How To Mix Bulk Arbutin Powder In Cosmetics?
Why Do You Need To Mix Arbutin In Your Lotions?
Arbutin is a natural active substance derived from plants, integrating “green plants, safe and reliable” with “efficient decolorization” into a single component.
If you search for arbutin for skin, you will find many skincare products.
You can see branded creams and serums for hyperpigmentation.
There are also a lot of its soaps, lotions, and masks.
Arbutin can even out your skin tone and treat acne scars.
Below are some of the benefits of arbutin.
#1. One of the most effective skin-whitening agents.
Alpha-arbutin can brighten dark spots on the skin in about 3weeks.
Trust me, no other ingredients can do this trick in such a short time.
Its whitening effect is 15 times that of beta-arbutin, yet it is only 8 times more expensive.
It can quickly penetrate the skin without affecting cell proliferation.
It can effectively inhibit tyrosinase activity in the skin and block melanin formation by directly binding to tyrosinase.
Thus, it accelerates the decomposition and excretion of melanin, reducing skin pigmentation and eliminating pigmentation and freckles.
#2. Safe to use alone or mixed.
Before arbutin, hydroquinone was the most commonly used whitening agent. This agent is harmful and irritating to the skin and was later banned in many countries.
Arbutin is natural and mild to the skin, like kojic acid dipalmitate. Arbutin’s safety is unimportant. It will not irritate your skin, even if you have sensitive skin.
Some people may worry about acne issues; now they can worry no more.
There are tests to show that alpha-arbutin won’t cause any. Instead, it will treat acne scars, making them less noticeable.
Meanwhile, it does not produce toxic, irritating, sensitizing, or other side effects to melanocytes but has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. It is one of the safest and most effective whitening ingredients in vogue today and is the ideal skin-whitening active agent for the 21st century.
#3. Super compatible.
You can combine arbutin with other whitening ingredients to achieve a more effective result
Mix it with kojic acid dipalmitate, kojic acid powder, vitamin C esters, etc.
It is what Glenmark has been doing.
Their Demelan has alpha-arbutin, Kojic acid dipalmitate, and Glycolic acid.
Several Brand Cosmetics Manufacturers make arbutin into 2% alpha-arbutin solutions by combining 8% vitamin C solutions for their new shining series.
#4. Very cost-effective.
Compared to Coenzyme Q10, Glutathione reduced, and some of the Vitamin C Esters and arbutin prices were lower, especially when Coenzyme Q10’s price almost doubled by the end of 2019.
Although glycolic acid and kojic acid are much cheaper, both irritate sensitive skin.
Before you begin mixing it, you must know there are two types of arbutin: alpha and beta.
The retail price for 1 kg of alpha-arbutin is around 300 USD, and for beta-arbutin, 200 USD.
Know their differences before you proceed.
Alpha-Arbutin vs Beta-Arbutin
Both alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin are white to off-white powders commonly used in cosmetics.
Both of them are water-soluble.
They are similar in many ways, including the same molecular weight and chemical formula. However, they also differ, as we have compiled below.
#1 More Efficient
In vivo tests showed that alpha-arbutin is more effective at 1.0% than Beta-Arbutin, and 9 times more effective than Beta-Arbutin in vitro.
Its activity against melanin is 9 times that of beta-arbutin and 4 times that of kojic acid.
#2 More stable
Testing shows that alpha-arbutin is chemically more stable than beta-arbutin and has a longer shelf life.
Adding alpha-type ingredients to whitening cosmetics is more convenient than using beta-type ingredients.
Alpha-arbutin is most stable when the pH is between 3.5 and 6.5.
#3 More expensive but safer
Though beta-arbutin is cheaper than alpha-arbutin, it is more likely to inhibit skin cell growth.
Alpha-type is just milder.
Though alpha arbutin is more expensive, it requires less of it to achieve better whitening effects.
Plus, most cosmetic manufacturers only mention ARBUTIN as the active ingredient on the label; they use beta-arbutin, not alpha-arbutin, so do not be fooled by their tricks.
#4. Water solubility
Alpha-arbutin is more water-soluble than beta-arbutin. According to the solubility tests, you can dissolve 151g of alpha-arbutin in 1 liter of water at 20 ± 5 °C; the beta type is around 100g for 1 liter.
#5. Different specific optical rotation
The optical rotation of the alpha type is +180 degrees, while the beta type is -60 degrees.
#6. Manufacturing method
Currently, beta-arbutin can be prepared using plant extraction, plant cell culture, and artificial synthesis.
Alpha-arbutin is mainly produced via an aglycosyltransferase reaction by microbial enzymes, in which one molecule of glucose combines with one molecule of hydroquinone to form alpha-arbutin.
Some Alpha-arbutin Formulation References
#1. Whitening serums
Ginseng Extract 2%, arbutin 3%, stearic acid 2%, hyaluronic acid 0.5%, glycerin 8%, propylene glycol 3%, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil 3%, methylparaben 1%, triethanolamine 0.5%, add flavoring and refined water to 100%.
#2. Whitening solutions
Hexadecyl Alcohol 4.0%, Isopropyl Myristate: 3.0%, Mineral Fat 5.0%, Hexadecyl Ethylene Oxide: 2.0%, Glycerin: 5.0%, Mineral Oil 8.0%, Octadecyl Dimethylamine Oxide 3.0%, Arbutin 5.0%, Premium Lubricant: 5.0%, Propylene Glycol: 5.0%, Preservative: appropriate amounts, add distilled water to 100%.
#3. Beauty creams/eye creams/moisture creams
Hexadecyl E(20)P(2)-type polyether 1.0%, Liquid paraffin 3.0%, Propylene glycol 5.0%, Glycerol 2.0%, Ethanol 15%, Polyacrylic Acid 0.3%, Hydroxypropyl cellulose 0.3%, 2-Aminomethyl propanol 0.1%, 17-Beta-estradiol 0.0001%, Arbutin 1.0%, add flavoring and deionized water to 100%
#4. Whitening creams
Vaseline 39%, alpha-Arbutin 1%, Stearyl alcohol 15, Vitamin E oil 1%, Bee wax 15%, Fragrance 0.5%, Glycerin stearate 0.5%, water 27%, Polyethylene glycol monooleate 1%
#5.Creams for pigmentation spots
Vitamin C 3%, Arbutin 5%, Glycerin 5%, Antioxidant 0.1%, Ethanol 43.8%, Angelica sinensis 10%, Caisson 0.1%, Ligusticum wallichii 8%, Vitamin E 5%, Scutellaria baicalensis 10%, Liquorice 10%
How To Mix Arbutin In Cosmetics Step By Step?
In daily life, we encounter many cosmetics containing arbutin. Below is how to mix them to maximize absorption.
Learn these six tips before you mix the pure powder.
1. Arbutin is easily decomposed in an acidic environment. Therefore, creams and emulsions should have a pH value between 5 and 7. If the pH is too low or too high, you will feel a burning sensation when you apply the serum to your skin.
2. Dissolve pure arbutin powder with a small amount of water at 50 degrees and add at 50 degrees when the emulsification is complete.
3. Add the right amount of antioxidants to the cosmetics to prevent discoloration
4. After you emulsify the cream, add the NaHSO3 and Na2SO3 aqueous solutions at 50 degrees Celsius (0.3% to 0.4% recommended); you can skip this step when doing DIY.
5. Adding natural vegetable oils containing oleic and linoleic acids can promote arbutin’s whitening synergy.
6. Adding 0.8-1.0% azones to cosmetics promotes the absorption of arbutin and prevents its precipitation on your skin.
Put the accurately weighed arbutin powder into deionized water. Heat the mixture to 55-60 degrees for later stirring.
When the temperature reaches 55 to 60 degrees, stir the mixture for 10 minutes to dissolve it well.
Then, add the liquid to the aqueous cosmetics phase (lotions) at 50-55 degrees, stir the mixture well, and add it to the remaining oil phase to emulsify.
The recommended arbutin dosage is 3% to 7%.
If its concentration is too low, the whitening effect is not apparent.
Once over 7%, it becomes light-sensitive and irritates the skin.
Moreover, long-term use of arbutin in high concentrations can reduce your skin immunity.
The volume of liquid to dissolve arbutin depends on the concentration you need. If you need 5%, dissolve 5g arbutin in 95g liquid; if you need a 3% solution, add 3g powder to 97g liquid.
Currently, the mainstream arbutin concentration is 5%.
5% seems to be the safest and most effective spot-lightening concentration.
5% arbutin cosmetics act faster on spot lightening than vitamin C; the whitening effect is stable and long-lasting without irritating skin.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is intended for business-to-business communication within the pharmaceutical industry. It is not intended as medical advice. The manufacture, import, and use of API must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the relevant country or region.
This blog post is informational only and does not constitute medical advice.
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment.
I mixed 25grams of alpha arbutin in small amount of distilled. Mixed it up really well. Added it to340 grams of lotion. It does not burn my skin. I have not mixed this much up together before.
How much more cream should I add to this?
Hi Jean, did you order alpha-arbutin from us?
I have been using kojic acid and arbutin (alpha) for several years. I used it in smaller quantities. I decided to make it stronger, so I added 25 g of arbutin to small amount of distilled water and mixed it till all of clumps were gone. Poured it into 340g of lotion. It does not burn. I know I should add more cream. How much more. Is it dangerous to use this much arbutin to skin and body? How much kojic acid should I add to this.
Hi Jean, if you are not sure, please contact Montserrado Beauty LLC, they are very professional on beauty products