Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Skin Sensitive Skin Toner Safety Question

  • Sensitive Skin Toner Safety Question

    Posted by SolarMuse on April 18, 2017 at 4:00 am

    I currently do anhydrous skin care and want to break into aqueous sensitive skin facial care. Something simple, like a toner. I have seen a few on the market; is it possible to make a toner using alcohol free witch hazel, hydrosol, seaweed extracts, cucumber extracts, vitamins, and citric acid without preservation? Is citric acid stable enough to keep a product safe for a year? Is it the best choice for sensitive skin?If not, are there other acidifiers that would work effectively for those who are sensitive?

    drbobverdient-biz replied 6 years, 10 months ago 7 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • johnb

    Member
    April 18, 2017 at 7:03 am

    Citric acid will NOT act as a preservative except at extremely high concentrations - much greater than would be acceptable in a cosmetic product. A proper preservative is essential. Don’t be influenced by bloggers, scaremongers and similar know-it-alls about the  dangers of any and all preservatives. A water based product without a preservative can be much more dangerous than all preservatives put together.

    If there are products on the market without preservatives, as you suggest, let them carry on and wait for the hefty lawsuits when something goes wrong.

  • vjay

    Member
    April 18, 2017 at 10:42 am

    Better to use preservative.
    keep your product pH between 4 to 5 using citric acid and add preservative like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.
    I developed so many products with this combination and all products are fine, no any issue of microbs

  • markbroussard

    Member
    April 18, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    You might consider using Lactic Acid (lowers pH and provides moisturization) combined with Gluconodeltalactone (and) Sodium Benzoate.  It’s a nice combination that provides benefits beyond simple preservation and lowering of the pH.

  • drbobverdient-biz

    Member
    April 18, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    As Mark  said at PH 5 use Gluconolacone/BA  (Geoguard ULtra0 which is good preservative and GLA moisturizes and buffers ph.1-1.5% should be sufficient.

  • SolarMuse

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    Thank you all for the great information. I am greatful for all the experience I get to tap into here on this forum!

  • bobzchemist

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    I’ll point out that the FDA regs for water based products are not for the faint-hearted. If you’re planning on selling your products in the US, you might want to reconsider the whole aqueous product concept.

  • drbobverdient-biz

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    @Bobzchemist  i don’t think FDA regulates these types of products unless Drug claims are made.

  • bobzchemist

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    While the FDA regulates both drugs and cosmetics differently, and the regs for drugs are much more stringent, cosmetics are also covered. Water quality and monitoring are areas where the FDA takes a close interest in cosmetics, since the potential for microbial contamination is high.

  • oldperry

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 10:23 pm

    The FDA certainly regulates cosmetics. In fact, the law is the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.  There aren’t a lot of specific regulations but there is the overall law that it is illegal to sell unsafe products. If you are selling a water-based formula and not putting a preservative in it, that is an unsafe product.

  • drbobverdient-biz

    Member
    May 15, 2017 at 10:58 pm

    That is certainly a given adequate preservation is a Must!

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