Abstract:
Air pollutants and toxic elements can directly affect the skin as it is the outermost barrier protecting
the body. In this study, a cleanser was formulated using charcoal, virgin coconut oil, and other local
ingredients. An artificial sweat solution including NaCl, NH4Cl, acetic acid, lactic acid was treated
with coconut shell charcoal (CSC) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) varying the particle size, dosage, and
the contact time with the solution, in triplicates. The remaining organic acids, NH4
+, and Na+ were
determined by formalin titrimetric method and flame photometry. CSC having the particle size of
0.25-0.50 mm exhibited higher adsorption towards the two main components in human perspiration;
NaCl and NH4Cl than RHC, at an average contact time of 30 minutes. Therefore, CSC was used as
the adsorbent. Virgin coconut oil was used as a moisturizer, an antioxidant, an emulsifying agent,
sodium lauryl ether sulfate as the foaming agent and bee’s honey as the binding agent, a thickener, an
antimicrobial and a humectant. Other ingredients used were kaolinite, sesame oil, and sweet orange
essential oil. The pH of the product was 6; therefore, pH balanced. The product showed significant
antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
when subjected to agar well diffusion method. The highest result was observed against Staphylococcus
aureus, giving an inhibition zone of 2.5 cm for 100 mg of the product, while 5 μg of Ciprofloxacin
showed an inhibition zone of 3.0 cm. The product was easily spreadable, washable, and had a thick
consistency. Patch test was done by applying 400 mg of the product on the dorsal forearm of 10
volunteers with a diameter of 1 inch, for 30 minutes, then rinsed off with water. No adverse effects
were exhibited. Therefore, this product can be considered safe, and it achieves the desired attribute
as a cleanser.
