Identification Retinoic Acid Content in Online Whitening Cream Sold in Samarinda City Using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Spectrophotometry UV-Visible Methods

Abstract

Whitening creams are cosmetic preparations that are very often traded in the market because they are able to reduce skin brightness and black spot on the face. Whitening creams can contain chemicals that are harmful to the skin, such as, mercury, hydroquinone, and retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is prohibited from being used in whitening creams because it can cause dry, burning, and teratogenic (defects in the fetus) skin. The purpose of this study was to identify whether the whitening creams traded online in Samarinda City contained retinoic acid and to determine the level of retinoic acid in the face whitening cream. The samples studied were 5 samples each of sample A, sample B, sample C, sample D, and sample E. Qualitative analysis was carried out by the thin layer chromatography method using the n-hexane-acetone (6:4) and observed under 254 nm UV light. Based on qualitative analysis, sample B and Sample D were positive containing retinoic acid with rf values of sample B (Rf 0.48), sample D (Rf 0.47). The results of quantitative analysis using UV Visible spectrophotometry showed that all five samples contained retinoic acid with levels of 0.003%-0.024%.