RESUMO
Two recent trends that have developed simultaneously are a mistrust of health products by some of the population and the growing popularity of essential oils. The objective of this study was to analyze recipes with essential oils found on the internet and to assess their level of photoprotective efficacy. Therefore, we conducted a study of 140 recipes for personal care and hygiene products that incorporate one or more essential oils. This analysis revealed that numerous essential oils are called for in these recipes, derived from plants belonging to a wide diversity of botanical families. There was a significant difference (p=0.0026) in the number of essential oils listed in the recipes for facial care and body care recipes. There was also a statistically significant difference (p=2.54E-5) in the amount of essential oil to be added, expressed in drops, according to the type of product being made. A common characteristic of most of the recipes was the absence of any antimicrobial agents or antioxidants, which poses serious issues of preservation for the finished products. Recipes with essential oils pose many issues. The first issue lies in the quantities of the different raw materials to be incorporated; it influences the final essential oil concentration. The second issue concerns the adverse effects (photosensitization, for example) and contraindications (pregnant women, nursing women) of certain essential oils. Finally, it is not possible to carry out physicochemical testing raw materials and finish preparation.
RESUMO
Objective Growing consumer mistrust of a number of ingredients used in industry has led to the development of a trend for homemade products. This now affects all types of sectors, but particularly the hygiene sector for shampoo and toothpaste products. The aim of this work is therefore to study recipes found on the internet for these types of products in order to assess risks associated with their use.Materials and methods Eighty-four recipes were collected from the internet and their composition was analysed.Results None of the 84 formulas analysed contained any fluoride salts, well known for their oral health benefits. Eighty percent did not contain a foaming agent either, which is very useful in the cleaning function of toothpastes. Furthermore, the quantities of substances to be used were usually expressed in tablespoons or teaspoons, measures which are imprecise and could, for example, lead someone to use large quantities of an abrasive agent such as calcium carbonate.Conclusions Attention should be drawn to homemade toothpaste recipes that contain no fluoride and whose abrasivity, purity and microbial contamination cannot be verified.
