Simple Brightening Cream Formulation

Here is a guide for creating a simple brightening cream for combination skin using the ingredients you listed, along with recommended usage percentages based on the discussion:

Ingredients and Recommended Percentages:

• Mineral Oil or LipidSoft: For combination skin, a range of 3-5% is recommended. If you have drier skin, you could go up to 10%.
  • Regarding using LipidSoft instead of Mineral Oil: Yes, you can use a LipidSoft type like LipidSoft™ Lite to replace Mineral Oil entirely. LipidSoft™ Lite has a very light texture and can help the cream spread easily without feeling heavy or clogging pores. However, using a high percentage might result in a thinner texture compared to Mineral Oil, as noted in the conversation.
• Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate): Use not more than 1%. Higher concentrations can make the cream feel very sticky. It acts as an antioxidant for the skin and helps protect other ingredients.
• B-3 (Safe-B3™ Niacinamide): Use 3-5%. This ingredient is excellent for reducing dark spots and redness, improving skin barrier function, and controlling oiliness. Safe-B3™ is a high-purity form that can be used up to 10% without causing flushing, but 3-5% is a good starting point for general brightening.
• NAG (GlucoBright™ Acetyl Glucosamine): Use 3-5%. NAG works well with Vitamin B3 to enhance whitening and reduce dark spots. It also helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid for moisture.
• Vitamin B-5 (Panthenol): The percentage depends on your skin's moisture needs. For combination or oily skin, you might use less or omit it. If your skin is dry, you could use up to 5%. The recommended range is 1-3% for skin. Be aware that using more than 5% might make the product feel gooey. Panthenol helps hydrate, reduce inflammation, and support wound healing. Note that Vitamin B5 powder has a high pH (9.0-10.5), which needs to be considered for the final formula pH.
• Light Cream Maker™: Start with 1%. This acts as your emulsifier and thickener. You can gradually increase the percentage (e.g., 1.2%, 1.5%, 1.7%) if you want a thicker cream consistency. It works without heat and can handle some oil content.
• Preservative (e.g., Mild Preserved Eco™): The usage rate depends on the specific preservative. For Mild Preserved Eco™, the general recommendation is 1.0-1.5% for cosmetic formulas. A preservative is essential to prevent microbial growth and keep your cream safe and stable.

Remember to adjust the percentage of water (or other base liquid) to make up 100% of your total formula. Always test your formulation on a small area of skin first.