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Identity Profile: Copper Sulfate

Commonly known as: Copper sulfate, cupric sulfate, copper sulfide, copper tetraoxidosulfate, copper sulfite, blue stone, copper vitriol, Roman vitriol, blue copperas, vitriolated copper, Cyprus vitriol, deutoxide copper sulfate.

I.N.C.I. list name: Copper Sulfate.

Extraction process: Chemical stripping of copper using sulfuric acid.

Source: Chemical.

Botanical name: /

Family: /

Part of the plant extracted: /

Provenance, origin: Spain.

Chemical characteristics: Molecular mass: 159.61 g/mol; Soluble in water.

Characteristics: Aqueous true solution emulsion.

Dosage required in cosmetic products: /

Function: Skin care agent.

Properties: Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiseptic, fungicide.

Benefits: All skin types, especially those with blemishes.

Details

Property

Antimicrobial: Eliminating bacteria and fungi upon contact by inducing the formation of reactive oxygen species mediated by the redox properties of copper, which cause cellular damage. This process disrupts the integrity of the membrane, fragments genomic and plasmid DNA, and targets metabolic enzymes involved in the normal functioning of microorganisms.

Applications

Facial Care (cleansing gels, soothing repair balms/creams, eye contour treatments, serums, sun care, micellar waters, toning gels);
Body Care (shower gels).

Anti-bacterial

Repairing Cica-Balm

0.5% Zinc-Copper Complex + Centella Asiatica — $23.90

Method of Preservation

Store in a dry and cool place, protected from direct sunlight and moisture.

Contraindications, Usage Precautions

Copper sulfate is considered to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing when used topically, although a few isolated cases of skin allergic reactions have been reported. A study on the topical application of copper sulfate over 10 years involving 10,936 patients revealed that 37 of them (or 0.34%) developed allergic dermatitis.

Find out more

The use of copper by human civilizations dates back to the 5th and 6th millennia BC. The oldest recorded medical use of copper is mentioned in an Egyptian text written between 2600 and 2200 BC, where the effects of copper were documented for sterilizing chest wounds and drinking water. It was also used for the treatment of certain ailments, such as headaches, burns, intestinal worms, and ear infections, as well as for general hygiene. In the field of cosmetics, different forms of this mineral are used to treat skin conditions of bacterial or fungal origin, including copper sulfate. Marketed in the form of bright blue crystals, it is an ionic chemical compound formed by the copper (II) cation (Cu2+) and the sulfate anion (SO42−) in identical proportion. Copper sulfate began to be used for its fungicidal properties to protect agricultural lands.