HERBAL COSMECEUTICALS: FORMULATION OF CREAM AND SOAP WITH VARNYA MAHAKASHAYA

Dayanand Hiremath, Chaitra T. Hegde, Prof (Dr.) Anupam Srivastava, Dr. Sakhitha K. S., Dr. Subhash Chand Yadav

Introduction: With rising consumer  demand  for  natural  and  sustainable  skincare,  Ayurveda  offers  a  time-tested  alternative.  Varnya  Mahakashaya,  a  group  of  complexion-enhancing  herbs  described  in  the  Charaka  Samhita,  provides  a  promising  base  for  modern  herbal  formulations. Methods: Using  Ayurvedic  principles,  a  herbal  cream  and  soap  were  developed  with  Varnya  herbs  such  as  Rakta  Chandana,  Manjishtha,  Yashtimadhu,  Durva  etc,  The  cream  was  formulated  using  the  Oil-in-Water  emulsion  method,  while  the  soap  was  prepared  via  the  Cold  Process  method.  Both products were formulated and evaluated according to Indian Standards. Results: The herbal cream exhibited a skin-compatible pH of 5.3.  The  soap  met  IS  286  (Part  1):2015  standards,  achieving  a  Grade  A  rating  with  79.6%  Total  Fatty  Matter  (TFM).  Clinical  application  on  volunteers  with  fungal  infections  showed  significant  improvement,  indicating  antifungal  and  therapeutic  efficacy. Discussion: The  successful  formulation  of  these  products  validate  the  use  of  Varnya  Mahakashaya  in  modern  skincare.  The  results  highlight  the  potential  of  integrating  classical  Ayurvedic  knowledge  into  contemporary  cosmetology.