates Aptar’s Unidose device, will be used by dne pharma as part of a broad patient onboarding and awareness program for Ventizolve® in outreach and drug treatment centers across the Nordics – the first trainer kit of its kind for a naloxone nasal drug product launch.

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), opioids and opioid overdose account for more than 70% of the half a million drug-use related deaths that are reported annually worldwide. In their Opioid Task Force 2020 Progress Report, the American Medical Association (AMA) states that a “continuing increase in drug overdoses is fueling the evolution of a more dangerous and complicated epidemic”, and urges stakeholders to come together to work collaboratively on meaningful action to remove barriers and increase patient access to evidence-based care, both to save lives and help end the epidemic.

Dne pharma’s focus is on improving existing treatments within addiction therapy. Nina Måsvær, Marketing Manager at dne pharma explains, “With the growing opioid overdose epidemic, we were fortunate to collaborate with Professor Ola Dale at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim on the development of a nasal naloxone sprayer for pre-hospital and take-home use and were able to secure final use approval for Ventizolve® in 12 European countries in 2018.”

Nasally Administered Opioid Overdose Rescue Treatment

Aptar Pharma’s Unidose Liquid System is the drug delivery device used to administer Ventizolve® and is a ready-to-use, one-step nasal device designed to enable the delivery of a precise, single dose quickly, easily and reliably, and without the need for administration by a trained professional.

“With over 100 million devices sold worldwide, our patented Unidose Technology Platforms are approved by the U.S. FDA and European regulatory authorities for a wide range of treatments from chronic conditions such as migraine and vitamin B12 deficiency to life-saving drugs that counter an opioid overdose,” commented Isabelle Menard, Director of Strategy and Business Integration at Aptar Pharma.

Noble is providing the training and onboarding component with its Unidose training device that replicates the form and function of Aptar Pharma’s Unidose drug delivery device. The Unidose training device features a novel twist reset function, making it easier for users and caregivers to practice administering a dose quickly and effectively so that they are ready when confronted with an emergency situation.

“We’re honored to provide the training support for this important initiative to combat the growing opioid overdose epidemic,” added Joe Masci, Noble’s Executive Director of Business Development. “The levels of anxiety that come with using a drug delivery device can be high under normal circumstances, let alone under stress and using a product you are not familiar with. When faced with an emergency situation, users need to have the confidence to come to someone’s aid.”

Drug Repurposing to Nasal Drug Delivery

Dne pharma is among a new generation of industry disruptors who are making their mark by repurposing existing therapies for nasal drug delivery, with benefits such as better patient convenience, greater personal empowerment, improved user compliance, and in some cases, overcoming objections to more invasive delivery routes. More importantly, in the case of a rescue treatment, the recipient does not need a healthcare professional (HCP) to administer the drug, which could be life-critical in an emergency situation where, for example, the patient is unconscious.

“Aptar Pharma’s expertise in drug repurposing using nasal delivery solutions, combined with Noble’s innovative training and onboarding platform, make them the perfect partners to support us in bringing this life-saving drug product to market,” concluded Nina Måsvær, dne pharma.

• REN Clean Skincare EVERCALM Global Protection Day Cream launched the world’s first cosmetics packaging using ISCC PLUS certified 100% PCR plastic (post-consumer recycled)

• German skincare brand Annemarie Börlind chose the 50ml Mezzo in PCR for the launch of its System Energy Boost day cream for men

• Italian skincare brand Collistar chose a Mezzo airless solution made from ISCC certified PCR for its January 2021 launch of three 80ml Hydra Uomo skincare products. Collistar leaned heavily on the sustainable qualities of the packaging, pointing out the bottles use a reduced number of components and are made from a recycled circular plastic, which has the same qualities, characteristics, and security as conventional plastics

• Nano by Aptar Certified Cyclos-HTP ‘Class AAA’ with a 97-98% recyclability rate, Nano 10ml is a top-fill, travel size airless dispenser produced in a 100% plastic material of the brand’s choice. Its patented airless system guarantees the formula stays protected from air and light, while the double-valve pump and self-priming system deliver precise dosage and 360° dispensing. A high evacuation rate ensures most of the formula is dispensed, eliminating formula waste from being stuck inside the pack. Nano is also available as a full-service offer

“At Aptar Beauty + Home, we are very proud of these certifications and we will continue our commitment to working with certified sustainable materials. We are focusing on PCR resins; we call it PCR PLUS materials. On one hand we aim to implement PCR PLUS materials, and on the other we want to increase the PCR ratio in our system. With more innovative sustainable solutions to come in the near future” shares Fabrice Vaudran, Project Manager Airless Expert Center, Aptar Beauty + Home Villingen Facility.

Aptar Beauty + Home supports and shares its partners’ ambitious sustainability goals. Backed by independent certifications and expertise, Aptar Beauty + Home looks forward to helping customers and partners understand the benefits of sustainable packaging and finding sustainable solutions for our partners

Natural, bright, even... foundation has become a key universal concern, one that is tricky for consumers who often feel lost in the jungle of offers and are disappointed by the products they try.Now that the enthusiasm for BB creams and tinted moisturisers is declining, foundation is back in the cosmetic limelight, but must now fall into line with the promises made by its challengers: lightness and ease of application, with efficient and imperceptible coverage to boot. The sinews of the foundation war? Colour, which must perfectly blend with skin tone, and texture, which must ensure a buildable finish, evening skin tone without making you feel like you’re wearing make-up and providing a natural glow and the famous ‘bare skin look’. To do this, brands are working on ultrafluid formulas combining transparency, gentleness and brightness without highlighting flaws

STAR DROP IS A GAME-CHANGER!

To create the perfect foundation, one that is ultra-fluid and lightweight but easy to use, Aptar has designed an alternative application method, named Star Drop. This innovative bottle has a newgeneration valve capable of releasing just the right amount of product drop by drop for a tailor-made dose. Precise, ergonomic and intuitive, it guarantees controlled, hygienic and waste-free application. Its pipette holds two patents: the first for its cut-off base that avoids squirts and the second the tip, designed to form a beautiful drop. Compact and travelfriendly, Star Drop is also environmentally responsible: as it can be unscrewed, the dispenser is reusable, while the bottle – stamped with the PP logo – is recyclable.

With the Coperion extruder, the ZSW can now work on the very latest issues in the production of battery electrodes. In the current manufacturing process for this type of electrodes, the active materials are drawn in a film from a solution of the toxic NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) onto a carrier film and then slowly dried in long ovens. In this research project the use of extruders will mean that NMP will not be needed at all in the future. Furthermore, the required drying time will also be drastically reduced and batteries with higher energy content can be produced. The aim of the work being carried out at the ZSW is to design a complete industrial process chain, from the component feeder to direct transmission of the extrudate onto a collector film in a roll-to-roll process.

DUST PROOF AND INTEGRATED COMPONENTS FOR A SAFE PRODUCTION PROCESS
The new developments on the extruder include an encased gearbox lantern, which is also dust proof to prevent the escape of toxic substances. It is also purged with nitrogen so that there is no risk of a dust explosion. The two-circuit cooling system, which uses water to ensure cooling of both the process section and the motor, is now completely integrated into the extruder base frame. The vacuum pump is also housed there. Both units are easily accessible via doors on the rear of the extruder base. The extruder is also designed in compliance with stringent explosion protection regulations and features an enclosed stainless steel design, which can be cleaned very quickly and easily.

The machine is equipped with two Coperion K-Tron loss-in-weight feeders. The K3-PH series feeders are ideally suited for highly accurate, reliable delivery of even the most difficult flowing or toxic ingredients, which is often the case in manufacturing of electrode compounds. These feeders stand out with a state-of-the-art sealing design that is optimally attuned to the high demands of battery applications.

On account of the often abrasive and sometimes corrosive properties of the raw materials being processed, the parts of the Coperion extruders that come into contact with the product are made of material combinations offering exceptionally high resistance to wear and corrosion protection. This means that contamination of the end product due to detached metal particles can be avoided in the long term, even when processing high-wearing raw materials in conjunction with corrosive solvents.

FLEXIBLE HANDLING FOR VARIOUS RESEARCH PURPOSES
Designed for flexible research purposes, the extruder with 18 mm screw diameter can achieve throughput rates of 1 to 5 kg/h depending on the application. The ZSK 18 MEGAlab features a broad viscosity range of 500-20,000mPas for the production of battery compounds. To cover this broad viscosity range, Coperion has supplied a second, fully assembled pair of screw shafts, allowing quick and easy replacement. The modular design of the process section is also highly flexible. A twin screw side feeder and various feed options for adding liquid components can be flexibly added to the process section, depending on specific process requirements. Another special feature of the extruder is its integrated torque measurement, which enables very accurate evaluation of the torque directly on the drive chain. In addition, this enables conclusions to be drawn about the properties of the battery masses, enabling a high-quality result to be achieved.

The K3 loss-in-weight feeders are also ideally designed for flexibility in production processes. The stepper motor features an extended feed range (1:500), allowing one feeder to cover a wider range of feed rates. At the same time, the ‘quick change’ modular design means that the feeder bowl can be quickly decoupled from the feeder drive to provide for easy and fast reconfiguration of the line and cleaning of the feeder.

For maximum flexibility in the development of battery compounds, the wide sheet die at the discharge of the extruder can be adjusted to any coating thickness from 0.2-1.5 mm. This increases the flexibility for further downstream applications in research.

The image and potential of plastics has taken a battering in recent years, but we firmly believe that these materials have their place when used and disposed of responsibly.

The new Eco-F Lightweight tube has been developed with this in mind, benefitting from a 33.6% lighter sleeve, reduced in thickness from 0.6mm to 0.4mm, a 21.4% lighter head and a low profile flip top cap which is 20.6% lighter than the standard closure.

This new development will be available with a 50mm diameter to begin with, allowing for fill sizes of 100ml – 250ml. Compared with the same spec of CTL’s standard tube and cap, each part’s reduction results in a total pack weight loss of 27.9% (50mm x 155mm – 200ml).