Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Stabilizing a 3% benzoyl peroxide formula

  • Stabilizing a 3% benzoyl peroxide formula

    Posted by zink on November 29, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    Have a formula I’d like to extend the shelf-life of to make it more viable, in other words extend the time it takes for its BP content to degrade 10% below the label value of 3%. Ideally you want this to be beyond 12 months.

    The base formula has 10% alcohol, 5% DMI, Curoxyl and a gellant. It holds together well, but shelf-life could be better.

    Could it be as simple as adding more BHT which is what’s used to stabilize curoxyl in the first place? (The study mentioned below did not find 0.1% BHT helped).

    Incorporating 5% C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate know to have some stabilizing effect (2007 Stability of Benzoyl Peroxide in Aromatic Ester-Containing 

    Topical Formulations)

    Adding more solvents will make it too drying.

    Other ideas?

    bill_toge replied 2 years, 3 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • bill_toge

    Member
    November 29, 2021 at 7:11 pm

    I can’t vouch for their effectiveness with benzoyl peroxide, but in my experience, sodium stannate and etidronic acid work well to stabilise hydrogen peroxide, as does keeping the pH below 4

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