DropBrigt® HEPES | Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid

DropBright® HEPES is a highly effective biological buffer designed for cosmetic formulations, particularly for its role in mild exfoliation, skin brightening, and metabolism promotion. It functions by softening the stratum corneum and stimulating keratinocyte renewal, offering a gentle alternative to traditional alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Its unique capability to smooth and brighten the skin makes it ideal for sensitive and whitening formulations.

INCI Name: Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
CAS Number: 7365-45-9
Function: Exfoliation, Whitening
EWG Score: 1 (Low Hazard)

Benefits

1. Mild Exfoliation:

   • Gently softens the skin's keratin layer, promoting smoothness and glow.
   • Suitable for sensitive skin formulations.

2. Brightening Effect:

   • Enhances skin tone by facilitating cell turnover and reducing pigmentation.
   • Improves skin luminance (L* values) when combined with active ingredients like Tranexamic Acid, AA2G, and Niacinamide.

3. Absorbs UV and Visible Light:

   • Offers some level of UV protection by absorbing ultraviolet and visible light, reducing skin damage.

4. Compatibility:

   • Enhances the penetration of active ingredients into the skin, improving formulation efficacy.

Suggested Usage

• Concentration: 0.5%–5.0%
• Applications:
  • Exfoliating creams and serums
  • Whitening and brightening skincare products
• Method of Incorporation:
  • Water-soluble; can be added during cold or hot mixing processes.

Features

• Works as a gentle exfoliant similar to macromolecular AHAs.
• Boosts the efficacy of combination formulations for whitening and brightening.
• Stable under a wide pH range of 4–8.

Physicochemical Properties

• Appearance: White crystalline powder
• Purity (Dry Basis): ≥99.0%
• Transmittance (10% Solution): ≥90%
• Turbidity (NTU): <20
• Melting Point: 117–121°C
• Water Content: ≤0.5%

Clinical Studies

• Combination Formulation Effectiveness:

  • When combined with Tranexamic Acid, AA2G, and Niacinamide in cosmetic formulations, it demonstrated superior whitening efficacy by significantly reducing melanin content in skin models compared to simpler combinations.
  • L* value improvement: Enhanced skin brightness was observed in UVB-induced melanin studies.

• Melanin Reduction:

  • Shown to significantly reduce melanin levels in UV-induced skin models, outperforming simpler ingredient combinations.

Cautions

• Storage:
  • Store in a sealed container at room temperature, away from light and moisture.

Packaging and Shelf Life

• Packaging: 1 kg and 25 kg containers.
• Shelf Life: 2 years under recommended storage conditions.