Benzoyl Peroxide anti-acne cream

Tagged: anti-acne, benzoyl-peroxide, formulating, solvents

Formulating

Benzoyl Peroxide anti-acne cream

Posted by Trng1122 on August 18, 2022 at 1:41 pm

Hello everybody here,
Thanks for clicking into this discussion, hope that you can share with me some experience in dissolving Benzoyl Peroxide powder.
I’ve tried it with Propylene glycol, Butylene Glycol, Capric Tryglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate,… but it always fails. I did more research and most formulators suggest Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dimethyl Sulfoxide, ethyl alcohol… But I assume I would go with Dimethyl Sulfoxide since the researchers said Benzoyl Peroxide is dissolved freely in Dimethyl Sulfoxide but Dimethyl Isosorbide is soluble in water, which is perfect to make a gel.
So what solvent can be perfect for Benzoyl Peroxide?

Thought I may choose one of the above solvent until I came across these formula, it suggested other solvents. Can you tell me your experience while making benzoyl peroxide, do you have the same formular as the uploaded picture here?
While using some Benzoyl Peroxide cream, I notice that Benzoyl Peroxide is only dispersed in the cream base (not totally dissolved). Is this the normal state of Benzoyl Peroxide in anti-acne cream? Would there be any differences in effectiveness between BP soluble in cream and BP dispersible in cream?

Can I just follow the first picture to make a perfect Benzoyl Peroxide gel?

Trng1122 replied 2 years, 4 months ago 4 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

chemicalmatt

Member
August 19, 2022 at 5:59 pm

IT will not be a clear gel, only a suspension. Benz peroxide is slightly soluble in water and ethanol. Most trade compositions are 40% suspensions stabilized in situ, so you drop it into your batch. Shipping 100% pure benz COO is a nonstarter - one blip, spark or bump and the truck goes kaplooey!
MarkBroussard

Member
August 20, 2022 at 12:28 am

@Trng1122

Try using Curoxyl 42 from Vantage. It’s a 40% suspension of micronized BP in water … just drop it in and your done.
amitvedakar

Member
August 20, 2022 at 10:37 am

To make semi clear gel, dissole BPO. -DMSO. I think 10% is too high.
Trng1122

Member
August 21, 2022 at 2:28 pm

MarkBroussard said:

@Trng1122

Try using Curoxyl 42 from Vantage. It’s a 40% suspension of micronized BP in water … just drop it in and your done.

I already bought many batches of Benzoyl Peroxide powder, my budget can’t let them go. Thanks for the recommendation.
Trng1122

Member
August 21, 2022 at 2:37 pm

amitvedakar said:

To make semi clear gel, dissole BPO. -DMSO. I think 10% is too high.

Thanks for making it clear to me. Can you recommend the ratio of BP and DMSO? I just want to make 2.5% or 5% BP cream, can I mix the 5% BP with 10% DMSO and then add the whole mixture into water and gellant? Have ever you made this successfully?
Trng1122

Member
August 21, 2022 at 2:38 pm

chemicalmatt said:

IT will not be a clear gel, only a suspension. Benz peroxide is slightly soluble in water and ethanol. Most trade compositions are 40% suspensions stabilized in situ, so you drop it into your batch. Shipping 100% pure benz COO is a nonstarter - one blip, spark or bump and the truck goes kaplooey!

Thanks for your wise words, I’ll take note of this.
amitvedakar

Member
August 22, 2022 at 4:26 am

amitvedakar said:

To make semi clear gel, dissole BPO. -DMSO. I think 10% is too high.

Sorry it’s Dimethyl Isosorbide.
Trng1122

Member
August 23, 2022 at 11:20 am

amitvedakar said:

amitvedakar said:

To make semi clear gel, dissole BPO. -DMSO. I think 10% is too high.

Sorry it’s Dimethyl Isosorbide.

Thanks for making it clear to me.