BUTTER-C
Body care
Body lotion for mature dry skin OEM/ODM manufacturing
Body Lotion for Mature Dry Skin · Elderly Skin Care · OEM/ODM
The skin of older adults is often dry: a review by Wang et al. (2020) notes that the stratum corneum of aged skin holds less water, contains less lipid and recovers more slowly. In 17 randomly selected nursing homes in Berlin, Germany, dermatologists examined the whole body of 314 residents aged 65 and over who needed care and found dry skin in 95.9% (Völzer et al., 2023). A body lotion for this group needs to balance humectants such as glycerin with emollients and occlusives, be fragrance-free, and be light enough to spread quickly over the shins and forearms and absorb in time to get dressed. Packaging is part of the design too: an easy-press pump and a large-print label. Within the cosmetic scope, claims stop at moisturizing, softening the skin and helping it feel less dry and rough. Butter-C offers full-service OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development and testing to labeled finished product with its notification dossier.
Formula base
Humectants, emollients and occlusives
A body lotion for older adults' dry skin is usually an oil-in-water emulsion. A systematic review by Lichterfeld-Kottner et al. (2020), covering 63 articles in people aged 50 and over, found that lipid-rich leave-on products containing humectants reduced skin dryness; the formula is therefore built around the groups below.
Humectants
Glycerin is the base: aged skin has less endogenous glycerol, and topical glycerol helps raise stratum corneum hydration (Wang et al., 2020). Sodium PCA and Panthenol can be added.
Emollients and occlusives
Petrolatum, refined mineral oil, plant oils, shea butter, dimethicone. Petrolatum and mineral oil are used only with refining documentation that meets the condition in ASEAN Annex II.
Stratum corneum lipids
Ceramides with cholesterol and fatty acids: according to Wang et al. (2020), a mixture of all three lipid classes speeds barrier recovery in mice and in older people.
Low-level urea (optional)
Urea is a component of the natural moisturizing factor and is used at low levels to moisturize. It can sting on cracked skin, so it is added only after considering the user group, together with a pH buffer.
Fragrance-free
Fragrance-free by default, like the lotion used in the trial by Carville et al. (2014). The preservative system is challenge-tested on the final formula.
Key technical points
Four factors that define a lotion for aged skin
Quick spreading over large areas
A medium-viscosity lotion that spreads easily over the shins, forearms and back without hard rubbing; a caregiver applying it for someone else also works faster.
Absorbs in time to get dressed
The ratio of occlusives to light oils is balanced: enough film to hold moisture, yet dry to the touch within a few minutes, with less transfer to clothes and bed linen.
Easy to use twice a day
Nursing home trials used leave-on products twice daily (Hahnel et al., 2017: 8 weeks; Carville et al., 2014: 6 months, applied to the limbs). A pleasant feel and easy packaging help keep up this routine.
Mind the shins
In the trial by Hahnel et al. (2017), the lower legs were drier than the arms and trunk. Directions should prioritize the shins, feet, forearms and backs of the hands.
Tolerance and stability
No fragrance, no colorants; tolerance is assessed on the finished product. Urea versions need pH and odor monitored over time: urea is unstable in solution and more stable at pH 4–8 (Panyachariwat and Steckel, 2014); in formulation practice, its breakdown products can gradually raise the pH.
Three formulation directions
Three lotion lines for older adults' dry skin
Glycerin–petrolatum lotion
Glycerin, petrolatum or refined mineral oil, dimethicone; fragrance-free. A light texture at a reasonable cost for twice-daily use and for care facilities.
Lotion with stratum corneum lipids
Adds ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids with plant oils and shea butter. A clear ingredient story at a higher cost; ceramides dissolve poorly and need a suitable process.
Lotion with low-level urea
Urea within its moisturizing range, combined with glycerin for dry, rough skin; it needs a pH buffer, and the label should advise avoiding cracked or scratched skin.
Packaging is planned with the formula
A light-press pump or easy-open flip-top cap; a large-print, high-contrast label; a large-volume version for care facilities. This is practical guidance for older users, not a regulation.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D lab measures on every sample
These are the parameters Butter-C monitors while developing the formula and scaling it up to production. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- pH
- Measured at 25°C; urea versions are also tracked for pH drift during the stability study.
- Viscosity
- Measured with a rotational viscometer at 25°C; determines pumpability and spreading over large areas.
- Emulsion stability
- Centrifugation, freeze–thaw cycling, storage at 40°C; separation, color change and odor change are monitored.
- On-skin assessment
- Dry-down time, tackiness, shine, marks on fabric; stinging for urea versions.
- Microbiology and preservative efficacy
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test per ISO 11930.
- Occlusive raw material documentation
- Petrolatum and mineral oil: supplier refining documentation checked against ASEAN Annex II.
- Packaging compatibility
- Filled into the actual bottle to be used; pump force, clogging and leakage are checked.
Claims
Writing claims within the cosmetic scope
In the trial by Carville et al. (2014) at 14 aged care facilities in Western Australia, residents who had a commercial, pH-neutral, perfume-free lotion applied to their limbs twice daily had a monthly rate of new skin tears of 5.76 per 1,000 occupied bed days, compared with 10.57 under usual care. That is the result of one specific product within a care routine, not a basis for a new product to claim an effect on skin tears. Annex 03-MP of Circular 06/2011/TT-BYT also does not accept claims to "prevent, reduce or reverse physiological changes and degeneration due to age" for skin care products.
Moisturizes dry skin
Instead of: claims of an effect on skin disease or on itching.
Softens skin, helps it feel less dry and rough
Instead of: claims to repair skin or heal cracked skin.
For the dry skin of older adults
Describes the user group; instead of: claims to stop or reverse skin aging, or to prevent skin tears.
Fragrance-free
Stated only when the formula contains no fragrance.
Directions
Apply after bathing while the skin is still slightly damp, twice a day; do not apply to scratched or bleeding skin.
Warnings
For external use only. If itching persists despite regular moisturizing, or a rash or blisters appear, see a dermatologist.
Manufacturing specifications
Current capabilities
- Textures
- Fluid milk, lotion, light cream; fragrance-free or with a fragrance-free version.
- Formats
- Pump bottles, flip-top bottles, tubes; large-volume versions for care facilities. Volume is agreed when choosing packaging.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; a certificate of analysis is delivered with each batch.
- Documentation
- The Product Information File (PIF) and the notification dossier are prepared by Butter-C.
- Packaging
- Large-print, high-contrast label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Suggested product concept
Fragrance-free glycerin–ceramide body lotion for older adults' dry skin
A product concept to help you picture the possibilities — not a ready-made product for sale. The actual formula is developed to match your brand positioning and price range.
Glycerin and petrolatum
Holds moisture and forms a film that limits water loss on dry shins and forearms.
Ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids
Supply lipids to the stratum corneum; the ingredient story for a mature skin care line.
Light, fragrance-free lotion
Spreads quickly and dries to the touch in time to get dressed; applied after bathing twice a day.
400 ml pump bottle, large-print label
An easy-press pump; plus a large-volume version for nursing homes and care facilities.
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can serve very different customer groups depending on the brand. Tell us your requirements in the areas below and our team of pharmacists will develop a matching formula.
Sales channel
Retail for families, or supply to nursing homes and care facilities.
Texture
A fast-absorbing fluid milk or a richer light cream for very dry areas.
Hero ingredients
Glycerin, ceramides, urea, panthenol, shea butter, sunflower oil.
Fragrance
Fragrance-free (recommended); if a scented version is needed, a fragrance-free version is made alongside it.
Ingredient direction
Mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, silicone-free — please tell us at the outset, as it affects the choice of occlusives.
Packaging
Pump, flip-top cap, tube; household or large volume; font size and label colors.
Further reading
Related topics
Skin of older adults: dryness, itch and daily care
How skin changes with age, when itch needs a doctor, and moisturizing trials in nursing homes (in Vietnamese).
Urea in cosmetics
Moisturizing concentration range and stinging on damaged skin (in Vietnamese).
Petrolatum in cosmetics
How it locks in moisture and the refining condition in ASEAN Annex II (in Vietnamese).
Ceramides in cosmetics
Stratum corneum ceramides decline with age; data on dry skin (in Vietnamese).
After-bath body oil manufacturing
An oil format for users who prefer a thin moisturizing layer.
Foot cream manufacturing
A richer cream for thick, dry, rough skin.
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
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