Enhancing Efficacy of Active Ingredients

For Retinal, Activated Resorcinol S (water soluble), Pro Niacin (Myristyl Nicotinate), and MSH White (Undecylenoyl phenylalanine), Phospholipid at a concentration of 3% can be used as a penetration enhancer to help deliver these ingredients into the skin and improve their effectiveness. Phospholipid, such as Hydrogenated Lecithin, can form liposomes that aid in the absorption of both water-soluble and oil-soluble components.

Mixing L-Ascorbic Acid Powder with Water

You can mix L-Ascorbic Acid powder (such as the Fine or Ultra-Fine grades) directly with highly purified water for short-term use, like for 3 days. However, L-Ascorbic Acid is not very stable when dissolved in water and its absorption into the skin is lower compared to formulations using other bases. For better stability, the formula should have a low pH (ideally between 2.0-4.0, noting that FDA requires pH >= 3.5 for leave-on products) and include Disodium EDTA to help prevent degradation caused by metal ions.

Availability of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

The company currently has no plans to stock Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate. This is primarily due to the difficulty in adjusting its pH to the required stable range (pH 7-9) during formulation, which can lead to quality degradation if not handled precisely. Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA2G) is considered a more stable alternative, although it also requires careful pH adjustment (pH 6.5-6.8) and has a more complex mixing process compared to other Vitamin C derivatives.

RETINAT™ (Starfish Extract) for Clogged Pores

RETINAT™ (Starfish Extract) is known for its anti-aging benefits, such as reducing wrinkles and improving skin elasticity, firmness, and moisture, similar to the effects of Retinol and Retinal but without the associated irritation. Based on the available information, RETINAT™ is not specifically indicated or shown to be effective for treating clogged pores. While Retinal is a form of Vitamin A that can help with acne and clogged pores, RETINAT™'s described benefits focus on anti-aging and skin texture improvement.