Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 75(2), July - August 2022; Article No.

14, Pages: 86-89 ISSN 0976 – 044X

Research Article

Formulation and Evaluation of Skin Invigorating Caffeine Face Mask

Anakha Narayanan, Fahidha K. S, Godwin Babu, Nandana V, Raji M K, Anu Abraham, Neeba Babu*
Department of Pharmaceutics, Chemists College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Varikoli P. O, Ernakulam, TN, India.
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: roneeba@gmail.com

Received: 12-05-2022; Revised: 23-07-2022; Accepted: 31-07-2022; Published on: 15-08-2022.

ABSTRACT
Skin health is important in providing an aesthetic appeal and also in personal health. Facial cosmetics keep skin hydrated and remove
sebum and impurities from skin thus maintaining proper skin health. It imparts a psychosocial effect on people. Cosmetics intended
especially for facial application protects the facial skin, which can be cream, lotion, face mask etc. The use of suitable face masks
according to the facial skin types result in healthy skin. Hydrogel masks provide cooling and soothing effects to sensitive skin.
Hydrogels have high-water content and their hydrophilic base creates a matrix to the skin, thus allows high efficacy in delivering active
ingredients into the skin, thus suitable as facial mask ingredient. Caffeine hydrogel face mask containing caffeine and sodium alginate
can be useful for multi-purpose. In this study 1.5% caffeine was formulated with a concentration of 4% sodium alginate to form the
hydrogel face mask. Caffeine is being increasingly used in cosmetics due to its anti-aging, anti-oxidant and wound healing properties.
It helps protect cell against UV radiation and slows down the process of photo aging. The physical stability of hydrogel face mask was
evaluated by organoleptic observation, viscosity, pH, spreadability, hydrogel mask acidity and drying time measurements. The results
showed that the hydrogel face mask remained stable in colour and odor for 12 weeks. The study revealed that the hydrogel face mask
containing caffeine is stable and has good physical characteristics which makes the hydrogel face mask satisfactory for use as a
neutracosmeceutical product. The hydrogel mask tested in this study is very effective in improving skin hydration and skin radiance,
encouraging an even skin tone, reducing skin pigmentation and promote young looking skin, reducing the signs of aging.
Keywords: Hydrogel face mask; anti-aging; anti-oxidant; wound healing; physical stability; neutracosmeceutical; hydration; caffeine;
skin; cell; UV radiation.

The skin water content plays a significant role in skin

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health, aesthetics and glow. Skin delicacy can be affected
by ultraviolet (UV) exposure (sun damage), senescence,
DOI: dehydration, stress, medication and regime type. Masks
10.47583/ijpsrr.2022.v75i02.014 help hydrate skin, remove excess oils and help improve the
appearance of pores, while providing a relaxing spa -like
DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.47583/ijpsrr.2022.v75i02.014
experience at home. Facial mask has recently undergone a
makeover with innovative ingredients. The application site
and amount applied largely determine the rheological
INTRODUCTION properties of facial mask. They are formulated to resemble

T he word cosmetics originates from a Greek word viscous gels, paste or thick emulsions. The main cosmetic
“kosmeticos” which means to ‘adorn’. Cosmetics are objectives of facial mask are to provide: fast, deep
external preparations which are applied on the moisturization, skin replenishment and restitution, Skin
external parts of body like skin, hair, nail, lips etc. to rejuvenation, Sebum absorption and elimination. There
improve the outward show of the body and also mask bad are different types of face masks such as Sheet Mask, Peel-
odour of the body. It protects skin and keeps it in good out mask, Hydrogel mask, Rinse- off mask3.
condition. Cosmetics are broadly classified into: Skin Hydrogels are 3D networks of polymers in which water can
Cosmetics, Hair Cosmetics, Nail Cosmetics, and Cosmetics be absorbed several times the gel weight. Hydrogel masks
for hygiene purpose 1. not only have a superior moisturizing and regenerative
Nutracosmetics are an emerging class of health- and skin- effect on the skin but are also able to control skin
care products that combine the benefits of temperature and enhance physiological activity. Hydrogels
nutracosmetical ingredients, as compared with synthetic are often chosen as facial mask ingredients because of
cosmetic products, herbal products are mild, their high water content and their hydrophilic base which
biodegradable, and have low toxicity profile. Using herbal creates a matrix to the skin, thus allows high efficacy in
ingredients, different skin care products have proven to delivering active ingredients into the skin. Hydrogel masks
exhibit some beneficial properties, such as sunscreen, anti- not only have a superior moisturizing and regenerative
aging, moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-cellulite, and effect on the skin, but are also able to control skin
antimicrobial effects2. temperature and enhance physiological activity.

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Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 75(2), July - August 2022; Article No. 14, Pages: 86-89 ISSN 0976 – 044X

Furthermore, hydrogel masks have good elasticity and are innovative and effective cosmetic product and facial mask
convenient to apply. Thermosensitive hydrogels are able to ameliorate their appearance and body health,
especially utilized for localized, controlled and continuous slowing down the stress condition and matching their own
delivery of active compounds, based on a shift in their skin type and life-style is a need for the hour12.
conformation, solubility and hydrophilic or hydrophobic
In this study, the base gel was prepared using sodium
balance due to thermal stimuli4,5.
alginate, water and flaxseed by homogenization, then
Caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine (figure 1) freely soluble caffeine was incorporated. This formulation produces a
in chloroform and in boiling water, sparingly soluble in skin invigorating hydrogel face mask that has good
water and ethanol, slightly soluble in ether6. Caffeine does physical stability and consistency with fast, deep
not possess the properties of an ideal skin penetrant as it moisturizing, and skinreplenishment properties. The face
is a hydrophilic material with a value of -0.007 as Log P7. mask was intended to relieve the skin inflammation and
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant with numerous puffiness by the incorporation of caffeine. Physical stability
beneficial molecular properties implicated in dermatology was evaluated using organoleptic observation, hydrogel
such as its ability to act as an antioxidant, mask acidity, viscosity, spreadability, pH, and drying time.
phosphodiesterase inhibitor and anti-carcinogen8.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Caffeine (Suvidhinath laboratories), Sodium alginate
(Suvidhinath laboratories), Flaxseed gel (Folk stores),
Glycerine (Nice chemicals), Propylene glycol (Suvidhinath
laboratories), Methyl paraben (Suvidhinath laboratories),
Propyl paraben (Suvidhinath laboratories), Aloe Vera
(Himalaya Pvt. Ltd), Lemon oil (Yucca enterprises,
Mumbai).
Preparation of flaxseed gel
30 gm of flaxseed was weighed into a 250 ml beaker
Figure 1: Chemical structure of caffeine and 120 ml of water was added to it. Then it was
Caffeine has potent antioxidant properties. It helps protect boiled in a waterbath until gel of sufficient consistency
cells against the UV radiation and slows down the process was formed and immediately strained.
of photoaging of the skin. Caffeine contained in cosmetics Preparation of caffeine hydrogel mask
raises its protective effect against UV radiation, reduces
the formation of free radicals in skin cells, and increases Hydrogel mask formulation described by composition and
the microcirculation of blood in the skin. Caffeine can concentration is shown in Table.1. Sodium alginate was
effectively reduce swelling of the tissue around the eyes. dispersed in distilled water and homogenised for 10
The commercially available topical formulations of minutes.
caffeine normally contains 3% caffeine. Caffeine hydrogel The prepared flaxseed gel was added to glycerine to
face mask show a very efficient effect on the skin 9. produce a mixture. 0.45g caffeine was boiled in distilled
Water soluble mucilage extracted from flaxseed has water to dissolve. Methyl paraben and propyl paraben
excellent hydrocolloid potential in gel formation; were also added to caffeine solution and boiled. The
moreover, it can become a product of high technological above mixture was added to flaxseed gel - glycerin
value in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries mixture and a drop of propyleneglycol was added. Then
because it has high viscosity in aqueous solution. Flaxseed the mixture was added to the alginate gel and
gum could form thermoreversible cold –setting gel. homogenized until a semisolid gel is formed.
Flaxseed which contains lignans and antioxidants helps in Evaluation
skin tightening and preventing sagging of the skin. They
also have fatty acids which keep your skin nourished, Organoleptic test
hydrated and moisturized10. The prepared gel was evaluated for its color and odour.
Sodium alginate is a marine polymer that has Hydrogel mask acidity
demonstrated the ability to form hydrogels, an
interesting property for the development of cutaneous The mask was dipped in 10 ml of distilled water for 2
formulations. Sodium alginate is a biodegradable and hours at room temperature. The hydrogel mask acidity
biocompatible polysaccharide. It is widely used in the was then measured with pH meter. Measurements
pharmaceutical industry, mainly due to the fact that it were repeated 3 times and the mean values were used.
can form gels11. Viscosity
Skin redness and inflammation on face caused by the use The viscosity of the sample gel were determined using
of N95 mask are challenges faced by the covid frontiers. An Brookfield viscometer (DV-E model) and the readings

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were taken. Drying time

Spreadability The drying time test was performed by observing the
time needed by the gel to dry, whichstarting from the
The sample was put on the glass sized 20× 20 cm which
gel application on the skin of the face until dry layer was
is placed on the graphical sheet, left for 60 seconds then
created13.
the diameter of formed shape was measured. Afterward
the samplewas closed with mica plastic and given load RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
until the strength reached 125 g and left for 60 seconds.
In this study 1.5% of caffeine was formulated with 4%
Then the diameter of formed shape was measured.
sodium alginate, 46.6% flaxseed gel, 6.6% of glycerine,
pH 2.6% methyl paraben, 1.3% propyl paraben and 16.6%
aloevera which produced a hydrogel mask with a good
The sample was diluted into 1 % concentration by weight
consistency. The results of evaluation is given in Table.2.
of the gel and dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water and pH
was measured using pH meter.
Table 1: Hydrogel mask formulation

Composition F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6
Caffeine 0.45 g 0.45 g 0.45g 0.45 g 0.45 g 0.45 g
Sodiumalginate 0.8 g 0.8 g 1g 1g 1.2 g 1.2g
Flaxseed gel 14g 16 g 14 g 16 g 14 g 16 g
Glycerin 2g 2g 2g 2g 2g 2g
Propylene glycol 1.5 g 1g 0.15 g 0.15 g 0.15 g 0.1 g
Methylparaben 0.8g 0.8 g 0.8 g 0.8 g 0.8 g 0.8 g
Propyl paraben 0.4g 0.4 g 0.4 g 0.4 g 0.4 g 0.4 g
Aloe Vera 5g 5g 5g 5g 5g 5g
Distilledwater q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s
Lemon oil 0.1g 0.1 g 0.1g 0.1 g 0.1 g 0.1 g

Table 2: Evaluation of Face Mask

Evaluation F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6
Color Cream Cream Cream Cream Cream Cream
Odor Lemon Lemon Lemon Lemon Lemon Lemon
Hydrogel mask acidity 5.2 ± 0.06 6 ± 0.2 6.1 ± 0.15 5.9 ± 0.1 6.2 ± 0.25 6.6 ± 0.26
Viscosity (cps) 2326.67±2.08 2429±2 2544.67 ± 3.51 2545±3.6 2525.33± 1.53 2606± 3.6
Spreadability 21.93± 0.07 22.2± 0.35 20.37± 0.64 21.3±0.28 22.17± 0.21 21.43± 0.21
pH 4.8± 0.25 5.1± 0.15 6.1± 0.35 6.3± 0.06 6.2± 0.3 6.4± 0.26
Drying time (min) 11.3± 0.58 13.2± 0.76 15.3± 1.53 14.5± 0.5 15.8± 0.29 15.2± 0.76

Organoleptic Test Viscosity: The viscosity of six formulae of face mask was
between 2326.67±2.08 to 2606± 3.6 cps at 100 rpm.
The physical evaluation of the mask showed that all the six
Viscosity of F6 is the highest. The viscosity of the mask
formulae gave the same cream color and specific odor.
affects the spreadability. Lower the viscosity, lower the
Hydrogel mask acidity: The six formulae of mask showed surface tension and more the mask is easily spread. The
hydrogel mask acidity ranging from 5.2 ± 0.06 to 6.6 ± 0.26. viscosity of formulation F1 is lowest when compared to
The acidity of the skin is pH 4.5 to 6.5. The acidity value of other five formulations.
the skin was appropriate (pH between 4.5 and 6.5);
Spreadability: The ability of mask to spread ranged from
therefore, the hydrogel mask was convenient to be used
20.37 ± 0.64 to 22.17 ± 0.21. Formulation F5 exhibited
as a skin care product Therefore, all the formulae have
better spreadabilty.
acidity convenient for skin.

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Source of Support: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of Interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or
publication of this article.

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