Basic Questions on Using Raw Ingredients and Measuring Percentages in Cosmetic Formulation

Asked by: vassanar554145234 On: February 22, 2015 Product Type: Cosmetics

Question

I am new to this website and cosmetic formulation. I have two questions:

  1. Regarding raw ingredients like Vitamin B3, Azelaic Acid, and Vitamin C sold in containers (white jars, white tubes), can they be used directly on the skin after purchase?
  2. In formulation instructions, like "add 5%" (e.g., Pitera 5%), how is this percentage measured or determined?

Answer

Hello! Welcome to the website. It's great you're exploring cosmetic formulation.

Here are answers to your questions:

  1. Can ingredients like Vitamin B3, Azelaic Acid, and Vitamin C be used directly?

    • Ingredients sold on the website, such as Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Azelaic Acid, and Vitamin C (like Ascorbic Acid), are typically raw materials intended for use in cosmetic formulations.
    • They are usually highly concentrated and should not be applied directly to the skin from the container they are sold in.
    • These raw materials need to be properly diluted and incorporated into a complete formula (like a serum, cream, lotion, etc.) along with other ingredients (such as water, oils, emulsifiers, preservatives, etc.) at appropriate, safe, and effective concentrations.
    • Applying raw, undiluted ingredients can cause skin irritation, sensitivity, or may not be effective because they are not in a suitable base for skin absorption.

  2. How to measure percentages in formulations (e.g., 5% Pitera)?

    • Percentages in cosmetic formulations almost always refer to weight by weight (w/w). This means the weight of the ingredient as a percentage of the total weight of the final product.
    • To measure a percentage, you need a scale.
    • Example: If a formula says to add 5% Pitera, and you want to make 100 grams of the final product:
      • You would measure 5 grams of Pitera.
      • The remaining 95 grams would be the total weight of all other ingredients combined (your base, water, other actives, etc.).
    • If you want to make a different amount, say 50 grams:
      • Calculate 5% of 50 grams: 0.05 * 50g = 2.5 grams of Pitera.
      • The remaining 50g - 2.5g = 47.5 grams would be the total weight of all other ingredients.
    • Using a digital scale that can measure in grams accurately (preferably to two decimal places for smaller batches) is essential for precise formulation.

I hope this helps clarify things for you as you start learning! Feel free to ask if you have more questions.

Tags

Active Ingredient Amount Calculation Cosmetic Formulation Raw Material Usage Percentage