Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) Powder 99%

Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) Powder 99% — Why Buy Powder Over a Pre-Diluted Solution?

Most HPR products on the market are pre-diluted solutions — typically 10% HPR in a carrier oil. That means you're paying for 90% carrier. With 99% pure HPR powder, you pay for the active itself, choose your own carrier, control your exact concentration, and get significantly more finished product per gram purchased.

5 Reasons Formulators Choose HPR Powder

• Maximum cost efficiency — 1g of 99% HPR powder yields the same active as 9.9g of a 10% HPR solution. You get ~10x more active per dollar spent
• Full concentration control — dial in exactly 0.01%, 0.05%, or 0.1% HPR in your finished formula without being locked into a pre-set dilution
• Carrier flexibility — dissolve in squalane, caprylic/capric triglyceride (MCT), jojoba, or any cosmetic ester that suits your formula — not whatever carrier the manufacturer chose
• Cleaner formulations — no mystery carrier ingredients; you know exactly what's in your product
• Scalability — ideal for small-batch artisan production and scaling up; consistent, reproducible results batch after batch

How to Dissolve HPR Powder Successfully

HPR is oil-soluble and insoluble in water. It must be dissolved in an oil or ester before incorporation into any formula.

Step-by-Step Dissolution Method

1. Weigh your HPR powder accurately — use a precision scale (0.001g resolution minimum). HPR is used at very low percentages; accuracy is critical
2. Select your carrier oil — Olive Squalane is the preferred carrier: it is colourless, odourless, non-comedogenic, and highly stable. MCT oil and isononyl isononanoate are also suitable
3. Warm your carrier gently — heat the carrier oil to 35–40°C (no higher). Gentle warmth aids dissolution without degrading the active
4. Add HPR powder to warm carrier — add the weighed powder directly to the warm oil
5. Stir continuously — use a glass rod or mini spatula and stir for 3–5 minutes until fully dissolved. The solution should be clear to very pale yellow with no visible particles
6. Do not exceed 40°C — prolonged heat above 40°C risks degradation. If undissolved particles remain, increase stir time rather than temperature
7. Incorporate into your formula — add the dissolved HPR-in-oil to your oil phase or cool-down phase of an emulsion

What Percentage to Use — The Complete Formulator's Guide

Effective Usage Range

HPR is effective at very low concentrations. The established cosmetic usage range is:

• 0.01% — entry-level; suitable for sensitive skin, beginners, or daily-use products
• 0.05% — mid-range; the most commonly used concentration in commercial HPR products; effective for most skin types
• 0.1% — upper range; for experienced retinoid users; use with a robust moisturizing base

Do not exceed 0.1% HPR in finished leave-on formulations without clinical justification. Higher concentrations do not proportionally increase efficacy and increase irritation risk.

How to Calculate Your HPR Percentage

This powder is 99% pure HPR. For practical formulation purposes, treat it as 100% active (the 1% difference is negligible at cosmetic usage rates).

The formula:

Weight of HPR powder (g) = Target % ÷ 100 × Total batch weight (g)

Worked Examples

Example 1: 0.05% HPR in a 100g batch

• Target: 0.05% HPR
• Batch size: 100g
• Calculation: 0.05 ÷ 100 × 100g = 0.05g HPR powder
• Dissolve 0.05g HPR in ~5g squalane, then incorporate into your oil phase

Example 2: 0.1% HPR in a 200g batch

• Target: 0.1% HPR
• Batch size: 200g
• Calculation: 0.1 ÷ 100 × 200g = 0.2g HPR powder
• Dissolve 0.2g HPR in ~10g squalane, then add to oil phase

Example 3: 0.01% HPR in a 50g batch (sensitive skin formula)

• Target: 0.01% HPR
• Batch size: 50g
• Calculation: 0.01 ÷ 100 × 50g = 0.005g HPR powder
• At this quantity, pre-dissolve in a larger carrier volume for accuracy: dissolve 0.05g HPR in 10g squalane (= 0.5% HPR solution), then use 1g of that solution per 100g batch

Pro Tip: Make a Master Dilution for Accuracy

Because HPR is used at such small quantities (often <0.1g per batch), weighing errors are common on low-resolution scales. The solution: make a 1% or 10% HPR master dilution in squalane first, then use that dilution in your formula.

• 1% master dilution: dissolve 1g HPR powder in 99g squalane = 1% HPR solution. Use 5g of this per 100g batch to achieve 0.05% HPR
• 10% master dilution: dissolve 10g HPR powder in 90g squalane = 10% HPR solution (equivalent to our HPR 10% Liquid). Use 0.5g per 100g batch to achieve 0.05% HPR

Formulation Details

INCI Name	Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
CAS Number	893412-73-2
Purity	99%
Appearance	White to off-white crystalline powder
Solubility	Oil-soluble; insoluble in water
Active Usage Rate	0.01–0.1% in finished formula
Incorporation Phase	Oil phase or cool-down, below 40°C
pH Dependency	None — stable across wide pH range
Shelf Life	24 months, properly stored
Storage	10–25°C, opaque/amber container, away from light, heat, and humidity
Grade	Cosmetic Grade — External Use Only

Suggested Pairings

• Carrier: Olive Squalane Oil — ideal dissolution medium and skin-compatible carrier
• Barrier support: Niacinamide Vitamin B3 Powder — add to water phase of emulsions to reduce potential retinoid sensitivity
• Hydration: Hyaluronic Acid Powder LMW — counterbalances retinoid-associated dryness in emulsion systems
• Preservative (emulsions): Euxyl PE 9010 at 0.8–1% or Germall Plus at 0.1–0.5%

All products sold are cosmetic grade. For external use only. Intended for cosmetic and personal care formulations. Not for use in drug or pharmaceutical products.