Technical Support for Vitamin E & Menthol Beads

Thank you for reaching out regarding the behavior of the vitamin E and menthol beads in water.

Based on the product information for the Vitamin E Beads, these beads are designed to swell and disperse when mixed into a cosmetic formulation, not necessarily when placed in plain water. The dry beads typically take around 12 hours to absorb water from the surrounding formula and become ready for use. The wet beads are pre-hydrated and ready to be added directly to a formulation without prior soaking.

The effectiveness of their dispersion depends on the overall composition and viscosity of the formulation they are added to. Simply placing them in water may not provide the necessary environment for them to swell and disperse as intended.

Regarding the staining of hair, the Vitamin E Beads are not designed as hair dyes. Their color comes from pigments contained within the beads themselves. These pigments are released when the beads break upon application (e.g., when massaged into the skin or hair), providing a visual effect, but they are not intended to permanently stain hair.

For the menthol component, the product found in our search, CoCool™, is a liquid blend of Menthol and Menthyl Lactate. It is designed to be mixed into the oil phase or dissolved in Glycol or Ethyl Alcohol, not dispersed in water as beads. If you are using a different menthol bead product, its specific properties would need to be considered.

To ensure the beads perform correctly, they should be incorporated into a suitable cosmetic formulation according to the recommended mixing instructions (typically added in the final phase with gentle stirring).