Guidance on Product Usage and Mixing

Using Vitamin C Products

Based on previous advice, using two types of Vitamin C products simultaneously in your routine might be redundant and could potentially increase the risk of irritation.

• Vitamin C E Ferulic: This is a form of Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C stabilized with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid.
• Stabilized Vitamin C: This can refer to various forms, such as Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G) or a ready-to-use serum base (Natural-C Glycol™ Serum).

It is recommended to choose and use only one type of Vitamin C product at a time to ensure your skin receives the benefits without excessive irritation.

Mixing Alpha Arbutin

You are correct in your understanding. As previously advised, it is not recommended to mix Alpha Arbutin with Hada Labo products that already contain Arbutin (the blue bottle) because:

• The exact concentration of Arbutin in the Hada Labo product is unknown.
• Adding Alpha Arbutin could easily cause the total concentration of Arbutin-like substances to exceed the recommended maximum of 2%. Using more than 2% can increase the risk of skin irritation.

Recommendations for Mixing Alpha Arbutin:

• Should be mixed with a base or cream that does not contain Arbutin or other similar skin-lightening ingredients.
• Proper calculation of proportions is necessary to ensure the final concentration of Alpha Arbutin in your formulation does not exceed 2%.
• The pH of the final formulation should be adjusted to be between 3.5-6.5 for optimal stability and effectiveness of Alpha Arbutin. Avoid pH levels higher than 8, as this can cause Alpha Arbutin to break down into Hydroquinone, which is a hazardous substance.

Dissolving Alpha Arbutin in Plain Water for Application:

It is not recommended to dissolve Alpha Arbutin in plain water and apply it directly to your face. Active ingredients like Alpha Arbutin need to be properly formulated into a suitable cosmetic base (such as a serum, cream, or lotion) at the correct pH and concentration to be stable, safe, and effectively absorbed by the skin. Using a simple water solution is unlikely to be stable, safe, or provide the desired results.

Other Ready-to-Use Whitening Ingredients

As the staff previously mentioned, the company primarily sells ingredients for cosmetic formulation, not finished cosmetic products ready for direct sale to consumers. However, some products are available as ready-to-use bases, such as Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum. This is a highly stable Vitamin C serum base that can be used as is (though adding other ingredients should be done with caution and ideally after consulting R&D to maintain stability).

For skin whitening, besides Alpha Arbutin and Vitamin C, other popular ingredients include Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid Derivatives, or various plant extracts. But most of these are sold as ingredients that need to be incorporated into a formulation base.

In summary, your proposed steps of using two Vitamin C products together and mixing Alpha Arbutin with Hada Labo containing Arbutin are not correct based on the previous advice. You should choose only one Vitamin C product and, if using Alpha Arbutin, mix it with an appropriate base at the correct concentration.