St. John's Wort Extract Powder 10% 5 g

St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10%: Nature's Soothing Touch for Skin and Hair

Discover the powerful benefits of our St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10%, a premium ingredient sourced from Germany. This finely ground powder is a versatile addition to your cosmetic formulations, offering exceptional soothing, regenerating, and protective properties. Easily soluble in hot water and Polysorbate-80 (with a possible faint sediment), this extract is perfect for a wide range of applications, bringing the calming essence of St. John's Wort to your products.

Description and Key Characteristics

St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10% is a concentrated botanical extract derived from the flowering tops of Hypericum perforatum. Known for its historical use in herbal medicine, St. John's Wort is rich in active compounds such as hypericin, hyperforin, and flavonoids, which contribute to its remarkable therapeutic effects on the skin and hair. This extract is presented as a powder, making it convenient for various formulation types.

Key features and benefits:

• Soothing and Calming: Possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce redness, irritation, and discomfort, making it ideal for sensitive and reactive skin.

• Regenerative and Healing: Promotes skin regeneration and aids in the healing of minor skin irritations, small wounds, and post-acne marks.

• Antioxidant Protection: Rich in antioxidants, it helps to neutralize free radicals, protecting the skin from environmental damage and premature aging.

• Astringent Properties: Offers mild astringent qualities, which can help tone the skin and minimize the appearance of pores, especially beneficial for oily and combination skin.

• Photoprotective Potential: While not a sunscreen, some studies suggest St. John's Wort may offer some degree of photoprotection due to its antioxidant content, though it should never replace SPF products.

• Versatile Solubility: Its ability to dissolve in hot water and Polysorbate-80 allows for flexible incorporation into aqueous and emulsified systems.

• German Quality: Sourced from Germany, ensuring high standards of purity and consistent quality for your formulations.

Application and Usage Areas

St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10% is an incredibly adaptable ingredient, suitable for a broad spectrum of cosmetic and personal care products designed to soothe, protect, and revitalize the skin and hair. The recommended usage rate ranges from 1% to 4% in the active phase. It can be dissolved in the water phase and filtered or added directly as a powder to masks and wraps.

• Facial Care Products:

  • Creams and Lotions: Incorporate into daily moisturizers, night creams, and specialized treatments for sensitive, irritated, or blemish-prone skin. Its soothing properties are particularly beneficial.

  • Serums: Add to calming or regenerating serums to enhance their efficacy in reducing redness and promoting skin repair.

  • Facial Masks: Excellent for detoxifying, soothing, and regenerating face masks. Can be added as a powder directly to clay masks or mixed into gel/cream masks.

  • Toners and Micellar Water: Use at a concentration of around 1.5% to create calming and purifying toners or micellar waters that prepare the skin for subsequent treatments.

  • Cleansers: Include in gentle facial cleansers like milks or foaming washes at 0.5-2% to provide a soothing effect during cleansing.

• Body Care Products:

  • Body Creams and Lotions: Ideal for soothing body care products, especially for sensitive or sun-exposed skin.

  • Anti-Cellulite Treatments: Can be incorporated into creams, gels, and wraps at 1-3% to support microcirculation and reduce inflammation, complementing anti-cellulite protocols.

  • Scrubs and Gommages: Add at 1-3% to provide additional soothing and antioxidant benefits in exfoliating products.

  • Soaps and Beldi: Incorporate at 1% into handmade soaps and traditional Beldi to infuse them with calming and skin-conditioning properties.

• Hair Care Products:

  • Shampoos and Conditioners: Use at around 1.5% to create soothing hair care products that help alleviate scalp irritation and promote a healthy scalp environment.

  • Hair Masks and Scalp Treatments: Add as a powder to hair masks or blend into scalp treatments to soothe irritation and promote overall scalp health.

• Specialized Applications:

  • Sprays, Emulsions, Gels: Easily incorporated into these lightweight formulations at 1-1.5% for targeted application on irritated skin areas.

  • Ubtan and Cleansing Milks: A beneficial addition to traditional Ubtan mixes and gentle cleansing milks at 0.5-2% for natural skin purification and soothing.

When formulating, remember to dissolve in the water phase and, if necessary, filter the solution to remove any faint sediment, or simply add as a powder to solid formulations like masks. It's crucial to avoid heating above 40°C to preserve the integrity of its active compounds.

Recipe: Soothing & Regenerating Facial Gel for Irritated Skin

Create a lightweight, calming facial gel perfect for sensitive or irritated skin, harnessing the power of St. John's Wort Dry Extract.

Ingredients:

• Phase A (Water Phase):

  • Distilled Water: Up to 100% (approx. 85.5%)

  • Glycerin: 3%

  • Xanthan Gum: 0.2%

• Phase B (Active Phase - Add after cooling):

  • St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10%: 2%

  • Panthenol (Vitamin B5): 1%

  • Allantoin: 0.5%

  • Preservative (e.g., Geogard 221): 0.8%

Instructions for Making the Facial Gel:

• Sanitize All Equipment: Thoroughly sanitize all beakers, stirring rods, and the final container using isopropyl alcohol. Allow them to air dry completely.

• Prepare Phase A: In a clean, heat-resistant beaker, combine distilled water and glycerin. Slowly sprinkle in the xanthan gum while constantly stirring with a whisk or mini-mixer to prevent lumps. Continue mixing until a smooth, uniform gel forms. You may let it sit for 15-30 minutes for the xanthan gum to fully hydrate.

• Heat (Optional for better dispersion): Gently warm Phase A if needed to around 30-35°C (no more than 40°C) to ensure better dissolution of the St. John's Wort extract later, if you are not filtering it. If you plan to filter, dissolve the extract in a small amount of hot water separately.

• Cool Down: Allow Phase A to cool completely to room temperature (below 40°C) if it was heated.

• Dissolve St. John's Wort Extract: In a separate small container, dissolve the St. John's Wort Dry Extract 10% in a minimal amount of hot water from Phase A (if heating) or in a portion of room temperature distilled water. Stir well. If any faint sediment remains, you can optionally strain it through a fine sieve or coffee filter to ensure a perfectly clear gel, but the sediment itself is harmless and indicative of a natural product.

• Combine Phases: Add the dissolved St. John's Wort extract solution to the main gel (Phase A). Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution.

• Add Remaining Actives (Phase B): Incorporate Panthenol, Allantoin, and the chosen preservative into the gel. Mix thoroughly after each addition until all ingredients are well combined and the gel is homogeneous.

• Check pH (Recommended): Test the pH of the finished gel. For facial products, an ideal pH is usually between 5.0 and 6.0. Adjust if necessary using a diluted lactic acid solution (to lower pH) or a diluted baking soda solution (to raise pH).

• Package the Gel: Carefully transfer the finished gel into a clean, sanitized airless pump bottle or a jar.

Recommendations for Use:

• Usage Rate: This recipe uses 2% St. John's Wort Dry Extract, which is a common and effective concentration for facial products. You can adjust it within the 1-4% range depending on the desired intensity.

• Temperature Sensitivity: Remember the golden rule: do not heat the extract above 40°C. Always add it to the cooled product or the cooled water phase to preserve its beneficial compounds.

• Solubility: While easily dispersible, a faint sediment is possible. This is normal for natural extracts and does not affect the product's efficacy. If a perfectly clear gel is desired, pre-dissolving in a small amount of hot water and filtering is recommended before adding to the main batch.

• Storage: Store the finished gel in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight, to maintain its stability and effectiveness. The preservative will ensure an appropriate shelf life.

• Application: Apply a small amount of the gel to clean facial skin morning and evening, or as needed, gently massaging until fully absorbed.

• Patch Test: Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin (e.g., inner forearm) before full application of any new product, especially if you have sensitive skin.