Understanding DMAE pH and Formulation

Based on your experiment, mixing 10% DMAE powder with 90% water resulting in a pH of 2-3 is expected. DMAE is often used in a salt form (like Bitartrate), which is acidic when dissolved in water. To raise the pH to a less acidic range, you need to add a base.

It is also correct that you would need a significant amount of a weak base like Triethanolamine to raise the pH from 2-3 to 5-6. Triethanolamine is less effective at neutralizing strong acidity compared to stronger bases.

Regarding the target pH, a pH of around 4 is generally well-tolerated by the skin and is often a suitable target for cosmetic formulations containing acidic ingredients. However, if your formula includes other active ingredients that require a pH in the 5-6 range for stability or efficacy, you might need to adjust to that range. As suggested in the forum reply, using a stronger base like Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) might be more effective for reaching a higher pH, although it requires careful handling and precise measurement.

When incorporating DMAE powder into a formula, it is best to dissolve it in water first and adjust the pH of this solution before adding it to the rest of your formulation. After adding all ingredients, check the final pH of your complete formula and make any necessary final adjustments.

For liquid DMAE products, such as DMAE (SkinTight MD™) Liquid, they are typically pre-adjusted solutions of DMAE. The recommended usage rate for DMAE (SkinTight MD™) Liquid is generally 1-10%, with 3% being recommended and concentrations above 5% potentially causing skin irritation. Using 20% of this liquid product would be significantly higher than the recommended maximum and could cause irritation. Always follow the manufacturer's recommended usage rate for specific liquid products.

In summary:

• Your observation about the low pH of 10% DMAE powder solution and the need for a lot of Triethanolamine to raise pH is correct.
• A pH of 4 is often suitable for skin, but adjusting to 5-6 is possible if required by other formula components, potentially using a stronger base like Sodium Hydroxide carefully.
• Liquid DMAE products are pre-adjusted solutions; refer to their specific recommended usage rates (e.g., 1-10% for DMAE (SkinTight MD™) Liquid), which are typically much lower than 20%.
• Always adjust the pH of your DMAE solution before incorporating it into the final formula and check the final formula pH.