Malic Acid and its Potential Benefits

Malic acid may be, as the name applies, acidic as well as sour, but these properties add to its charm. With benefits ranging from skin care to dry mouth assistance, your USP ingredient supplier Bell Chem knows this ingredient should be a staple in your business. 

Cosmetics

Malic acid works wonders on your complexion as it sloughs away dead skin cells on the surface of the epidermis by breaking the bonds between cells. This makes it ideal for many individuals who suffer with acne or older folks who wish to revitalize their skin. Your cells are built and maintained by the protein collagen, which gives skin more support and flexibility. As we age, collagen is not as abundant, which causes wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Malic acid stimulates collagen production. 

It has also shown to help those with skin disorders. Melasma is a disorder characterized by areas of more darkly pigmented skin. A 2013 study determined repeated applications of vitamin C and malic acid lightened areas of melasma as long as the regimen lasted. However, the benefits go beyond anti-aging and skin healing properties. Malic acid is often an ingredient in shampoos, nail treatments, and lotions since it acts as a humectant by keeping skin, nails, and hair hydrated and supple.

Medicine 

Medical professionals often prescribe malic acid as a spray or lozenge since its pungent flavor activates taste buds, causing salivation in those patients who suffer from dry mouth. For patients with a propensity to kidney stones, malic acid is often prescribed since it is the precursor to citrate, which may prevent the formation and growth of kidney stones as it increases the pH of urine. Malic acid also catalyzes important minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. When the mineral and malic acid are attached, the mineral is more easily absorbed.

Energy levels may also be improved with the addition of malic acid in the diet, since it is a key component in the Krebs cycle, a body process that creates energy. Athletes likewise benefit from malic acid as they train since it increases energy endurance levels. Creatine, long associated with elite athletic training, is more quickly absorbed by the body’s tissues when taken with malic acid. A 2015 study noted sprinters taking the malic acid/creatine supplements had increased peak power, body composition, growth hormone levels, and total work while long distance runners increased overall distance run. 

Foods and Beverages

The tangy kick of malic acid is frequently used as a food flavoring, especially in extremely sour candies. As an acid, malic acid prevents the oxidation of foods, maintaining their fresh appearance longer. Malic acid’s acidity also proves to be antimicrobial. Both these factors increase the shelf life of products. 

The secret ingredient in low-calorie beverages is malic acid since the intense fruity flavor stimulates the brain into believing the drink is sweeter than it truly is. In fact, 51% of all malic acid used industry wide is in beverages.

Bell Chem is a sanitation chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including malic acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Hydrated Lime in Food Production

The only type of lime most of us recognize when we talk about food is the fruit. However, the chemical combination of calcium oxide and water into hydrated lime is quite different. Learn about the importance of food ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s hydrated lime in food production.

Baking powder

Monocalcium phosphate, known colloquially as baking powder, is the reaction of pure phosphoric acid with hydrated lime. 

Corn products

Central American natives found hydrated lime a key asset in processing corn thousands of years ago. When they soaked raw corn kernels in water mixed with hydrated lime (milk of lime), the kernels softened and the hulls were more quickly removed. More modern technology has determined this process also releases niacin and other minerals for rapid use in the digestive system. Most authentic corn products, including tamales and tortillas and even very Americanized corn chips, contain hydrated lime.

Cream of tartar

Hydrated lime reacts with grape leaves to precipitate calcium tartrate, which is converted to tartaric acid. The powdered form of tartaric acid is the same cream of tartar used in the baking industry.

Dairy

Whole milk naturally has cream floating on its surface. When this is skimmed to make butter, the butter is often acidic. Adding hydrated lime balances the pH before the cream is pasteurized and beaten into butter.

Fruit juices

The role of hydrated lime in fruit juices is simple: it adds to its nutritional value. Hydrated lime is calcium hydroxide by another name, and the calcium fortification it provides is abundant. 

Gelatin

In animal processing, waste material and slurried hydrated lime are mixed. The collagen within the waste material increases in volume, causing hydrolysis. Following this process, the remaining material is cleaned and dried to form gelatin.

Sugar sources

Sugarcane and sugar beets undergo carbonation during refining. When the plant material is processed with water to form a juice, the juice’s pH is acidic and replete with impurities. Adding hydrated lime adjusts the pH and flocculates the impurities for removal. This mixing of raw sugar with calcium hydroxide stabilizes the end product and may be repeated as many times as necessary to further refine the sugar. Smaller sources of commercial sugar, such as maple or sorghum, also benefit from refining with hydrated lime. 

Storage of fruits and vegetables

In storage areas, semi-permeable bags of hydrated lime are added throughout racks of open fruit and vegetable containers. The hydrated lime absorbs carbon dioxide emanating from the produce as it ripens. The addition of hydrated lime to the storage areas increases the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, which keeps produce fresher for an extended period of time. 

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including hydrated lime. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Why Lactic Acid is Used in Beauty Products

Lactic acid has long been touted as a beneficial ingredient in beauty products. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem has information on this alpha hydroxy acid that promises supple skin with fewer wrinkles. Read below to learn more facts about lactic acid. You probably recognize lactic acid as the fermented form of the carbohydrate lactose in milk. Looking back in history, lactic acid (in the form of sour milk) has been used as a skin softener since Ancient Egyptian times. But what exactly can lactic acid do for your skin? Why might it be an ingredient in other beauty products?

The best alpha hydroxy acid

Most alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) work well on skin, evening out irregular coloration and lessening fine lines. Of all the water-soluble AHAs, though, lactic acid alone hydrates the skin. And lactic acid is mild enough it can be used even on areas of sensitive skin.

Increases cell renewal

Skin cells form tight bonds to one another, leading to the continuous outer layer of our epidermis. When one skin cell dies, the ones around it may still be alive. If this occurs with frequency, the surface of the skin may contain thousands upon thousands of dead skin cells. Lactic acid breaks the chemical bonds between dead cells and their neighbors, allowing the old cells to be sloughed away. Because new, healthier skin cells remain, the skin seems to glow with health.

Improves skin texture

When the pores of the skin are large, the face appears pocked. Lactic acid tends to reduce pore size. Working below the skin’s outermost epidermal layer, lactic acid stimulates collagen growth. The protein collagen is a connective tissue binding the epidermis to the dermis. When these two layers are tightly bound, the skin is tighter.

Reduces age spots and fine wrinkles

Often, as the skin ages, specific areas become more heavily imbued with melanin. This hyperpigmentation ranges from mild to severe and gives the skin an uneven appearance. Lactic acid exfoliates these overly pigmented areas, leaving skin looking significantly more youthful.

Different concentrations of lactic acid give varying results. At 12% by volume, lactic acid causes the epidermal layer to grow thicker and firmer. This leads to less of an appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. This concentration is able to seep below the outermost layer of the epidermis to positively affect the underlying granular and spinous layers. 

Anti-acne medication

Lactic acid chemical peels are mild enough to use even when patients are sensitive to other exfoliants. When coupled with antibiotic treatments, many patients have shown a reduction of almost 90% of inflammatory lesions.

Antimicrobial

When used on the skin’s surface, lactic acid stops microbial growth. This gentle cleansing counters the bacteria and other germs that cause acne and even types of eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

Keratosis pilaris treatment

The skin directly over the tricep muscles at the back of the arm tends to form small bumps from the buildup of skin cells around hair follicles. Treating the area with lactic acid dissolves these odd cellular rafts. 

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including lactic acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Bell Chem Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Thirty years ago, John Cervo and Charles Williams embarked on a business venture and founded Bell Chem in Longwood, Florida. Together, the owners have grown their business to a single source distributor of chemicals and ingredients for customers across Florida, the United States, and the entire globe. 

While many things have changed over the last 30 years, the main goal of Bell Chem remains simple: provide their clients the best service and products possible. To that end, they work industriously to go above and beyond, providing next-day delivery service to many major Florida cities and to Florida ports for delivery worldwide. 

Celebrating 30 Years in Business

Founded in 1992, Bell Chem offers a wide array of chemicals and ingredients for food and reagents including the citrus industry, food and bakery industries, and beverage and brewery industries; USP ingredients for nutritional, pharmaceutical, and personal care products; water treatment chemicals for both industrial and municipal system use; and technical grade chemicals for sanitation and janitorial companies. 

While stocking these various items has helped our company compete, our personal customer service is what has truly helped us thrive. Several employees have worked for Bell Chem for 20 or more years, and one employee aside from the owners has been with the company since it was founded. We owe our longevity in a large part to these dedicated members of our team, as well as our ability to adapt to market needs.

Supporting Florida’s Citrus Industry

As time went by, our business moved increasingly into the food industry. Florida’s booming citrus industry relies on Bell Chem’s expedient delivery schedule and superior product line to help maintain their businesses as they grow the world’s best citrus products. Working hand-in-hand with Safe Chem, their longtime business partner, Bell Chem offers C-sanTM Sanitation products for citrus production and food/beverage processing. 

Keeping Up with Best Practices

With 30 years of experience, Bell Chem remains invested in progress. Quality control is a tremendous part of daily business, and every aspect of Bell Chem’s business is regulated by the FDA, DEA, EPA, and/or OSHA. They also ensure business practices and products are verified compliant via D. L. Newslow and Associates, Inc.. Their Food Safety Audit assures Bell Chem’s customers they are purchasing from a company meeting or exceeding Good Manufacturing Practices defined by the FDA, and related HACCP and PRP requirements. 

To our loyal employees and customers who helped build what we are today, THANK YOU. We remain committed to not only being the best company to work for but offering the highest quality products and service for our customers. 

Where Inulin Comes from and Why It’s in Processed Foods

The recent push for gluten-free foods may have caused you to note a specific ingredient on food labels appearing time and again – inulin. Some labels may list this as chicory root fiber or chicory root extract, but all 3 titles are for the same product. Read more about this abundant ingredient stocked by your food ingredient supplier, Bell Chem.

What is inulin?

First, what exactly is chicory root? If you have ever eaten endive lettuce, you have come extremely close to inulin. The base of the lettuce below ground is the chicory plant. Soluble, prebiotic inulin is a fibrous plant carbohydrate physically incapable of being processed by enzymes within the digestive system. In other words, it is considered “roughage” that moves other foods through the large and small intestine. 

The good bacteria within your gut absolutely love feasting on inulin. Since the flora in your digestive system are your probiotics, their nutrition is known as prebiotics. Therefore, inulin has the distinction of being a prebiotic, which means it can be touted in pharmaceutical form as a “probiotic supplement” to increase the health of the microbial life within us.

Why do we use it?

When fiber is considered soluble, it means it is able to absorb water like a sponge, which is advantageous when added to low-viscous foods such as low-fat yogurt and dairy-free ice cream. This property also adds a creamy taste familiar in protein drinks. Solubility also curbs the appetite by slowing the digestive process, creating a sense of fullness more rapidly which lasts for longer stretches of time. 

For those suffering from diabetes, inulin decreases the sharp spikes and drops of blood sugar. A study in 2013 followed patients with type II diabetes as they took inulin food supplements. The findings of this study and many others proved inulin may manage fasting blood sugar levels and HbA1c levels and recommended inulin supplements for elderly patients with type II diabetes.

Studies have proven adding inulin to a diet helps in the absorption of both calcium and magnesium, very important salts required to keep the body healthy. 

What foods contain inulin?

Ice cream and other frozen delights add inulin as an ingredient to stop the formation of ice crystals. Gluten binds fibers together, which is missing in gluten-free foods. Inulin’s properties replace gluten’s elastic-like abilities to bind food ingredients. This ability also gives it a place in foods as a substitute for eggs, which form a similar binding function. High-fiber cereals, cereal bars, and breads often contain inulin, especially if they tout low carbohydrates. A second boost in use is its sweet flavor. Inulin is often dried and powdered, then sold as a zero-calorie sweetener. 

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including inulin. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Microcrystalline Cellulose Uses in Pharmaceuticals

USP ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s microcrystalline cellulose is a white excipient renowned for its multiple functionality. The name “microcrystalline” determines the granule size and shape, and microcrystalline cellulose is a USP-grade form of cellulose. While many inactive ingredients utilized by the pharmaceutical industry work as binders, bulking agents, and lubricants, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) adds several additional layers of usefulness to its resume. Read more to learn how advantageous MCC is for your industry.

Bioadhesive advantages

The term “microcrystalline” refers to the size and shape of MCC. Its tiny particle size offers an extreme surface area for adhesion within the human body. MCC delivers medication as it binds to these tissues.

Compression/compaction

With the ability to carry active ingredients, along with its high dilution capacity (its ability to compact under specific conditions) – both of which exceed leading excipients – MCC is a proven leader. MCC’s ability to compress medication into smaller tablets leads to less crumbling. 

Disintegrant

In both wet and dry compressions, MCC expedites the breakdown of medication into microscopic form for the body’s use. Compared to similar excipients, MCC causes faster disintegration, leading to a quick-acting medication for consumers. This feature leads to MCC’s addition as an ingredient to chewable and dissolvable medications.

Filler/bulking agent/binder

As an excipient, MCC is foremost a filler. By adding MCC as an inactive ingredient, manufacturers are able to deliver a familiar low-dose medication in liquid, capsule, or tablet form with precise measurements of medicine bound tightly and compactly by MCC. Its bulking property gives a weak liquid, which is easier to spill and more difficult for some patients to consume, a boost in viscosity by transforming it into a semi-solid syrup. 

Lubricant

The flow rate of MCC gives it a space as a lubricant in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Added to active ingredients, it causes a smooth flow with less risk of adhering to machinery. 

Wet granulation

Because MCC is hydrophilic and insoluble in water, it is one of the few excipients available for wet granulation processes. As it retains water, the interior of the granules remain moist as the exterior dries when exposed to a high temperature.

Bell Chem is a USP ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including versatile microcrystalline cellulose. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

How Oxine Keeps Brewing Safe

Brewers understand the importance of disinfecting equipment and work spaces, but most may not realize the benefits of oxine. Oxine is an extremely powerful sanitizer that needs no flushing or wiping down after application. It works against a wide variety of pathogens and is even utilized in hospitals to significantly slow the spread of COVID-19. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem wishes to introduce oxine to its brewery customers. Oxine finds uses throughout the brewing process, including the following.

CIP sanitizing

Chlorine-based products and hydrogen peroxide are ubiquitous in sanitizing and disinfecting. Oxine is much more powerful than either, with no residual by-products. Oxine and any food-grade acid combine and give off chlorine dioxide, which oxidizes microorganisms and renders them neutral. Since it kills both viruses and bacteria, Oxine helps prevent dead vats. When the oxidation reaction is complete, the remaining chlorine molecules combine with sodium to form virtually harmless sodium chloride, table salt. 

Pasteurizers, warmers, and coolers

In general, the waters within these systems are closed loop, meaning they are often open to the elements and are prime for contamination. Human error in the form of spills or broken containers creates a high organic load in the form of slime or malodorous bacteria and biofilm. A recent IFT summary report noted chlorine dioxide, a main component in the reaction of Oxine, as an extremely effective component in the destruction of biofilm. 

Closed-loop systems

Water samples prove closed-loop systems are not immune to biofilm contamination, which is commonly linked to back pressures. Once a system is infiltrated, it is extremely difficult to control microbial growth. Common chlorine treatments will stave off growth for a week or more, but it returns. The chemical disrupting properties of Oxine break the cycle and stabilize the water. Oxine is also used to disinfect specific sections of waterline in large brewery closed loop systems. 

Lube injection

Much like the closed loop systems, lube additive injection controls bacterial counts and removes biofilms. In addition, chains and conveyors benefit from Oxine’s addition by releasing caked-on grime, causing chains and conveyors to perform more smoothly and enhancing the odor with a fresh, clean smell.

Water replacement

When water remains clear and sanitary, it can be utilized in closed-loop systems for much longer stretches of time. This saves money and energy. Even better, Oxine does not harm metal pipes. 

Filler head assembly

As containers are filled, the likelihood of contamination increases greatly. Before a shift, clean the area, then spray with Oxine. At pre-set breaks during the day, low levels of Oxine sprayed on the filler head assembly reduce the incidence of microbial growth and sanitize all surfaces.

Mold control

Storage cellars are ideal for mold growth, which potentially leads to musty and unsanitary conditions. Spraying Oxine on the floors and walls kills the bacteria and leaves behind a fresh odor.

Rail tanker cars

Biofilm within large tanker cars contaminates products. After an initial cleaning, spray the interior with Oxine. Do not rinse with potable water since bacteria within the water may recontaminate the surfaces.

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Vitamin C (aka Ascorbic Acid) in Health Supplements

An apple a day may be rumored to keep the doctor away, but vitamin C may do far more. Most consumers recognize vitamin C as the wonder vitamin in oranges, but it is also present in kale, kiwis, spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, berries, and tomatoes. Scientists learned to harness the power of ascorbic acid in 1932, and double Nobel laureate Linus Pauling stressed the importance of a diet rich in vitamin C. 

USP ingredient supplier Bell Chem stocks ascorbic acid for its health-minded customers.

Why We Need Vitamin C

Take a look at many over-the-counter supplements, and you are likely to find vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) as a key ingredient because of its myriad health benefits. Vitamin C is a nutrient humans are unable to produce; it must be obtained daily through diet since it is water soluble and passes through the body quickly. Vitamin C affects every body system.

Immune system

Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant, clearing free radicals from the bloodstream. An excess of free radicals can change the cellular structure of any tissue, causing all kinds of damage, from wrinkles to cancer.

Eye health

Oral vitamin C supplements appear to slow the deterioration of sight due to macular degeneration. Ongoing studies suggest vitamin C may also reduce the risk of cataracts.

Dialysis-driven anemia

Patients submitted to dialysis often develop anemia, or lower than average circulating red blood cells. Oral doses of vitamin C may aid in the management of this type of anemia.

Duration of common cold symptoms

Vitamin C curtails symptoms of the cold virus if taken before symptoms arise, but shows no results if taken once symptoms develop. In other words, vitamin C is good for prevention of the common cold.

Enzymatic reactions

As the body creates collagen, vitamin C must be present. Collagen is a protein in connective tissue responsible for adhering one layer of tissue to another. Along with visibly smoothing fine lines and wrinkles in skin, collagen binds other tissues together, such as bone to muscle and muscle to adipose. In fact, collagen is an important component in every body system. Hormones, which are responsible for long-term chemical messaging, contain ascorbic acid as a component. If lower than average amounts of ascorbic acid is present in the blood, it can mean hormones are thrown out of their delicate balance.

Cardiovascular care

New research is pinning elevated levels of vitamin C in the blood with lower instances of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Evidence suggests the intravenous intake of vitamin C prior to and following coronary surgery prevents myocardial injury and arrhythmia.

Colonoscopy prep

The Food and Drug Administration recently cleared a fluid rich in vitamin C as a preparatory agent before a colonoscopy. The vitamin C treatment required 2 liters of medicated fluid beforehand rather than the traditional 4 liters. 

With these facts in hand, it is time for your business to stock up on Bell Chem’s ascorbic acid. Bell Chem is a USP ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including vitamin C (ascorbic acid). You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Why Acesulfame K May Be the Best Sweetener for Your Food Products

Acesulfame K (also known as Ace-K or acesulfame potassium) has piqued the interest of scientists and chefs worldwide for its highly intense sweet flavor (200 times sweeter than sucrose) without caloric input. Unlike many other sweeteners, acesulfame K has no lingering aftertaste to spoil its flavor. 

Created in 1967, acesulfame K has appeared on labels in the United States since December 2003 to great acclaim. Learn how food ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s acesulfame K is utilized in foods and beverages as well as pharmaceutical and hygiene products. 

Works at Any Temperature

Unlike many other artificial sweeteners, acesulfame potassium is a viable sucrose alternative at almost any temperature; it can be used in baked goods, dairy products (it will not break down during pasteurization), and other quality products. High or low pH ranges also do not affect the performance of acesulfame K. 

Safe for Diabetic Patients

The human body is not able to metabolize acesulfame K, leading to a sweetened product without calories. For this reason, acesulfame K is safe for diabetic patients since it will not affect serum glucose, triglyceride, or cholesterol levels. 

Blends Well with Other Sweeteners

When combined with other sweeteners or sugar alcohols, the sum total sweetness of both sweeteners exceeds their individual levels. This blending has also been reported to have a more naturally sweet flavor than individual artificial sweeteners can create. 

Has a Range of Food Production Uses

Products relying on acesulfame K’s sweet flavor include fruit juices, carbonated beverages, tabletop sweeteners, jams and jellies, gum and mints, breakfast cereals, and dressings and marinades.

Has Medical and Personal Care Uses

The pharmaceutical industry finds acesulfame K added to medication aids in its palatability. Acesulfame K is an ingredient in toothpaste, mouthwash and other oral hygiene products since it improves flavor without promoting tooth decay.

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

How Cornstarch is Used in Beauty Products

Cornstarch (Zea mays) easily falls into the category of old-fashioned new technology. With the push toward natural products, cornstarch has become a natural alternative to overly manufactured goods. Personal care ingredient supplier Bell Chem wishes to share cornstarch’s amazing properties in beauty products with its customers.

Why Cornstarch is Used in Beauty Products

Beauty care products involve many of the senses: they must look, smell, and, most especially, feel good. While many beneficial skincare chemicals work well, their texture is sometimes off putting since they feel greasy, slimy, or weak. The addition of cornstarch changes the feel of personal care products to a silky, richer feel. This process absorbs oil during the heating phase of production with no overall volume change. The product feels significantly creamier, and the oil is released over time.

Adding Nutrients

Cornstarch is packed with vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, as well as the minerals calcium, iron, and zinc. These nutrients stimulate cell regeneration and keep existing cells healthy. Cornstarch provides a vehicle to admit nutrients through the epidermis into underlying layers of tissue. 

Improving Texture

Cornstarch creates a smaller bubble in effervescent foam, turning a traditional cream into a more densely packed, easier-to-spread, creamy product. Cornstarch also binds water to oil-based components within a formula to stabilize the emulsion, which gives a consistent product with every use while it extends the shelf-life of the product.

Soothing Irritated Skin

When added to antiperspirants and deodorants, cornstarch soothes irritated skin, absorbs sebum and oil, and deters bacteria and inflammation. For acne-prone skin, cornstarch’s ability to absorb sebum and oil leaves smoother skin with fewer blemishes. Infant powders contain cornstarch since it is natural, safe, and effective without blocking tiny pores.

Sun Protection

Skin is often irritated by sun, chemicals, injury, or environmental factors. Many of the products formulated to combat these irritants contain cornstarch to relieve itching, moisture, inflammation, microbial growth, and other reactions. Sunscreens containing ultraviolet filters are frequently sticky without the addition of cornstarch.

Exfoliant Properties

Ground coarsely, cornstarch is a great exfoliant, sloughing dead skin cells to allow the lower, new epidermal layer to glow.

Bell Chem is a personal care ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.