LOTION

Well, as you can see, the brand of the lotion that I heart is Vaseline. Why I choose Vaseline? Because as I compared Vaseline with others brand, this lotion is easier to be absorbed into skin and leave a non-oily skin surface. Vaseline Company has a series of lotions with different functions. This ‘Healthy White UV Protection Lotion’ is one of my favorite lotions. This type of lotion contains yogurt serum, Vitamin B3 and triple sunscreen. I apply it every morning after shower. Yogurt serum in this lotion moisture and provide nutrition to my skin. Vitamin B3 helps in enhancing my skin’s natural lightning process leading to whiter skin that glows with health. In addition, triple sunscreen helps prevent skin dullness and dark spots caused by damaging UVA and UVB. UVB rays will cause our skin to become darker and generates the production of freckle while UVA rays accelerate the aging process and making a permanent white spot or brown spot. Although sunlight provides essential Vitamin D to our skin but the amount is considerable.


Different types of lotion gives different effects on skin, therefore, the ingredient to make lotion is also different. Ingredients used to make ‘Healthy White UV Protection Lotion’ are water, Isopropyl Myristate, Niacinamide 3.0% w/w, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate 1.25% w/w, Glycerine, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 0.4% w/w, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Sodium PCA, Glutamic Acid, Titanium Dioxide 0.2% w/w, Yogurt Powder 0.2% w/w, Fragrance, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja (Soyabean) Sterols and Lecithin. Total of 24 chemicals is needed to mix with water to make lotion. Therefore, I need to find out the function of these 24 chemicals in this lotion.

1) Water molecule is made up of H2Oand has a molecular weight of 18.02. It is a polar molecule and has a pH value of 7. The most common bond formed within water molecules are hydrogen bond. In lotion, water is fundamentally essential to enhance the restoring of flexibility of skin’s dry surface layers.

Structural formula of water molecules

2) Isopropyl Myristate is deriving from palm oil and is used as an emollient and lubricant in lotion. This chemical acts as a synthetic moisturizer and is absorbed readily by the skin. Isopropyl Myristate is a fatty acid which has a molecular formula of C17H34O2 and a formula weight of 270.45. The used of Isopropyl Myristate helps in promoting the production of acne. Therefore, if you have an oily skin type, I personally not suggest you to use this lotion.

Structural formula of Isopropyl Myristate

3) Niacinamide 3.0% w/w. Niacinamide is one of the Vitamin B3 compound. This chemical is used to improve the texture and tone of the skin, reduce fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Niacinamide has a molecular formula of C6H6N2O and a molecular weight of 122.247.

Structural formula of Niacinamide

4) Stearic Acid is a saturated fatty acid which also known as Octadecanoic Acid. The molecular formula for strearic acid is C18H36O2 and a molecular weight of 284.48. Stearic acid acts as an emulsifier which helps to hold the lotion together. This chemical keep all the other ingredients blended together in a smooth, creamy lotion.

Structural formula of Stearic Acid

5) Glyceryl Stearate is derived from palm kernel. This chemical has a molecular formula of C21H42O4 and a molecular weight of 358.56. Glyceryl Stearate acts as an emulsifier and functions same as Stearic Acid.

Structural formula of Glyceryl Stearate

6) Mineral Oil has a general molecular formula of CnH2n+2. Mineral oil appears as liquids at room temperature and if appears in solid form, is called paraffin wax. Mineral oil acts as an emollient which helps in moisture skin and gives skin a smooth feel.

7) Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate (EHMC) has a molecular formula of C18H26O3 and a molecular weight of 290.403. EHMC is used as sunscreen agents.

Structural formula of EHMC

8) Glycerine is alternate name for glycerol and it is an organic compound. The molecular of Glycerine is
C3H5(OH)3. Glycerine acts as a humectants or “water magnet” that binds with water molecules and holds them in skin cells. Glycerine effectively helps in replicates the role of the skin own natural moisturizing factor.

Structural formula of Glycerine

9) Triethanolamine is an organic chemical compound. This chemical has a molecular formula of C6H15NO3 and a molecular weight of 149.188. Triethanolamine used as an emulsifier and surfactant. It also serves as a pH balancer.

Structural formula of Triethanolamine

10) Phenoxyethanol is an organic compound and is often used in dermatological products. It has a molecular formula of C8H10O2 and a molecular weight of 138.1638. It acts as a preservative that essential to keep lotion fresh every time user wants to use.

Structural formula of Phenoxyethanol

11) Dimethicone has a molecular formula of C6H18OSi2 and a molecular weight of 162.378. It is an occlusive emollient material made from silicone which helps to seal in moisture and gives skin a smooth feel.

Structural formula of Dimethicone

12) Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane has a molecular formula of C20H22O3 and a molecular weight of 310.387. It acts as a UV absorber and UV filter.

Structural formula of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

13) Carbomer is an expanded molecule obtained by insertion of C2 unit. It acts as a thickener which will gives lotion a thick and rich feel.

14) Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol with a molecular formula of C16H34O and a molecular weight of 242.44. Cetyl Alcohol is used widely in dermatological industry as a surfactant, emollient and thickening agent.

Structural formula of Cetyl Alcohol

15) Methylparaben has a molecular formula of C8H8O3 and a molecular weight of 152.15. It acts as a preservative in lotion.

Structural formula of Methylparaben

16) Sodium PCA has a molecular formula of C5H6NNaO3 and a molecular weight of 151.096. It helps to hold water molecules in skin cells and keep skin hydrated.

Structural formula of Sodium PCA

17) Glutamic Acid has a molecular formula of C5H9NO4 and a molecular weight of 147.13. Glutamic Acid helps in maintaining skin elasticity and improving allergy.

Structural formula of Glutamic Acid

18) Titanium Dioxide is also known as titanium (IV) oxide and is occurs naturally. It has a molecular formula of TiO2 and a molecular weight of 79.866. Titanium Dioxide is used as a pigment, sunscreen and thickener.

Structural formula of Titanium Dioxide

19) Yogurt Powder in lotion gives skin a smooth feel with moisture and nutrition.

20) Fragrance is a chemical compound which also known as aroma. It gives out odour. Different type of compound gives different odour.

21) Propylparaben has a molecular formula of C10H12O3 and a molecular weight of 180.20. It acts as a preservative.

Structural formula of Propylparaben

22) Sodium Hydroxide is a metallic base. The molecular formula of it is NaOH and has a 39.997 molecular formula. It is used as a neutralizing agent.

Structural formula of Sodium Hydroxide

23) Disodium EDTA is a polyamino carboxylic acid. Is has a molecular formula of C10H14N2O8Na2 and a molecular weight of 336.22. It acts as a chelating agent and a viscosity adjuster. This can stable the ingredient from and form a stable product.

Structural formula of Disodium EDTA

24) Glycine Soja Sterols is botanical oil rich in triglycerides which are building blocks of skins lipid. It acts as an emollient and antioxidants which are a part of nature’s defense and repair mechanisms.

25) Lecithin is composed of phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids. It has a molecular formula of C46H89NO8P+ and a molecular weight of 815.175. It is an important component to build healthy cell membranes.

Structural formula of Lecithin

As a conclude, this lotion suits me because I always go for outdoor activities. With the UV protection in this lotion, I won’t get dark easier right? ^^



REFERENCES:


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2) Hewson Susie, 2010. Isopropyl Myristate. [online]
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4) Helmenstine Anne Marie, 2010. Vitamin B3 Niacinamide. [online]
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5) About.com, 2010. Stearic Acid. [online]
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6) Bogdan Allemann; L. Baumann, 2008. Antioxidants Used in Skin Care Formulations: Niacinamide. [online]
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7) Chemyq,2010. Glyceryl Stearate. [online]
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8) Wikimedia, 2010. Paraffin. [online]
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9) rdChemicals,2010 Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate. [online]
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10) Helmenstine Anne Marie, 2010. Glycerine or Glycerin. [online]
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11) Wikimedia, 2010. Triethanolamine. [online]
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12) PubChem, 2010. Phenoxyethanol. [online]
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13) PubChem, 2010. Dimethicone. [online]
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Perfumes

The one of the greatest discovery from antique until nowadays is the production of the incense through the process of burning of natural salves and oils. It had been one of the inventions that have been created for over 100 years. A perfume is the substance that the incense smells that you wear commonly to decorate yourself. Do you ever curious how perfumes will splash out fragrance smell and how does it work out like this? The good production of perfumes required the knowledge in the field of analytical, synthetic and physical chemistry as well. It is all about chemistry. Nowadays, most of the perfumes are in liquid state which made up of the mixtures of alcohol and water and molecules that can easily evaporate at room temperature. Usually, perfumes are in dilution form and when you get dilute perfumes, please do not blame the manufacturers for being stingy. But in fact, perfumes are something aesthetic and the dilution make the different smells so that you able to distinguish them. Imagine how funny if you first smell the sweet smelling as apple and followed by mango and then finished with jasmine. Guess what? These different stages of smell are caused by oxidation. This is known as three notes; the top, heart and base that commonly found in perfumes and at the same time it is an important element too. The most volatile compounds and the initial smell of the perfumes maybe for the first 15 minutes are the top notes. The heart notes is the aroma that will give out the smell that can maintain maybe for few hours. Lastly, the base is the most important part of fragrance that can give out smell for long lasting one whole day.

Everything has pros and cons, so perfumes are also not excluded. Do you ever stick on your perfumes ingredients and pay attention to it whether will it harm your healthy? According to Environmental Protection Agency Material Safety Data in United State, over 20 potentially hazardous materials are used in the perfumes ingredients. If you want to buy a perfume, please bear in mind of these few types of ingredients that will cause the side effect such as acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, ethanol, and formaldehyde.

structural formula of benzyl acetate

        

Benzyl acetate which is an ester organic compound formed by condensation of benzyl alcohol and acetic acid. It found in naturally especially in flowers with sweet aroma smell which widely used in perfumers and cosmetic product. Furthermore, it has been proved by experiment that it has carcinogens properties. In other words, it has directly linked to the pancreatic cancer.

structural formula of acetone

Acetone is the simplest form of the ketone (CH₃COCH₃) with colourless form and it is a flammable liquid. Many of the organic materials dissolve in it easily. It always can be found in the cosmetic products and cologne. However, acetone brings the side effect such as difficulties in breathing and drowsiness as well. In addition, it also acts as central nervous system depressant that can cause health problem such as nausea.

structural formula of benzaldehyde

Followed by benzaldehyde is one of the potentially dangerous ingredients in perfumes. Apart from that, it is also known as benzenecarbonal which is the simplest structural form of odorless aromatic aldehydes. It has a narcotic effect of the concentration of benzaldehyde is high. Some people may allergic to benzaldehyde and thus triggers the immune system response such as irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract. If there are the symptoms such as sore throat, chest pain and difficulties in breathing after you apply the perfumes, please consult doctor immediately.

structural formula of ethanol

Not to deny that ethanol is also one of the ingredients in perfumes that caused the side effect. Ethanol is a volatile alcohol liquid and in colourless form. It will cause sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea, difficulties in breathing and even ventral nervous system depression.

structural formula of formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colourless chemical that is widely used in building materials or even present in the perfumes. If the appearance amount of formaldehyde which is more than 0.1ppm in the air, it will cause the effects such as skin irritation, nausea, coughing and watery eyes. Through experiment and case study, scientists proved that formaldehyde is linked to the formation of cancer especially lung cancer.

The tips in purchasing perfumes is to remember to look at the ingredients sticker that present in the bottle and try to avoid chemicals like formaldehyde, ethanol, benzaldehyde, acetone and benzyl acetate. At the same time, you may have a try on natural ingredients perfumes.

          

                             

Reference

1. Howstuffworks Inc© 1998-2010, perfumes [online]
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2. Jacob L.Heller, 2010, U.S Library of Medicine, Acetone poisoning [online]
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3. Material Safety Data Sheet, 1998, Benzaldehye [online]
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