Songa (Songa)

Songa at a glance

Songa is a goldenrod extract made in the USA. Its INCI is Water, Solidago Virgaurea Extract. It is a brown to light brown, water-soluble liquid with a pH of 4 to 8, used at 1 to 2% of the finished product. The supplier names four uses: bust care creams, after shave lotions, day creams with a lifting effect and creams for skin that needs calming.

European goldenrod

Solidago virgaurea grows in meadows, forest edges and mountain slopes across Europe and Asia. In late summer it carries tall spikes of small, bright yellow flowers. The Latin name Solidago comes from a word meaning to make whole, a hint at its long history in European plant traditions. Goldenrod contains flavonoids, saponins and phenolic acids, compounds that give it a toning and soothing character.

The four uses

Bust care

Bust creams aim for skin that looks firmer, smoother and more toned on the neck and chest, an area with thin, delicate skin. Songa adds a plant based toning story to these products.

After shave

Shaving leaves the skin stressed, warm and sometimes red. In after shave lotions and balms the extract helps the skin feel calm and refreshed.

Lifting day creams

Day creams with a lifting effect promise a firmer, more toned look. Goldenrod gives a natural toning message, and it combines well with film forming and firming ingredients.

Calming creams

For skin that needs calming, the extract supports a comfortable, soothed feel.

How to formulate

Add Songa to the water phase or at cool-down. It is water-soluble and tolerates a broad pH range of 4 to 8, so it suits creams, lotions and gels. Its brown color gives a light tint to clear gels. In a lifting day cream, combine it with adenosine for a smoothing message. In after shave care, add bisabolol for extra comfort. More plant actives are listed in the cosmetic actives section.

Product ideas

Bust and décolleté firming creams, neck creams, after shave lotions and balms, lifting day creams, calming creams for sensitive skin and toning body lotions are the main concepts.

Sample recipe: firming neck and décolleté cream, 100 g

Distilled water 74.40 g, glycerin 4.00 g, glyceryl stearate citrate 4.00 g, cetearyl alcohol 2.50 g, caprylic/capric triglyceride 6.00 g, squalane 3.00 g, xanthan gum 0.30 g, Songa 2.00 g, adenosine 0.10 g, panthenol 1.00 g, preservative 1.00 g, fragrance 0.20 g, citric acid solution 1.50 g. Heat water and oil phases to 75 °C, emulsify, cool below 40 °C, add Songa, adenosine, panthenol, the preservative and fragrance, and adjust to about pH 5.5.

After shave lotion concept

A light after shave lotion can be very simple: water, a little alcohol or a glycol for freshness, 1 to 2% Songa, panthenol, a soothing extract and a fresh fragrance. Keep the alcohol moderate so the skin does not dry out.

Claims

Use toning and comfort language: firmer, smoother looking skin on the neck and chest, a more lifted look, and skin that feels calm and refreshed after shaving.

Dosing

The supplier gives 1 to 2%. Calming creams and after shave lotions work well at 1 to 1.5%. Bust creams and lifting day creams can use the full 2%. Because the dose is low, the extract fits easily into an existing base.

Labeling

Goldenrod is an attractive, easy to explain plant name for natural lines. On the ingredient list it appears as Solidago Virgaurea Extract.

Safety notes

The supplier asks for a sensitivity test of the finished product, for example a test application on the inner elbow or behind the ear.

Storage

Store in a cool, dark place in a tightly closed container. A certificate of analysis comes with every lot.