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Abstract

Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, is a popular ingredient in skincare products for its anti-aging effects. However, in most cosmetic formulations, retinol destabilizes quickly, due to exposure to heat, light, oxygen and pH. To combat retinol degradation, many preservatives have been examined, including antioxidants like Vitamin C and E. Still, studies investigating the supplementation of Vitamin C and E in retinol formulations have mostly focused on stabilizing retinol against UV light alone and have yet to explore the effects of adding these vitamins on other stressors, such as heat. The purpose of this study was to compare the abilities of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and a combination of both on improving a retinol serum’s photostability when exposed to heat. It was hypothesized that adding both Vitamin C and E to the retinol serum before heat degradation would most effectively improve the retinol’s photostability, because both vitamins are lipid-soluble, exhibit antioxidative properties, and work synergistically to improve stability. Two control groups were made: retinol with no heat or vitamins, and retinol with heat and no vitamins. Three experimental groups were made, all of which were heat degraded: retinol and Vitamin C, retinol and Vitamin E, and retinol with both vitamins. Four of the groups were placed in a drying oven for 20 days at ~65 ℃. The UVA intensity (mW/m2) of the UVA light of each mixture was measured using a UVA Sensor. The results of a one-way ANOVA test (α = 0.05) suggest there were significant differences between the control groups and each of the experimental groups, (ANOVA[F(4,295) = 30.709, p < 0.001]). A post-hoc Tukey test found significant differences between the two control groups, the first control and all experimental groups, the second control and all experimental, and between each experimental group except for Vitamin E vs. Vitamin C and E.

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