Re: Bath Bombs/Citric Acid Question

[Guest guest]

>In Canada we can now not sell bath bombs with a higher than 10% level of

>Citric Acid as it has been " hot listed " .

For list members not aware of this, Health Canada has " hotlisted "

Alpha Hydroyx Acids and included Citric Acid.

The text reads:

Alpha-hydroxy acids (including, but not limited to citric acid

(77-92-9), glycolic acid (79-14-1), lactic acid (50-21-5), malic acid

(6915-15-7), glycolic acid + ammonium glycolate, alpha-hydroxyethanoic

acid + ammonium alpha-hydroxyethanoate, alphahydroxyoctanoic acid,

alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid, hydroxycaprylic acid, mixed fruit acid,

triple fruit acid, tri-alpha hydroxy fruit acids, sugarcane extract,

alpha hydroxy and botanical complex, L-alpha hydroxy acid and glycomer

in cross-linked fatty acids alpha nutrium)

Permitted only at concentrations equal to or less than 10%, with a pH

equal or greater than 3.5, provided they are safe for their intended

use and label claims are restricted to " facial scrub " , " helps

reduce/prevent the look of aging " , " smooths wrinkles " , " mild

exfoliation " , " mild face peel " , " makes your skin feel smooth and

supple " . Please consult the Guidelines for Cosmetic Advertising and

Labelling Claims for further information on claims.

Preparations containing higher concentrations of AHAs may be permitted

if the manufacturer provides Health Canada with evidence of their

safety, pH levels, and the directions for use and cautionary statements

are such that contact of the product with the skin is of limited

frequency and duration. Cautionary statements consistent with the

following should be present on the labels of cosmetic alpha hydroxy

acid products: Use only as directed. Avoid contact with the eyes. It is

recommended that prior to exposure to the sun, users cover areas to

which AHAs have been applied, with sunscreen. If irritation persists,

discontinue use and consult a physician.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cosmetics/hotlist_a-c.htm

>Will there still be enough citric acid present in a bath bomb formulation to

>allow the fizzing people expect from a bath bomb?

I guess it would depend on your formula.

> If not, does anyone have any suggestions to alternative ingredients?

You should read Effervescent Technology Primer. This document can be

found in the CosmeticInfo file area

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cosmeticinfo/files/Ingredients/Effervescent\

_Technology_Primer.pdf

This document is part of an article titled " Multi-Sensory Technologies

for Today's Effervescent Bath and Shower Products " by Rau, that

appeared in a past issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine. It

presents the basic technology and ingredients used in the creation of

effervescent bath and shower products.

Quoting from that document:

" The most commonly used acid is citric acid. It is low cost, easily

available, very soluble and since it is trivalent, has good

neutralizing power.

Fumaric acid is also frequently used. Even though it is only divalent,

fumaric acid is actually a more efficient neutralizer than citric acid

on a weight basis. This can be seen by comparing the equivalent weights

of these materials. However, fumaric acid is much less soluble than

citric acid and thus gives a slower reaction than citric. Probably

because of this difference in solubility, fumaric acid products tend to

be a bit more stable than citric acid products. Adipic and malic acids

are also commonly used in effervescent bath products. As with the

choice of carbonate salt, the desired product performance and

manufacturing method will guide the choice of acid.

Not only will the choice of acid affect performance, but the ratio of

acid to carbonate will also affect the product. In general, higher

ratios of acid to carbonate will yield faster reactions. Also, higher

ratios of acid will assure that the carbonate is completely reacted. If

the acid does not at least stoichiometrically balance the carbonate,

some carbonate will be left unreacted and it will settle to the bottom

of the bathtub. In general, 1:1 weight ratios of acid to total

carbonate are common. However, highly reactive, highly soluble systems

can use acid to carbonate ratios as low as 1:10. "

Maurice

--------------------------------------------------------

Maurice O. Hevey

Convergent Cosmetics, Inc.

http://www.ConvergentCosmetics.com

-------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

>In Canada we can now not sell bath bombs with a higher than 10% level of

>Citric Acid as it has been " hot listed " .

For list members not aware of this, Health Canada has " hotlisted "

Alpha Hydroyx Acids and included Citric Acid.

The text reads:

Alpha-hydroxy acids (including, but not limited to citric acid

(77-92-9), glycolic acid (79-14-1), lactic acid (50-21-5), malic acid

(6915-15-7), glycolic acid + ammonium glycolate, alpha-hydroxyethanoic

acid + ammonium alpha-hydroxyethanoate, alphahydroxyoctanoic acid,

alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid, hydroxycaprylic acid, mixed fruit acid,

triple fruit acid, tri-alpha hydroxy fruit acids, sugarcane extract,

alpha hydroxy and botanical complex, L-alpha hydroxy acid and glycomer

in cross-linked fatty acids alpha nutrium)

Permitted only at concentrations equal to or less than 10%, with a pH

equal or greater than 3.5, provided they are safe for their intended

use and label claims are restricted to " facial scrub " , " helps

reduce/prevent the look of aging " , " smooths wrinkles " , " mild

exfoliation " , " mild face peel " , " makes your skin feel smooth and

supple " . Please consult the Guidelines for Cosmetic Advertising and

Labelling Claims for further information on claims.

Preparations containing higher concentrations of AHAs may be permitted

if the manufacturer provides Health Canada with evidence of their

safety, pH levels, and the directions for use and cautionary statements

are such that contact of the product with the skin is of limited

frequency and duration. Cautionary statements consistent with the

following should be present on the labels of cosmetic alpha hydroxy

acid products: Use only as directed. Avoid contact with the eyes. It is

recommended that prior to exposure to the sun, users cover areas to

which AHAs have been applied, with sunscreen. If irritation persists,

discontinue use and consult a physician.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cosmetics/hotlist_a-c.htm

>Will there still be enough citric acid present in a bath bomb formulation to

>allow the fizzing people expect from a bath bomb?

I guess it would depend on your formula.

> If not, does anyone have any suggestions to alternative ingredients?

You should read Effervescent Technology Primer. This document can be

found in the CosmeticInfo file area

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cosmeticinfo/files/Ingredients/Effervescent\

_Technology_Primer.pdf

This document is part of an article titled " Multi-Sensory Technologies

for Today's Effervescent Bath and Shower Products " by Rau, that

appeared in a past issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine. It

presents the basic technology and ingredients used in the creation of

effervescent bath and shower products.

Quoting from that document:

" The most commonly used acid is citric acid. It is low cost, easily

available, very soluble and since it is trivalent, has good

neutralizing power.

Fumaric acid is also frequently used. Even though it is only divalent,

fumaric acid is actually a more efficient neutralizer than citric acid

on a weight basis. This can be seen by comparing the equivalent weights

of these materials. However, fumaric acid is much less soluble than

citric acid and thus gives a slower reaction than citric. Probably

because of this difference in solubility, fumaric acid products tend to

be a bit more stable than citric acid products. Adipic and malic acids

are also commonly used in effervescent bath products. As with the

choice of carbonate salt, the desired product performance and

manufacturing method will guide the choice of acid.

Not only will the choice of acid affect performance, but the ratio of

acid to carbonate will also affect the product. In general, higher

ratios of acid to carbonate will yield faster reactions. Also, higher

ratios of acid will assure that the carbonate is completely reacted. If

the acid does not at least stoichiometrically balance the carbonate,

some carbonate will be left unreacted and it will settle to the bottom

of the bathtub. In general, 1:1 weight ratios of acid to total

carbonate are common. However, highly reactive, highly soluble systems

can use acid to carbonate ratios as low as 1:10. "

Maurice

--------------------------------------------------------

Maurice O. Hevey

Convergent Cosmetics, Inc.

http://www.ConvergentCosmetics.com

-------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Not familiar with Canada regs., but does the statement below not

exempt citric at 10% if used in bath bombs. The concentration in a

bath will be much less than 10%, especially after reaction with the

alkali. Surely nobody's going to use a bath bomb as a facial scrub?

Dave Eastham

" Preparations containing higher concentrations of AHAs may be

permitted

if the manufacturer provides Health Canada with evidence of their

safety, pH levels, and the directions for use and cautionary

statements

are such that contact of the product with the skin is of limited

frequency and duration. Cautionary statements consistent with the

following should be present on the labels of cosmetic alpha hydroxy

acid products: Use only as directed. Avoid contact with the eyes. It

is

recommended that prior to exposure to the sun, users cover areas to

which AHAs have been applied, with sunscreen. If irritation persists,

discontinue use and consult a physician. "