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Frankinscense Hydrosol and witch hazel for Eczema
I’m making a skin gel that I wanted to market as sensitive skin care but my target audience is people with dermatitis like eczema since I struggle with severe flares. There is some evidence that frankincense has some benefits for sensitive skin and skin problems. However, the overwhelming studies conclude that nothing with any scent and most plant based products may not be safe.
I would be using 3% witch hazel and 5% frankincense Hydrosol
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7 Replies
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I’d follow what big brands are doing. They invest the most money on research and have the best scientist in the industry. And they are of course very evidence-based, so if they don’t rely on ingredients like frankincence is for a reason. I’ve just checked and the only studies I found about this material are mostly in vitro or mice studies. The human studies I found have been published in low impact factor journals, with many flags about their methodology.
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I removed it from my recipe. Not worth the risk. I use it sucessfully after a flare up. It helps with scaring and increases hyaluronic acid production. Can’t find the research but its one of the best ingredients I’ve ever used. There just isn’t enough robust studies indicating its use for eczema flares.
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I agree with @ketchito, focus on what the FDA has approved for use as skin protectants and work your way from there. This is what they consider skin protectant actives:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-347/subpart-B/section-347.10
I also have eczema and found that a generous amount of skin protectants, humectants, and occlusive agents worked best for me. I looked into making a two part treatment a while ago but have settled on only using the colloidal oatmeal moisturizer (linked below). It has greatly reduced the frequency and duration of my flare ups. If you have any questions about the formula feel free to pm me.
https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/two-part-eczema-treatment/
ecfr.gov
21 CFR 347.10 -- Skin protectant active ingredients.
21 CFR 347.10 -- Skin protectant active ingredients.
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This is good! I make a 20% Urea cream that saved my skin. I love ceremides, I use marshmallow, can’t recommend it enough.
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Just a thought (as another hobbyist with sensitive skin and training in psychology)…why do you want people with skin issues as target audience? The worse somebody’s health issues are, the more likely that they are scared of unknown small brands. Your first buyers will definitely be the open-minded, adventurous ones …so just sell your cream as you made it and use it! You could mention that it has worked on “a few people’s” eczema, but that it could also aggravate it in others.
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It wouldn’t be marketed for skin problems due to the insurance issues with any medical type of claim. And the ethics. But I won’t lie, I’m going to make the packaging look natural, use the word sensitive and talk about my eczema. Also because it’s scent free, it won’t smell good at all. For instance BTMS smells like straight up fish so I need a way to suggest that it has virtues other than a fresh scent lol.
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In that case, why change your working formula? Speaking for myself here, my skin is intolerant of coconut oil, rose water/rose oil, citrus peels, onion juice, Vit E AND rice water(among other things)… all are ingredients that my average neighbour would call Magic Natural Skin/Hair Therapy. You’ll never make a “natural-ish” product that nobody is allergic to, so why try?
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