Ingredient Analysis of a Serum/Essence Formulation

Asked by: paosk119 On: March 08, 2020 Product Type: Cosmetics

Question

Please analyze the following ingredient list for a cosmetic formulation and explain the function of each ingredient and the overall product type and benefits:

  • Water
  • Sea Kelp (Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate) Bioferment
  • Sodium PCA
  • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C)
  • Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid)
  • Ferulic Acid
  • Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract
  • Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Epigallocatechin Gallate
  • Niacinamide
  • Carnosine
  • Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
  • Carnitine
  • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
  • Sorghum Bicolor Leaf/Stem Extract
  • Lycopene
  • Astaxanthin
  • Fucoxanthin
  • Porphyridium Polysaccharide
  • Glutathione
  • sh-Polypeptide-2
  • sh-Polypeptide-77 (Glutaredoxin (GRX))
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Citric Acid
  • Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Methylparaben (and) Propylparaben

Answer

Cosmetic Formulation Ingredients Analysis

This list of ingredients appears to be from a water-based cosmetic product, likely a serum or essence, focusing on hydration, anti-aging, antioxidant protection, and skin brightening.

Here are some of the key ingredients and their functions:

Hydration and Moisturizing

  • Water: The primary solvent and base of the formulation.
  • Sea Kelp Bioferment (Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate): Provides moisturizing and nourishing benefits. It contains nutrients like Fucoidan, Cysteine, Lysine, and others that help maintain skin balance, strengthen sensitive skin, build immunity, and stimulate circulation for a radiant look. It also has antioxidant properties and can help repair damaged skin cells.
  • Sodium PCA: A natural moisturizing factor (NMF) component found in the skin. It helps balance and moisturize the skin, preventing moisture loss and keeping the skin hydrated and strong.
  • Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid): A form of Hyaluronic Acid, known for its excellent ability to attract and retain moisture, providing hydration and plumping the skin.

Antioxidant and Anti-Aging

  • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C): A stable form of Vitamin C. It acts as an antioxidant and is used for skin brightening (whitening) and potentially anti-aging benefits by stimulating collagen production.
  • Ferulic Acid: A powerful antioxidant found in plants. It helps protect against free radicals and can enhance the stability and effectiveness of other antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E. It also helps prevent skin damage from UVB light.
  • Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG): A potent antioxidant from green tea extract. It helps protect the skin from free radical damage and can also help reduce skin oiliness.
  • Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): A versatile ingredient with multiple benefits, including reducing wrinkles, improving hyperpigmentation (redness/darkness), increasing moisture by stimulating ceramide and collagen production, strengthening the skin barrier, fighting irritation, and reducing oiliness.
  • Carnosine: An amino acid with research supporting its benefits in preventing glycation, protecting from UV damage, supporting wound healing, moisturizing, acting as an antioxidant, and restoring skin barrier function.
  • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane: These are derivatives of Curcumin (found in Turmeric) and are known for their antioxidant and skin brightening properties.
  • Lycopene: A powerful antioxidant carotenoid, often sourced from tomatoes, known for its ability to protect cells from damage.
  • Astaxanthin: A potent antioxidant derived from algae. It helps protect skin from UV damage and improves skin moisture and elasticity.
  • Glutathione: A high-purity antioxidant that can help brighten the skin through its antioxidant process.
  • Superoxide Dismutase (SOD): A crucial antioxidant enzyme that acts as the first line of defense against free radicals, helping to restore skin strength and reduce cell damage.

Soothing and Other Benefits

  • Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract: Contains glycoproteins and polysaccharides that help condition the skin, reduce irritation (like sunburn), and provide moisture.
  • Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone: Often used in eye creams to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness by improving capillary circulation.
  • Carnitine: An amino acid that can play a role in skin conditioning.
  • Sorghum Bicolor Leaf/Stem Extract: Can offer various skin benefits, potentially including antioxidant or soothing properties.
  • Porphyridium Polysaccharide: A type of algae-derived polysaccharide that can provide moisturizing and film-forming properties.

Preservative System

  • Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Methylparaben (and) Propylparaben: This combination acts as a preservative system to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold in the water-based formulation, ensuring product safety and shelf life. Diazolidinyl Urea is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative.

Peptides

  • sh-Polypeptide-2, sh-Polypeptide-77 (Glutaredoxin (GRX)): These are likely signaling peptides or proteins included for their potential to interact with skin cells and promote various beneficial responses, such as repair or antioxidant defense.

pH Adjuster

  • Citric Acid: Commonly used to adjust the pH of cosmetic formulations.

This formulation combines a wide array of ingredients targeting hydration, antioxidant protection, anti-aging, and skin barrier support, along with a standard preservative system.