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Writer's pictureYour Cosmetic Chemist

What is a Safety Usage Rate?

If you’re just beginning your journey into cosmetic formulation, you’ll often come across the term “Ingredient Safety Usage Rate.” But what does it mean, and why is it so crucial to understand?


Defining the Safety Usage Rate


The Safety Usage Rate of an ingredient refers to the maximum amount of a raw

material—whether natural or synthetic—that can be used safely in a cosmetic formulation. This rate is based on extensive testing and is set to ensure consumer safety by minimizing risks like skin irritation, toxicity, or long-term health effects. Knowing and adhering to this rate is fundamental to formulating effective and safe cosmetic products.


In cosmetic chemistry, safety usage rates are expressed as percentages of the total formulation. This is why formulating in precise percentages, rather than in teaspoons, drops, or ounces, is an industry standard. It ensures that you stay within the recommended guidelines for safe usage.


Why is it Important?


Each raw material in cosmetic formulation has unique chemical properties, and using too much of an ingredient can lead to adverse effects. For example, preservatives like Liquid Germall Plus, which are essential for protecting formulations from microbial contamination, can cause skin irritation if used above their recommended safety usage rate. By sticking to these percentages, you ensure that your products are not only effective but also safe for your target consumers.


Let’s dive into some examples to better understand how different ingredients have varying

safety usage rates and why following these guidelines is non-negotiable.


Example 1: Liquid Germall Plus


  • Safety Usage Rate: 0.1-0.5%


    Liquid Germall Plus is a popular broad-spectrum preservative used in many cosmetic

    formulations. The safety usage rate for this preservative is between 0.1% and 0.5% of the total formulation. This means you should not exceed 0.5%, as doing so could lead to skin irritation or other safety concerns. Keeping your preservative within this range ensures microbial protection without compromising skin health.


You’ll notice that the safety usage rate is quite low in comparison to other ingredients, but this doesn’t mean it’s less effective. In fact, preservatives are typically used in small amounts but play a critical role in the stability and safety of a formulation.



Example 2: Fision ActiveBright

  • Safety Usage Rate: 1-5% (Tested at 5%


Fision ActiveBright is an active ingredient designed to reduce melanin formation and even out skin tone. Its safety usage rate ranges from 1% to 5%, but what’s interesting here is the additional note: tested at 5%.


This means that the ingredient has been clinically tested for effectiveness at the 5% level. If you’re formulating a product and want to market it with specific claims related to this ingredient—such as improving skin tone—you’ll need to use it at the tested rate of 5%. While you can still use it at a lower percentage, the efficacy claims would only apply if the concentration mirrors that of the tests conducted.



Example 3: Lanolin


  • Safety Usage Rate: 2-10% (up to 20% in emulsions)


Lanolin, a well-known emollient used to soften and protect the skin, has a broader safety usage rate. For anhydrous products, you can safely use between 2% and 10%. However, in emulsions (water and oil mixtures), the safety usage rate goes up to 20%.


This flexibility allows for different applications based on the type of product you’re creating. For example, a lip balm may only require 2-10% lanolin, while a rich, moisturizing lotion can accommodate higher levels, up to 20%, because the emulsion's water content changes how the lanolin interacts with the skin.



Why We Use Percentages, Not Drops or Teaspoons


When working with ingredients that have strict safety usage rates, accuracy is critical. That’s

why professional formulators always use percentages instead of teaspoons, drops, or ounces. Percentages offer precision, ensuring that the product is effective while staying within safe limits for each ingredient. This approach also allows formulators to scale their recipes up or down without compromising safety or efficacy.


Understanding and adhering to the safety usage rates of the ingredients you work with is a vital aspect of cosmetic formulation. Not only does it ensure the product’s safety and efficacy, but it also helps formulators maintain consumer trust and avoid potential liabilities. Whether you’re working with preservatives, actives, or emollients, always research and respect the safety usage rates to create high-quality, effective, and safe cosmetic products.


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