Acne Formulation Questions (Mixing, Stability, Solubility)
Question
I would like to try mixing ingredients for acne treatment. The ingredients are: [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7/148-salicylic-acid-bha-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81.html:na2at3yc]Salicylic Acid[/url] ([url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7/148-salicylic-acid-bha-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81.html:na2at3yc]BHA[/url]), [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2/2161-isopentyldiol.html:na2at3yc]Isopentyldiol[/url], [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7/1245-ichthammol-ammonium-bituminosulfonate.html:na2at3yc]Ichthammol[/url], and [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4/6936-shea-butter-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C-%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94-melt-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87.html:na2at3yc]Shea Butter (Melt)[/url]. 1. Can all of these be mixed together without a [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/34-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2:na2at3yc]preservative[/url] and without using a cream maker? I want [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4/117-shea-butter-certified-organic-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2-%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C-%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%8ค.html:na2at3yc]shea butter[/url] to be the main ingredient, as the usage rate is listed as 1-100%. 2. Can [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%8ข%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7/1245-ichthammol-ammonium-bituminosulfonate.html:na2at3yc]Ichthammol[/url] be mixed directly with alcohol or oil alone? Thank you.
Answer
Subject: Regarding your acne formulation ingredients
Thank you for your question about formulating an acne product with Salicylic Acid (BHA), Isopentyldiol, Ichthammol, and Shea Butter (Melt).
Here are the answers to your questions:
Mixing all ingredients without a preservative and cream maker:
It is generally not recommended to mix these ingredients together without an emulsifier (cream maker) and a preservative.- Shea Butter is an oil-based ingredient.
- Ichthammol is water-soluble.
- Salicylic Acid is soluble in oil and certain solvents like Isopentyldiol.
Mixing oil-based ingredients with water-soluble ingredients without an emulsifier will result in the mixture separating into distinct layers and not being stable or homogeneous.
Additionally, omitting a preservative is risky. Even if you don't add water directly, ingredients might contain trace amounts, or contamination can occur during use, leading to microbial growth which is unsafe for skin application. While Shea Butter can be used up to 100% in anhydrous formulations, combining it with other types of ingredients usually requires proper formulation techniques, including emulsification and preservation.
Mixing Ichthammol directly with alcohol or oil:
Ichthammol is primarily water-soluble. It is generally not soluble in pure oils. Its solubility in alcohol depends on the specific type of alcohol and concentration, but it dissolves much better in water.
For a stable and safe formulation combining these ingredients, you would typically need:
- An appropriate solvent or blend of solvents (like Isopentyldiol) to dissolve Salicylic Acid.
- An emulsifier (cream maker) to create a stable mixture of the oil phase (Shea Butter) and the water/solvent phase containing Ichthammol and dissolved Salicylic Acid.
- A broad-spectrum preservative system to prevent microbial contamination.
It's always best to follow tested formulation guidelines and recommended usage rates for each ingredient to ensure efficacy, stability, and safety.
Related Products Mentioned
Salicylic Acid (BHA, Pharma Grade)
Ichthammol (Ointment)
