Formula Review for Post-Treatment Skin Recovery

Your proposed formula is well-suited for addressing the issues of redness, peeling, dryness, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) that you are experiencing after your skin treatment. The combination of ingredients targets key aspects of skin recovery, including barrier repair, hydration, soothing, collagen stimulation, and PIH reduction.

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients and their roles:

• Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) 5%: Excellent for moisturizing, soothing, and wound healing. It helps restore the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
• CeraTouch™ (Ceramide Complex) 5%: Ceramides are vital for a healthy skin barrier. This concentration is high but beneficial for severely compromised skin, helping to reduce dryness and sensitivity.
• Double Hyaluronic Acid 5%: Provides intense hydration by drawing moisture into different layers of the skin. Note that 5% is a very high concentration and may result in a thick or sticky texture.
• MOIST72™ 4%: Mimics the skin's natural moisturizing factors for long-lasting hydration, effectively combating dryness.
• Allantoin: Known for its soothing and anti-irritant properties, promoting healing and reducing redness.
• Hi-Quercetin® 5%: Offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and barrier-restoring benefits. It can help prevent scarring and reduce irritation. Be aware that 5% may cause a temporary yellow tint on the skin.
• SKIN-DEFENSE® 5%: Contains β-Sitosterol, which effectively reduces skin irritation and restores the barrier without the side effects of synthetic steroids. 5% provides strong soothing action.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) 2%: A versatile ingredient that reduces redness and PIH, strengthens the barrier, and stimulates collagen and ceramides.
• Madecassoside 1.5%: A potent component from Centella Asiatica, promoting wound healing, reducing inflammation, stimulating collagen, and helping with redness and PIH.

Overall Formula Suitability:
The formula is comprehensive and appropriate for your skin's current state. The high concentrations of barrier repair agents and hydrators are beneficial for severe dryness and peeling. You can evaluate the texture and color from your tester batch and consider slightly adjusting the percentages of Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Complex, or Hi-Quercetin if needed for aesthetic preference, but the current mix is potent for recovery.

Addressing Your Specific Questions:

1. Suitability for post-treatment skin: Yes, the formula is very suitable for addressing dryness, peeling, redness, and PIH after a treatment.
2. β-Sitosterol long-term safety: β-Sitosterol (in SKIN-DEFENSE®) is a plant-derived ingredient and is safe for long-term use. It does not have the side effects associated with synthetic corticosteroid drugs.
3. Hydroquinone 4% for redness: Hydroquinone is primarily used to treat dark spots (hyperpigmentation) by reducing melanin production, not redness (erythema). Its use in cosmetics is restricted. The ingredients in your formula (Vitamin B3, Madecassoside, Hi-Quercetin, SKIN-DEFENSE, Allantoin, Vitamin B5) are more appropriate for reducing redness and inflammation, and Vitamin B3 and Madecassoside also help address PIH over time. If you need a strong ingredient specifically for dark spots (PIH) and cannot use Hydroquinone, alternatives like Hydro-White™ exist, but your current formula already includes ingredients beneficial for PIH.