Can anyone explain what is the actual difference between pharma grade material and a cosmetic grade material to be utiliized in a topical product. Since both these materials can be used on skin why there is double standard? It will be great if someone could explain this.
Thanks in advance
Cosmetic grade is OTC one is not liable to be questioned. whereas Pharma grade is one which is prescribed. the values and standards are different. Amway comes under cosmetic grade. .
https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgerdaspillmann.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F09%2F06%2Fpharmaceutical-grade-vs-cosmetic-grade-ingredients%2F&ei=IjwBVaS4IYPluQTl2oLoAQ&usg=AFQjCNHctWNdq56kF2Aby5U7s48EkCXbnA&sig2=d50neORZ4Q8s-F_ZKZ65Dw
Thanks for your reply. I understand the answer but why there is double standards in it? If cosmetic grades are accepted and approved saying that it wont have any toxic problems on skin why the same material is not available in pharma grade? or we can use the cosmetic grades in pharma products?
The link is a self-promotional bit of garbage. Both cosmetic and pharma ingredients are subject to FDA regulation. - FDA does not allow cosmetic grade to have 30% bacteria (whatever that means).and there is no recommendation that cosmetics be discarded after 60-90 days. Cosmetics typically carry a shelf life of 3 years with the exception of mascara's where in-use contamination is a worry.
There may be no effective difference between cosmetic and pharma grades of raw materials - but the pharma grade has been tested to comply with (typically) USP specifications. As this may drive additional testing, it can be more expensive. There is no "pharma grade" for finished products - they are or are not drugs.
In Vivo Non Invasive Imaging Techniques such as
Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM)
High Definition Optical Coherent Tomography (HD-OCT)
Pharma grade - generally used for Rx - needs some level of assessments for its potential toxicity and quality. Justification of specification is important for Rx submissions - to assume adequate ID, consistent purity and lot to lot reproducibility. Note that generally Rx products are used for indications that involve diseased skin that may not be amenable to OTC medication
generally cosmetic grade is meant that production steps may be different. licencing easier. and no need for preccription. whereas pharmacy grade restrictions are higher. preccribabale. and answerable.
For food, drug, or medicinal use we can use only ACS/Reagent/USP grade chemicals. As LR grade is supposed to be only for teaching and educational purpose even these chemicals are not so pure to be used for food, drug, or medicinal.