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Niacinamide toner develops white residue on containers and surfaces
Hi all, I have a simple toner containing witch hazel, vitamin B3 (4%), a chelating agent, and a preservative. Whenever the product spills, a white residue is left; could this be due to the recrystallization of niacinamide?
This residue is not observed when applied to the skin, but the bottleneck of the container develops an (unappealing) flaky build-up over time. Could someone recommend a fix for the flaking?
Thanks!
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4 Replies
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Sure it is Niacinamide crystalizes. When toner dries out the water is gone and all solid ingredients become powder, obviously.
One way would be to add a mix of humectants, like Glycerin + some glycols. They will prevent water evaporation so quickly, but still won’t prevent it if you leave it open.
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Niacinamide, under certain conditions like changes in pH or evaporation of water, can precipitate out of solution and form crystals. This is likely why you notice the residue when the product spills or at the bottleneck of the container, where the solution might be more exposed to air and evaporation over time. It might help, if you use an airtight container and increase the level of glycols you use (to prevent evaporation). Also, check the pH if there has been any shifts (it should be between 5-7).
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Thanks everyone!
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Just increase the glycol % in the formulation.
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