Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Vitamin C serum, solubilizer

  • Vitamin C serum, solubilizer

    Posted by Anonymous on October 17, 2016 at 6:52 am

    I
    make serum with ascorbic acid + vitamin E + ferulic acid. I decide to
    solve ferulic acid by propanediol (vegetable). 
    I
    know that most companies dissolve vitamin E by Laureth-23, but I want
    something more compatibile with skin (not a polyethylene glycol
    ester) . 
    I
    want to dissolve vitamin E with Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate and I’m
    wondering if P4C will be good for this solution- will it be stable in
    pH 3? Some documents suggest that P4C is stable at pH >4. But one
    recipe of serum with ascorbic acid have P4C in formula:

    Perfect C Serum, ingredients:

    Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Ascorbic Acid (L), Alcohol, Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ergothioneine (L), Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Lipids, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Pink Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Fructooligosaccharides (D-beta), Beta-Carotene (D), Glucosamine HCI (D), Wine Extract, Astaxanthin, Tocotrienols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol (D-alpha), Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum 

    What do you think, have you tried this or similar mix?

    MarkBroussard replied 8 years ago 4 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • Zink

    Member
    October 18, 2016 at 5:52 am

    Alternatively you could use Polysorbate-20, I think you’ll just have to try it and see if there’s any visible separation. Oh and let me know if you figure out how to avoid tackiness from L-Ascorbic acid!

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    October 24, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Thank you , I will try p4C. If I will find a non-tackiness formula (without silicones) I’ll let you know, but this is tough nut to crack :)

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    October 24, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    You are aware that Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) + Vitamin E + Ferulic Acid at pH below 3.5 is a patent-protection formulation?

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    October 24, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    Yes, I’m aware of this. But antything has changed? I thought that they have a patent for pH 2,5-3.

  • Microformulation

    Member
    October 24, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    They don’t limit the patent to that pH. This is really the area of a patent attorney.
    The patent holder will license the technology. However if you ever get large enough to come to their attention you could expect a cease and desist. They interpret the patent to be for the stabilization of L-ascorbic acid with Ferrulic acid.

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    October 24, 2016 at 11:24 pm

    The main claim of the patent is that the combination of Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E stabilizes Ascorbic Acid below pH of 3.5, so it’s not just the pH range that is covered, but the combination of Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E and Ascorbic Acid.

  • belassi

    Member
    October 25, 2016 at 12:28 am

    There certainly is a lot of magic smoke in that formula. I prefer to use a more advanced (but much more expensive) form of vitamin C.

  • Microformulation

    Member
    October 25, 2016 at 1:51 am

    I agree. Even when these stabilization strategies are applied, a very finite shelf life is achieved. The efficacy is just as good with some of the more stable derivatives and the stability is superior.

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    October 25, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    The “hole” in the patent is that it only covers Ascorbic Acid, not other forms of Vitamin C … so you can use Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate or any other form of Vitamin C, all of which are more stable than Ascorbic Acid and you’re not violating the patent.  These forms of Vitamin C are stable in the pH range 6.0 to 7.0.

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