What is Kojic acid?
Kojic acid, also known as aspergillic acid and jujic acid, is an organic acid with an antibacterial effect produced by aerobic fermentation of glucose through Candida aspergillus at 30~32 ℃. Its molecular structure is substituent γ- Pyranone, naturally occurring γ- Among the pyranone compounds, the famous ones are kojic acid and maltol. In 1907, Saito separated kojic acid crystal from Chemicalbook Miqu. It was named by Yabuta in 1912 and its structure was determined in 1924. In 1953, Arnstela (surface fermentation) and in 1971, Shefu Kitada (deep fermentation) used isotope tracing technology to prove that kojic acid was formed by direct oxidation and dehydration of glucose without carbon frame fracture.
Add new concentration standard
Recently, the European Union Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released its final opinion on the safety of koji acid in cosmetics: SCCS believed that the maximum safe concentration of koji acid as a cosmetic whitening agent was 0.7% due to its potential endocrine disrupting properties.
Previously, in November 2021, the SCCS of the European Union Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety released the preliminary evaluation opinion draft SCCS/1637/21 on kojic acid, the whitening ingredient in cosmetics. The conclusion was that kojic acid had potential endocrine-disrupting properties. At present, 1% of the maximum concentration allowed in cosmetics in the European Union would no longer be considered safe, and kojic acid was included in the list of priority reassessment of SCCS.
Kojic acid can be produced by fermentation of Aspergillus (a fungus) through a variety of substances. Pure kojic acid is mainly produced by glucose fermentation. Kojic acid was initially used in food, medicine, agriculture, and other fields. Later, it was widely used in cosmetics because of its good whitening effect and its ability to reduce color spots.
It is understood that kojic acid can enter skin cells and complex with copper ions in cells to change the three-dimensional structure of tyrosinase, prevent the activation of tyrosinase, and thus inhibit the formation of melanin.
In recent years, with the increase in the population of "problem skin", functional skin care products are popular because of their soothing, anti-allergic, moisturizing, repairing, whitening, and other functional products.
Among them, the whitening market demand has been released unprecedentedly. At present, there are many kinds of freckle and whitening cosmetics on the market, such as whitening creams, whitening essences, whitening facial masks, and other products in short supply. Besides facial care, the track of body whitening care has doubled.
Where can you get the top-quality kojic acid powder?
In addition to kojic acid, niacinamide has become the most popular whitening ingredient in the whitening and skin care market. As a derivative of vitamin B3, nicotinamide has become a star ingredient in the whitening class in recent years because it can reduce and prevent dull skin tone, rough skin, large pores, and other problems.
