Using Water in Cosmetic Formulations

Regarding the use of water in cosmetic formulations, it is highly recommended to use purified water, such as distilled water or Reverse Osmosis (RO) water.

• Saline solution (for wound cleaning) is not suitable for mixing into creams or other cosmetic products. It contains salts that can cause skin dryness and irritation with prolonged use, negatively impacting the quality and feel of the cream.

• Purified water is essential because it is free from minerals, ions, and microorganisms that can interfere with the stability of the cosmetic formula, react with ingredients, or cause contamination.

If you have difficulty finding distilled water, you can use bottled RO water. If using tap water or other non-purified water sources, it is advisable to boil the water first to kill microorganisms.

• Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent that helps to bind metal ions present in water (even in supposedly pure water sources). These metal ions can destabilize cosmetic formulas and reduce the effectiveness of other ingredients, particularly preservatives. Therefore, it is highly recommended to add Disodium EDTA to your formulation, especially when you are not certain about the purity of the water source. A typical usage rate is 0.1-0.2%.

Using the correct type of water and adding a chelating agent like Disodium EDTA helps ensure the stability, safety, and quality of your homemade cosmetic products.