MarkBroussard
Forum Replies Created
-
Both Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (individually) can cause skin reaction in some people, so it could be either or both of these that are causing the reaction. Also, you have a high load of Potassium Sorbate … you can cut that down to 0.15%. Typical use rates are Sodium Benzoate (0.3%), Potassium Sorbate (0.15%) when used in combination.
As Abdullah mentioned, Phenoxyethanol is your best bet for mildness. But, if you are prohibited from using PE9010, you might try Pentylene Glycol (2%) + Phenethyl Alcohol (1%) + Sodium Benzoate or Potassium Sorbate at the levels I mentioned + GLDA (=TSGD)
-
I don’t know where you’re getting the pH 3.0 to 5.0 range for Decyl Glucoside, but I would not put too much stock into that as I don’t think it is accurate. Sticking with non-ionic APG’s is not a bad idea, but Decyl Glucoside has some contact dermatitis issues, so not really your best choice. Better to go with Coco Glucoside and an amphoteric if you want a blend … perhaps Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine.
Most brands use language like “Coconut-Derived Surfactant” … it’s a travesty that this type of labeling is allowed for pet grooming products.
-
My experience has been, and I have developed numerous pet care products, that most people who want to formulate pet care products do so from a human’s perspective, not a dog’s perspective. Particularly with fragrances, they want to choose fragrances that are pleasant to humans without consideration that the dog is the one who has to wear the scent that humans choose for them. There is also some good research on the scents that dogs tend to like that include coconut, ginger, lavender, blueberry, vanilla among others. So, many products for pets are over-scented and contain fragrances that may be very unpleasant to the animals.
Yes, most people are not aware that there are veterinary dermatology specialists.
-
@Lab:
Yes, you are correct. Several essential oils are toxic to dogs as are some plant extracts that are not toxic to humans. Dogs also tend to lick at areas so they can ingest the toxic ingredients that most humans may consider benign. The ASPCA has a poison control hotline … unfortunately, pet grooming products are not regulated by the FDA and many formulators of pet care products are not aware of these toxicities so you find them in many pet care products.
Plus, dogs’ sense of smell is so much more sensitive than humans, a scent that may smell good to a human is overwhelming when sprayed on a dog.
-
You are correct. When formulating for dogs you will want to keep the pH between 7.0 and 7.5. There are numerous studies documenting that the pH of dog skin is more alkaline than human skin and it varies by breed. Use gentle surfactants as though you were formulating for a human baby and do a final pH adjustment of your concoction to the 7.0-7.5 range.
-
I think the “Like” button is a horrible idea. This isn’t a social media site, it’s a site for factual information.
It is not uncommon for incorrect information to be posted on this site. What if a number of non-chemists all “Like” a comment because they don’t know what the correct factual information is and the post is repeating incorrect information that is commonly found on mommy-blog sites. I’ve seen many common mommie-blogger nonsense statements perpectuated here.
What would be useful is a Fact Check button where users who question a particular statement could request a Fact Check by a chemist accompanied by a Factually Correct button that the chemist could verify that the statement is Factually Correct. More work for Perry, but it better maintains the integrity of information posted on the site.
-
If you search, you will find some studies on the effectiveness of Salicylic Acid as a function of pH. I think you will find that the effectiveness of SA is not as pH dependent as some may think so long as your pH < 4.5 - 5.0.
-
Looks like someone else recently wrote on the topic:
As a chemist, I would say it depends on the specific retinoid you are using, the retinoid load in the product you are using and the amount of time you have been using that retinoid. If you are new to applying the retinoid or if you are using a strong retinoid, maybe not a great idea to slug simultaneously. If you are using a milder retinoid, relatively low concentration and your skin has acclimated to that retinoid, probably won’t do any harm. If you are using a prescription Retinoid, follow your Derm’s advice and don’t slug. If it’s a non-prescription retinol cream product, slugging simultaneously will probably not do any damage.
I think the more pertinent question is: Why would you apply pure petrolatum on your face before going to sleep? Nasty.
-
Are you asking if you can purchase a private label base manufactured by a third party and then blending-in menthol and camphor … but menthol and camphor are not added-in when the base is being manufactured?
-
There is a product from Sederma … Norgel … it is a Glycerin complexed in a matrix of Methacrylate Polymer … I have used it on a couple of projects in the past. Easier than trying to form your own complex from scratch.
-
You can purchase Phytic Acid from Biosil Technologies in the US. Are you using it as both a chelating agent and pH adjuster? Phytic Acid and Sodium Phytate have different effects as it regards pH adjustment. Phytic Acid will lower pH, Sodium Phytate will raise pH.
-
There is absolutely nothing wrong with pH 3.8 with this preservative. Do you find the for some reason pH 3.8 is too low for your product for some reason? I would leave well enough alone unless you have some really compelling reason to raise the pH above 3.8
-
You’ll want to use Methyl Methacrylate or Polymethyl Methacrylate
-
You might want to do some in-depth research on Collagen and Elastin formation and MMP’s.
Plant Stem Cells … in cosmetics the plant stem cells are actually biological factories for the manufacture of high purity plant extracts. When you purchase a plant stem cell extract, you are actually buying just the extract, not plant stem cells. It’s a clever sleight of hand on the marketing language.
-
Yes, you can use food grade ingredients in cosmetics.
-
@Lilly:
If all you’re doing is adding Chamomile Extract so you can list it on the label, then just add one drop of extract to your formula. Your list of ingredients is just fine for an AHA serum. If you’re looking for a way to differentiate it, perhaps take a look at addng a polyhydroxy acid instead of plant extracts.
-
Niosomes are generally prepared using a non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Niosomes are shape shifters … the vesicle is not a rigid structure, but can change shape to enhance penetration.
-
@lilly:
The better question is: Will Chamomile Extract (or any plant extract, for that matter) do anything in the formula at all at any pH? The typical commercial extract is at most 8% extract + 92% water, glycerin or butylene glycol. Add 1% of that to a formula and you have 0.08% extract. And, 0.8% is generous … many extracts are only 1% - 2% extract. They are label ingredients.
-
Why don’t you do some research on deformable niosomes and see if that presents a viable option for you. But, if you are using a microneedling device, the solution coated on the microneedle will penetrate to some extent.
-
You’ll have to post a full formula for anyone to be able to help you … just not enough info in your post to understand what might be causing the issue. But one quick Q: Are you adding ZnO and TiO2 powders and homogenizing or are you adding pre-mix ZnO and TiO2 in carrirer oils?
-
Benzoic Acid has relatively poor solubility in water, so that is not your best choice of preservative to begin with. Why not choose something that is completely benign to MgCl such as Phenoxyethanol/EHG. And, if you are adding MgCl at a high enough percentage, the Mg Oils don’t generally need a preservative. Which raises another issue: MgCl creams can be quite tricky to make since the high level of MgCl (30%) wreaks havoc on the viscosity of an emulsion.
-
The “probiotics” “prebiotic” ingredients are just like any other ingredient and the preservative will not have any effect on them.
-
@drjayseesunish
Viscosity can be affected by pH. It’s all a function of how the surfactants interact with each other, but you can get some increase in viscosity by lowering the pH of certain surfactant combinations. i don’t think there is a general rule in this regard. You just need to test it.
Viscosity by salt will only work with certain surfactants or sufactant combinations. Non-Ionic surfactants will not salt thicken. Whereas anionic taurates generally respond well to salt-thickening. Again, as with pH, you need to experiment to see if you get thickening of a surfactant mixture by lowering the pH and/or adding salt.
-
If the total percentage of a formula exceeds 100%, then you made a math error in calculating the total.