Calcium Lactate is the calcium salt of lactic acid and is used as a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient in personal-care and formulation systems. It is identified by the INCI name CALCIUM LACTATE and is also known as calcium dilactate or calcium 2-hydroxypropanoate. Its cosmetic functions include buffering, astringent and keratolytic activity.
Calcium Lactate can occur in anhydrous and hydrated forms. Commercial material may contain different amounts of water of crystallization, with the pentahydrate being an important form. This distinction is technically significant because molecular weight, loss on drying, appearance and the basis on which assay is reported can change according to the hydration state. USP identifies both anhydrous Calcium Lactate and the pentahydrate.
As a cosmetic ingredient, Calcium Lactate is particularly relevant to formulations where buffering, skin feel and controlled interaction with the skin surface are required. It is also water soluble, allowing it to be incorporated into suitable aqueous formulation systems.
Calcium Lactate has the CAS Number 814-80-2 and an anhydrous molecular formula of C₆H₁₀CaO₆, with a molecular weight of 218.22 g/mol. The pentahydrate has the formula C₆H₁₀CaO₆·5H₂O and molecular weight 308.30 g/mol. USP specifically identifies CAS 41372-22-9 for the pentahydrate and CAS 814-80-2 for the anhydrous substance.
Calcium Lactate is generally described as a white to cream-colored crystalline powder or granules. It can contain up to five molecules of water of crystallization. The pentahydrate is somewhat efflorescent and becomes anhydrous at approximately 120°C under the FCC description. It is soluble in water and practically insoluble in alcohol.
Calcium Lactate has several formulation-related functions. Cosmetic ingredient references identify it as an astringent, buffering and keratolytic ingredient. Its buffering function can assist with pH management in appropriately designed formulations, while its astringent function relates to a tightening or contracting skin feel. Its keratolytic designation relates to assistance in removing superficial layers of dead skin cells.
The functionality of Calcium Lactate should be considered together with the formulation's overall pH, concentration, other acids or salts, and intended application. It should not be assumed that the properties of free lactic acid are identical to those of its calcium salt.
Calcium Lactate can be considered for various personal-care and cosmetic formulation systems where a lactate salt is required. Potential applications include skin-care formulations, cleansing products, facial-care products, body-care formulations and other products where buffering or surface-conditioning functionality is relevant.
Its water solubility supports incorporation into aqueous phases. FCC describes Calcium Lactate as soluble in water and practically insoluble in alcohol, while JECFA describes the material as a white to cream-colored crystalline powder or granules.
Calcium Lactate is also used outside cosmetics as a calcium source and functional ingredient, but those applications should not be confused with cosmetic functionality or cosmetic-grade specifications.
The hydration state is one of the most important considerations when purchasing Calcium Lactate. Anhydrous Calcium Lactate has a molecular weight of 218.22 g/mol, while the pentahydrate has a molecular weight of 308.30 g/mol. Therefore, specifications and formulation calculations should clearly identify whether the material is anhydrous or hydrated.
USP specifies 98.0–101.0% Calcium Lactate on a dried basis. The USP assay is based on an EDTA titrimetric procedure rather than an HPLC assay. Therefore, the Assay (HPLC) field should not be populated with the USP 98.0–101.0% value unless the particular product specification actually uses an HPLC method.
JECFA specifies an assay of NLT 98.0% on the dried basis, loss on drying of NMT 30% at 120°C for 4 hours, and pH 6.0–8.0 for a 1-in-20 solution. These values are useful established reference specifications, but the exact specification applied to a cosmetic raw material should correspond to its declared grade and hydration state.
Calcium Lactate is a technically versatile cosmetic ingredient for manufacturers seeking a lactate-based material for buffering, astringent and keratolytic formulation applications. Consistent identification of hydration state, assay basis, water content, pH and physical characteristics is important when developing or scaling formulations.
For B2B cosmetic raw-material requirements, Calcium Lactate can be supplied according to defined grade and specification requirements, with the applicable analytical methods and quality parameters clearly established for the selected material.
As a Calcium Lactate Cosmetic Ingredient Manufacturer in India, the focus is on controlled raw-material specifications, consistent physical characteristics and suitability for cosmetic and personal-care formulation requirements.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |