Comparing Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Beta Glucan

Let's look at the differences between Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Beta Glucan in terms of irritation, properties, and suitable solvents.

Irritation

• Beta Glucan has a key property of helping to reduce and protect the skin from irritation, making Beta Glucan generally milder on the skin.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), especially in powder form or high concentrations, may cause skin irritation. It is often recommended to start with a low concentration.

Therefore, in terms of irritation, Beta Glucan is less irritating than ALA.

Properties

Both ingredients are beneficial for the skin but have different strengths:

• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): A highly effective antioxidant that helps slow down aging, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity and texture. It has properties that help soothe skin, reduce redness, and can also help brighten the skin. It also enhances the effectiveness of Vitamins C and E.
• Beta Glucan: Focuses on providing deep skin hydration, strengthening the skin barrier, and has outstanding properties in reducing and preventing skin irritation. It helps soothe sensitive skin, reduce redness, and can also help reduce wrinkles.

In summary, ALA excels in antioxidant activity, anti-aging, and skin tone improvement, while Beta Glucan excels in hydration, barrier support, and irritation reduction.

Solvents

The solvent used depends on the specific form of the ingredient you choose:

• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA):
  • Powder form (e.g., Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) (Powder)) is soluble in oil, Propylene Glycol, or other types of Glycol.
  • Oil base form (e.g., ALA Ready™ (Alpha Lipoic Acid Oil Base)) is already an oil and can be mixed directly into the oil phase.
  • Encapsulated form (e.g., ActiveRelease™ ALA) is water-soluble.
• Beta Glucan:
  • Liquid form from yeast (e.g., Beta Glucan (Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract)) is water-soluble.
  • Powder form from oat (e.g., Beta Glucan 70% (Oat Extract, Water-Soluble), Beta Glucan 90% (Oat Extract, Water-Soluble)) is water-soluble.

Using Mineral Water

It is not recommended to use mineral water for cosmetic formulations. You should use purified water specifically for cosmetics, such as Deionized Water (DI Water) or Distilled Water. Mineral water may contain minerals or impurities that can affect formula stability or potentially cause skin issues.