Why Our Ingredients?
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) leaf extract
Image used via GFDL
Malaeuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil
Image source: Wikipedia Commons
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree.
When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.
Tea Tree Oil is composed of terpene hydrocarbons, mainly monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated alcohols. Approximately 100 compounds make up the entirety of Tea Tree Oil.
A significant amount of data shows that Tea Tree Oil exerts antibacterial and antifungal effects in vitro, although more research is needed to demonstrate it's in vivo efficacy.
Tea Tree Oil is included in many skin-care products and has a broad safety profile.
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found in the body, with particularly high concentrations in some parts of the skin. More generally, "Vitamin E" is the collective name for a group of fat-soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities. Many forms of Vitamin E exist, and (Alpha)-Tocopheryl Acetate is one of those forms of Vitamin E.
Our skin does a lot for us: It absorbs heat, cold, moisture, protects against dryness, and it is being hit by ultraviolet radiation constantly while we are outside. This constant bombardment from the elements, especially UV radiation, can cause "reactive oxygen species," often Free-Radicals within cell tissues, which can contribute to deleterious effects on overall cell health. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are formed naturally while we digest food and perform metabolism, but our body has ways to mitigate the ROS that are formed so that we remain healthy and our tissues function without damage.
Vitamin E has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant to combat ROS, and further has systemic effects on cell signaling, immune function, and gene expression. A study by OSU showed that Vitamin E can have beneficial effects on skin damage from sun exposure. Another article shows that Vitamin E can have positive effects on wound healing. There is even some evidence that Vitamin E carries anti-inflammatory effects, although further studies are necessary to confirm this.
Overall, Vitamin E is an excellent addition to FULL GUARD Wipes due to it's antioxidant effects and comprehensive upsides.
Calcium Gluconate
Calcium Gluconate is the calcium salt of Gluconic Acid, a medium-chain hydroxy acid with a 6 to 12 carbon atom side chain. It is the open-chain conjugate base of our other ingredient, Gluconolactone, discussed below. Gluconic Acid is a primary metabolite, which means it's essential for metabolic or physiological processes. It has been found in human metabolism. is used in cosmetics as a binder and humectant. For medical purposes, Calcium Gluconate is often used to treat calcium deficiencies, but for skin purposes it is often used as a binding agent and a humectant (a substance to help draw water in). Furthermore, some research shows that Calcium Gluconate can help the skin promote repair to burns and scrapes. As a salt of a weak acid, calcium gluconate is an excellent choice to help modulate acidity levels in skincare products.
Gluconolactone
Gluconolactone is a naturally occurring polyhydroxy acid (PHA) with metal-chelating, moisturizing, and antioxidant activity. It is used in cosmetic product and as a coagulant in tofu processing.
While Gluconolactone is described as a "Poly-hydroxy Acid", it is not a typical organic acid such as a carboxylic acid, but as a Polyhydroxy acid, it is much weaker than other acids uses to cleanse the skin, i.e. many that would be used for acne medication. It is therefore excellent choice to cleanse and exfoliate in a much more gentle manner. But what makes Gluconolactone an excellent addition to the formula for our wipes is the fact that the multiple hydroxyl groups also help function as a humectant; meaning it tends to pull water towards the skin, increasing moisture.
There is also some evidence that the structure of gluconolactone has mildly anti-oxidant effects, as it can neutralize free radicals.
Polysorbate 20
Image: PubChem
Polysorbate-20 is a nonionic surfactant formed by the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate. Its stability and relative nontoxicity allows it to be used as a detergent and emulsifier.
In 2021, a highly invasive study was done on Polysorbate-20 to study it's safety profile. Previous studies confirmed the substance to be safe for human use, but the 2021 study used a more invasive approach to determine the full risks involved. Ultimately, the study determined that polysorbate 20 is a safe excipient regardless of the administration method.
“It is concluded that they are safe for use in cosmetics at present concentrations of use.” It is accepted for use in the EU and Canada.
For safety reasons, it is important that manufacturers ensure that Polysorbate-20 does not contain 1,4-Dioxane. We have taken steps to ensure that this contaminant is not present in our formulation.
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is the benzoate salt of soda (C7H5NaO2), produced by the neutralization of benzoic acid with sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or sodium hydroxide. It is a extremely effective preservative, extending the shelf-life of topical products and foods, often by over ten times, due to it's simple antimicrobial preservative action.
Sodium benzoate has been used as a food preservative for many decades and has been regulated by the US FDA since the 1980s. The FDA classifies it as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) for use to be consumed up to 5mg/kg per day. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that Sodium Benzoate is safe for use in foods up to 2.27mg/kg per day.
We use small amounts of Sodium Benzoate in wipes, and the amount absorbed is several orders of magnitude below what is consumed in food and processed by the human body in typical diets.
Sodium Benzoate also does not accumulate in the body, and is excreted usually within 24 hours, which helps contribute to its safety profile.
*While our ingredients are Generally Recognized As Safe by USA and EU Agencies, always consult your doctor if any concerns arise. If any irritation or rash occurs after using this product, cease use immediately and consult a medical professional. Do not use this product if you have allergies to any of the ingredients listed above. Do not use this product if you have special skin sensitivity that would react adversely to any of the ingredients listed above.
References:
Aloe Vera
Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP. Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents. Molecules. 2020 Mar 13;25(6):1324. doi: 10.3390/molecules25061324. PMID: 32183224; PMCID: PMC7144722.
See, also: Hormozi M., Assaei R., Boroujeni M.B. The effect of Aloe vera on the expression of wound healing factors (TGFβ1 and bFGF) in mouse embryonic fibroblast cell: In vitro study. Biomed. Pharm. 2017;88:610–616. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.01.095.
Teplicki E., Ma Q., Castillo D.E., Zarei M., Hustad A.P., Chen J., Li J. The Effects of Aloe vera on Wound Healing in Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Viability. Wounds. 2018;30:263–268.
Negahdari S., Galehdari H., Kesmati M., Rezaie A., Shariati G. Wound healing activity of extracts and formulations of Aloe vera, henna, adiantum capillus-veneris, and myrrh on mouse dermal fibroblast cells. Int. J. Prevent. Med. 2017;8:18.
Tea Tree Oil
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246
Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 Jan;19(1):50-62. doi: 10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006. PMID: 16418522; PMCID: PMC1360273. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
For Vitamin E
Hobson, Rachel. Vitamin E and wound healing: an evidence-based review. International Wound Journal. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iwj.12295
Traber MG. Vitamin E. In: Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins R, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 10th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006;396-411.
Nachbar F, Korting HC. The role of vitamin E in normal and damaged skin. J Mol Med (Berl). 1995 Jan;73(1):7-17. doi: 10.1007/BF00203614. PMID: 7633944.
Asbaghi, O., Sadeghian, M., Nazarian, B. et al. The effect of vitamin E supplementation on selected inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Sci Rep 10, 17234 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73741-6
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Vitamin E Fact Sheet for Health Professionals https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/