ALLANTOIN

WHAT IS ALLANTOIN?

Allantoin is a skin-soothing, hydrating, and healing ingredient found naturally in comfrey plants, but it’s usually synthetically made for skincare (to keep it safe and consistent). It’s popular in formulas for sensitive, dry, or irritated skin.

✅ USES OF ALLANTOIN

1. Moisturizers – Helps soften and hydrate dry, rough skin.

2. Acne Treatments – Calms redness and inflammation.

3. Aftershave Products – Soothes post-shaving irritation.

4. Baby Products – Added for its gentleness and healing properties.

5. Healing Creams/Ointments – Speeds up wound healing (cuts, burns, abrasions).

6. Facial Cleansers – Reduces tightness and balances harsh surfactants.

7. Lip Balms – Repairs dry or cracked lips.

8. Body Lotions – Improves skin texture and smoothness.

9. Sunscreens & After-sun Care – Relieves sun-exposed or irritated skin.

BENEFITS OF ALLANTOIN

1. Soothes Irritated Skin

• Reduces redness, itching, and burning.

• Great for eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea-prone skin.

2. Promotes Healing

• Encourages cell regeneration, helping minor wounds and blemishes heal faster.

3. Hydrates and Softens

• Acts as a humectant (draws moisture in) and emollient (softens skin).

• Leaves skin smooth, supple, and less flaky.

4. Gentle Exfoliation

• Helps shed dead skin cells without irritation.

• Great for people who can’t tolerate AHAs/BHAs.

5. Safe for Sensitive Skin

• Non-irritating and very well tolerated, even in high concentrations.

• Commonly used in baby products.

6. Boosts Efficacy of Other Ingredients

• Enhances penetration and effectiveness of other actives like niacinamide, vitamin C, etc.

Let’s dive into the DIY side of Allantoin — it’s a killer ingredient for soothing, hydrating, and repairing the skin, and it plays really well in tons of DIY formulations.

BASICS OF FORMULATING WITH ALLANTOIN

✅ Quick Facts:

• Recommended usage rate: 0.1% – 0.5% (some go up to 2%, but 0.5% is usually enough!)

• Solubility: Water-soluble

• pH range: Works best in products with a pH of 4.0–7.0

• Heat sensitivity: Degrades at high temps, so add below 50°C (122°F) during the cool-down phase

✨ DIY RECIPES WITH ALLANTOIN

1. Soothing Face Mist / Toner (100ml)

Great for calming, hydrating, and refreshing irritated or sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

• 90% Distilled Water – 90g

• 2% Glycerin – 2g (humectant)

• 0.5% Allantoin – 0.5g

• 3% Aloe Vera Juice – 3g

• 0.5% Preservative (e.g. Geogard, Liquid Germall Plus) – 0.5g

• 4% Rose Hydrosol or Witch Hazel (alcohol-free) – 4g

How to make:

1. Heat water + glycerin to around 40–45°C.

2. Add Allantoin and stir until fully dissolved.

3. Add the aloe juice, hydrosol, and preservative.

4. Bottle and shake gently.

5. Keep in the fridge if you want it extra cooling

2. Barrier-Repair Moisturizer

This is a lightweight, non-greasy lotion perfect for irritated or compromised skin.

Ingredients (approx. 100g):

• Water Phase:

  • 60% Distilled Water – 60g

  • 0.5% Allantoin – 0.5g

  • 3% Glycerin – 3g

• Oil Phase:

  • 7% Jojoba or Squalane Oil – 7g

  • 5% Emulsifying Wax (e.g., Olivem 1000, Polawax) – 5g

  • 2% Cetyl Alcohol (optional for texture) – 2g

• Cool-down Phase:

  • 1% Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) – 1g

  • 0.5% Preservative – 0.5g

  • Optional: 0.5% Vitamin E or Niacinamide

Steps:

1. Heat oil and water phases separately to 70°C.

2. Combine and blend until emulsified.

3. Let cool to under 50°C, then add cool-down ingredients.

4. Stir, pour into container, and let set!

3. Healing Lip Balm

Super gentle and helps repair dry, cracked lips.

Ingredients:

• 40% Shea Butter – 4g

• 25% Beeswax – 2.5g

• 30% Sweet Almond or Castor Oil – 3g

• 0.5% Allantoin – 0.05g

• 0.5% Vitamin E – 0.05g

• Optional: a couple drops of flavor oil

Instructions:

1. Melt beeswax, shea butter, and oil in a double boiler.

2. Cool to ~45°C, add Allantoin and Vitamin E.

3. Stir well and pour into lip balm tubes or tins.

️ Pro Tips:

• Don’t overheat Allantoin — if it doesn’t fully dissolve, warm gently and stir. A mini milk frother or magnetic stirrer helps!

• Always use a broad-spectrum preservative in water-based recipes.

• Allantoin pairs beautifully with niacinamide, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.