Alternatives for Corn Starch in Powder Cleanser

Regarding your question about substituting corn starch in a powder cleanser formula, where an example uses 80% of a main ingredient and 20% corn starch:

Corn starch is typically used in powder cleansers primarily to dilute the formula, reduce overall cost, and help achieve a light, even texture. It acts as a filler powder.

While you mentioned not finding plain corn starch on the website, it is a common ingredient often available at general stores or bakery supply shops at a very low cost.

Regarding your suggested alternatives:

• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) and Vitamin B5 (Panthenol): These ingredients offer great benefits for the skin, such as reducing wrinkles, redness, and improving hydration and barrier function. However, they are significantly more expensive than corn starch. Since a powder cleanser is a wash-off product, the contact time with the skin is very short, meaning the skin benefits from B3 or B5 would be minimal. Therefore, using them as a low-cost filler is not recommended or cost-effective for this application.
• Kaolin: Kaolin is a type of clay often used in masks or makeup for coverage and oil absorption. While it is a powder, its texture is generally heavier than corn starch or talc. Using Kaolin might result in the powder cleanser having a different, potentially uneven, feel compared to using a lighter powder.

Suitable alternatives that function similarly to corn starch as a light filler powder for texture and cost reduction in powder cleansers include:

• Talc Powder: Talc is a commonly used powder in cosmetics for its soft texture and ability to absorb oil. It is a suitable alternative to corn starch for achieving a light, dispersible powder texture.
• Rice Starch (Ricesorb™): This is another natural starch powder that can absorb oil and provide a soft texture, making it a potential substitute for corn starch or talc in powder formulations.

In summary, for the purpose of diluting the formula, reducing cost, and achieving a light texture in a powder cleanser, inexpensive and light powders like corn starch (found in general stores/bakeries) or Talc Powder are generally the most suitable options. While Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, and Kaolin have their uses in cosmetics, they are not ideal substitutes for this specific role in a wash-off powder cleanser due to cost (B3, B5) or texture differences (Kaolin).