Formula Analysis and Mixing Steps

Regarding the formula and mixing steps you provided, as well as the additional information from the forum discussion, here is the information:

Formula Ingredients

The ingredients you are using, including Vitamin B3, Glucosamine, Hydrolyzed collagen, Phenoxyethanol, and Xanthan Gum, are popular ingredients in skincare products and have properties that help with skin brightening, reducing wrinkles, and providing good hydration. More details are as follows:

• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): Helps reduce dark spots, redness, increases moisture, stimulates collagen and ceramide production, and helps strengthen the skin. The 5% concentration used is a recommended and effective amount.
• Glucosamine (Acetyl Glucosamine): When used with Vitamin B3, it enhances brightening and dark spot reduction effects and helps stimulate the skin's natural Hyaluronic Acid production, making the skin moisturized and reducing wrinkles. The 4% concentration used is suitable when paired with Vitamin B3 5%.
• Hydrolyzed collagen: Helps increase skin moisture and elasticity. The 3% concentration is appropriate for this formula.
• Phenoxyethanol: Is a safe and commonly used preservative in cosmetics. The 1% concentration is within the recommended range for preventing microbial growth in water-based formulas. A broad-spectrum type should be chosen if better fungal coverage is needed.
• Xanthan Gum: Is a thickening agent that helps stabilize the formula's texture. The 1% concentration will provide a suitable gel consistency.

Regarding Oligo GGF and DMAE Bitartrate, information was not found in our product database. However, based on the information you provided, Oligo GGF is readily water-soluble, and DMAE Bitartrate is acidic, which is a crucial point to consider in the mixing process.

Mixing Steps

Your proposed mixing steps are correct in terms of dissolving most ingredients in water, but a crucial point that needs adjustment is pH adjustment. Since DMAE Bitartrate is acidic, adding it to the formula will lower the pH, which might not be suitable for the skin or the efficacy of some ingredients (e.g., Vitamin B3 and Glucosamine have optimal pH ranges).

Recommended mixing steps are as follows:

1. In a clean beaker/container, gradually add Vitamin B3, Glucosamine, Oligo GGF, and DMAE Bitartrate to the distilled water. Stir or use a mixer until all ingredients are completely dissolved.
2. Slowly sprinkle Xanthan Gum into the water solution while continuously stirring/mixing (you can mix Xanthan Gum with a small amount of Glycerin before adding to water to help it disperse better and prevent clumping). Continue stirring/mixing until the Xanthan Gum is dissolved and a smooth gel texture is formed.
3. Add Hydrolyzed collagen and stir until well combined.
4. Measure the pH of the resulting formula. If the pH is below the suitable range (generally for skincare products, it should be between 4.0-7.0, and the optimal pH range of each ingredient should also be considered), gradually add an alkaline pH adjuster (such as Triethanolamine or a dilute Sodium Hydroxide solution) drop by drop, stirring well and re-measuring the pH until the desired value is reached.
5. Add Phenoxyethanol and stir to combine as the final step.
6. Let the gel mixture sit for a few hours to allow the Xanthan Gum to fully hydrate and the gel to become clear and uniform.

Refrigerating after mixing is complete can help extend shelf life, but the refrigeration steps during mixing (as per your original steps 2 and 3) may not be necessary for dissolving these ingredients.

In summary, your revised formula contains good ingredients for skin care, but the mixing steps require pH adjustment to ensure the formula is most effective and safe for the skin.