Wondering how to choose the best B vitamins for your next cosmetic formulation? If you’re formulating with niacinamide (B3), panthenol (B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), biotin (B7) and/or folic acid (B9), you need to be aware of the best way to incorporate B vitamins in personal care formulations, and how to address compatibility and stability issues. In this short video, I’ll discuss the benefits and challenges of B vitamins, and also show you how to create an innovative multivitamin serum.
Cosmetic benefits of B vitamins:
- Anti-ageing
- Reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
- Skin and hair moisturisers
- Strengthens skin barrier
- Soothing for irritated skin with anti-inflammatory effects
Video highlights:
- Efficacy and benefits for each type of B vitamin
- Tips for reducing skin irritation
- My favorite ingredient in active formulas for multi-functional benefits
- Best vitamins for hair care products
- Optimal usage rates, pH ranges, and
- Step-by-step tutorial for creating the multivitamin serum
B vitamin comparison and applications
| For the skin… | For the hair… | Formulation considerations | |
| Niacinamide/B3 | @2%: reduces TWEL up to 27%, strengthens skin barrier, stimulates collagen production
@5%: reduces appearance of age spots over 25% in eight weeks |
Use: 1-5%
pH: 3.5-7.5 Stable in light and oxygen Add at <70°C |
|
| Panthenol/B5 | skin moisturiser, anti-inflammatory effect, soothes irritated skin, helps heal minor wounds @2.5% improvements > 37% | Strengthens hair; provides moisture | Use: 0.5-5% pH: 4-7.5 Stable in light and oxygen Add at <70°C |
| Pyridoxine HCl/B6 | Balances sebum levels, reduces excessive oiliness | Healthy appearance of hair; boosts efficacy of anti-dandruff products | Use: 0.05-0.3%
pH: 5.5-8 Stable in light and oxygen Add at <40°C |
| Biotin/B7/ Vitamin H | Improves quality of keratin structures, excellent for fine & brittle hair | Use: 0.5-5%
pH: 5.5-8 Stable in light but unstable in oxygen, so use airless serum dispenser Add at <70°C |
|
| Folic Acid/B9 | Fights photo-ageing, general anti-ageing, prevents/restores DNA damage | Use: 0.1-0.2%
pH: 6.5-8 Stable in oxygen but unstable in light, so use dark packaging Add at <40°C |
Excited to try B vitamins in your next formulation?
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Further reading:
- The Benefits of Niacinamide
- Vitamin C: An Effective Skin-Care Active
- Retinoids: The Anti-Aging and Skin Repair Workhorse
- Getting Active with Cosmeceuticals [VIDEO]
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Great article, thank you Belinda!
You are saying that Panthenol/B5 can be
added at <70°C, do you mean in powdered form or in liquid?
Thanks, Erica.
I would like to know how to write formulas for hair and skin care.
How you can hep?
Please email us directly: [email protected] and we can assist you with this learning; you can also visit https://personalcarescience.com.au for more information in the meantime. Happy formulating!
In this video I use the DSM supplied materials – they provide both liquid and powder forms; I am referring to the overall use of panthenol in both forms, at the appropriate equivalent active input. It is heat stable to 70degC in either form. Happy formulating!
Hi,
I’m looking to create a formulation with glutathione with Vit D and other best skin care ingredients.
Where is your lab located?
Can we arrange for a conf. Call to discuss further.
Regards,
Kaz
Hi Kaz, we are located in Queensland, Australia, please email us: [email protected] All of our courses are online, we train people in over 40 different countries around the world so we are as close to you as your computer. Please note Vitamin D is not permitted in cosmetic products in certain regions of the world so please also let us know your location and we also train on regulatory restrictions for multiple countries. Happy formulating!
Belinda Carli, I enjoyed your video on Formulating with B Vitamins.
I’m interested in the BeauPlex VH (DSM) I would like to find out where I can purchase this from.I’m in the United States. Thank you very much for any help you can give. Michael .
Please contact your local DSM representative, they will be able to assist you. If you don’t have a DSM representative, please google DSM to find their website and contact them via email to make contact with your nearest rep. Happy formulating!
Kind regards,
Belinda Carli
Dear Belinda
I want to add multivitamins in my cosmopharma solution . Do we get ready mix or we need to add one by one .
Regards
Hi, Neelam!
It depends on what else is in the formula and remember they all have different input requirements. Please contact us [email protected] to learn how to add B vitamins correctly or you can also get individual and specific advice by purchasing consulting time here: https://personalcarescience.com.au/Advice/Advice-2046/ Happy formulating!
Can any vitamin b be combined with vitamin c in a formulation
Dear Monica:
No – it depends on what form of vitamin C you are using, for example, ascorbic acid needs a low pH (3.5 – 4) to be stable; while sodium or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate require a pH of 6-7 to be stable. Ascorbic acid won’t suit all B vitamins, as that pH is too low for some of them. Please check pH compatibilities with your supplier of the specific materials (and their forms) that you intend to use, or you can purchase some consulting time with us for specific advice and help with your formula: https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpersonalcarescience.com.au%2FAdvice%2FAdvice-2046%2F&data=04%7C01%7CRita.Marks%40ul.com%7C9e480332d182473fbfd708d9208fe039%7C701159540ccd45f087bd03b2a3587569%7C0%7C1%7C637576624595967714%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=NyW%2BebCLl%2FR6CjEOpj5565kcv9hnS74nbpFHrFxqU9w%3D&reserved=0 Happy formulating!