Kojic acid 10 g

Kojic acid for skin lightening and pigmentation treatment

Kojic acid is a popular cosmetic ingredient that has bleaching properties and lightens age spots by inhibiting the activity of tyrosine, which is involved in melanin synthesis. Additionally, kojic acid has exfoliating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and fungicidal properties. It is used for making cream or other cosmetics both at home and on an industrial scale.

For precautions on the use of cosmetic acids, see Beurre's article ‘Precautions when working with AHA/BHA acids’.

Characteristics of the component and specifics of use

INCI: Kojic Acid

Appearance: white crystalline powder

Dosages: 0.2 - 1%

Solubility: in water or ethanol

Precautions: sunscreen filters must be present in formulations for daytime cosmetics.

Storage: in a dark, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Effectiveness of kojic acid in cosmetics

At the molecular level, melanin is formed in the body from the conversion (in several steps) of the amino acid tyrosine. The conversion requires an enzyme known as tyrosinase. Kojic acid can prevent the activity of tyrosinase by synthesising the reaction with its antioxidant properties after passing through the upper layers of the skin and entering the skin cells, preventing the pigment from forming deep within the cell layer.

Kojic acid has an excellent effect even with severe changes in skin tone, in the fight against age spots, pigmentation in pregnancy, freckles, as well as general pigmentation disorders of the face and body.
 

Indications for use in the cream

• biological ageing;
• photo-aging;
• hyperpigmentation after pregnancy, age spots;
• melasma, chloasma, freckles;
• acne, post-acne, acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation;
• actinic keratomas.
   

Main cosmetic properties

When added to the recipes of natural cosmetics, kojic acid lightens existing spots even ten years old, prevents the appearance of new ones, moisturises the skin. The acid reduces melanin production, exfoliates dead cells. Kojic acid stops the renewal and development of new spots by blocking the reproduction of melanin pigments in skin cells.

The effects of kojic acid are usually apparent by 4-6 weeks of a strictly maintained course of treatment. Cosmetic professionals usually use 0.2-1% concentration, 2 times a day for 2 months. Higher concentrations do not show a pronounced whitening effect.
 

Therapeutic use

Kojic acid has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is also used for skin diseases, e.g. melanoderma. Some dermatologists prescribe kojic acid cream to treat acne as it works on the skin against acne-causing bacteria. 

Research

A study by the Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology in the Republic of Korea, published in April 2010 in the journal Pharmacy, tested several newly synthesised kojic acids in the laboratory. They found anti-inflammatory properties of the acid that showed promise for its use against cancer because of its ability to inhibit the spread of the cancer cell. A previous study at the Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute of Experimental Endocrinology showed that kojic acid extracts may represent a new class of compounds with antitumour activity against leukaemia.

In August 2006, the International Journal of Agriculture and Biology reported a study of the effects of kojic acid against several strains of bacteria and fungi that found it even more effective than the antimicrobial action of ceftazidime and nitrofurantone.
 

Use of the acid in natural cosmetics recipes

• creams, tonics and lotions;
• whitening formulations, masks, serums;
• cleansers, anti-acne soaps;
• pilling;
• bath formulations.

Handmade cosmetics recipes, formulas and reviews

It is very difficult to create your own correct recipes if you are new to cream maker. And we are ready to help you with this. Go to the YouTube channel Beurre Cosmetic Kitchen, where we have already developed many recipes for handmade cosmetics and share the technology for making cosmetics with our own hands. And also you can check Blog from Beurre, where we share useful information about creating the right natural cosmetics.