Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Meliaceae Bleach Powder for Cosmetic Application

The increasing consumer preference for safer and naturally derived cosmetic products has accelerated research into herbal alternatives to conventional synthetic skincare formulations. Chemical bleaching agents commonly used in cosmetic applications often produce adverse dermatological effects including irritation, dryness, erythema, hypersensitivity, and disruption of the skin barrier with prolonged use. Herbal cosmetic formulations offer a promising alternative due to their favorable safety profile, multifunctional therapeutic properties, and environmental compatibility (1,2). The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate a herbal cosmetic bleach powder using Azadirachta indica (Neem), a medicinal plant belonging to the Meliaceae family, as the principal active ingredient. The formulation incorporated neem powder along with multani mitti, turmeric powder, and sandalwood powder to provide cleansing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, soothing, and mild skin-enhancing effects. The herbal bleach powder was evaluated for organoleptic properties, pH, particle size distribution, bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, moisture content, washability, and stability. The prepared formulation exhibited acceptable physicochemical characteristics including greenish-brown appearance, pleasant herbal odor, fine texture, average pH of 6.6, bulk density of 0.50 g/mL, tapped density of 0.62 g/mL, angle of repose of 33°, and moisture content of 6%. Stability studies demonstrated no significant changes in physical characteristics over the study period. The results suggest that the developed neem-based herbal bleach powder is a stable, skin-compatible, and cosmetically acceptable alternative to synthetic bleaching formulations.