What Is Ovotransferrin?

Learn about the antimicrobial, anti-plaque, chelating, oral care, preservative, and skin conditioning characteristics of Ovotransferrin and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Ovotransferrin? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Ovotransferrin?

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What is the purpose of Ovotransferrin in personal care products? It is used for its antimicrobial, anti-plaque, chelating, oral care, preservative, and skin conditioning characteristics. Ovotransferrin prevents bacterial growth, prevents and reduces dental plaque, prevents ingredient degradation, improve oral hygiene and health, prevents spoiling, and moisturizes and strengthens skin.

What Are Antimicrobial Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has antimicrobial characteristics.

Antimicrobial ingredients are commonly used in cosmetic products like creams, lotions, and makeup to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These ingredients help preserve the quality and extend product shelf life by preventing contamination.

Cosmetic products are produced with various ingredients that can serve as food for microorganisms, making it a suitable environment for them to grow and multiply. This can lead to the formation of unpleasant odors, changes in color, and even product spoilage. Antimicrobial ingredients are added to prevent such occurrences.

These ingredients are also added to disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and other cleaning solutions to kill bacteria and viruses that may be present on surfaces. These ingredients are essential in settings like hospitals and schools, where there is a high risk of infection and transmission.

Types of Antimicrobial Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of antimicrobial ingredients in cosmetics:

  • Preservatives: These are added to cosmetics to prevent microbial growth and spoilage. They work by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.

  • Surfactants: These help to break down the surface tension of liquids and can have antimicrobial properties. They are often used in cleansing products to help remove dirt and oil from the skin.

  • Essential oils: These concentrated plant extracts can have antimicrobial properties. They are often used in natural and organic cosmetics as a natural preservative and fragrance.

  • Antimicrobial agents: These specifically target and kill microorganisms. They are often added to products such as deodorants, antiperspirants, and hand sanitizers to help prevent the growth of bacteria and other microbes.

  • Natural extracts: Many natural extracts, such as tea tree oil and neem oil, have been shown to have antimicrobial properties. They are often used in natural and organic cosmetics as an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.

What Are Anti-Plaque Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has anti-plaque characteristics.

Anti-plaque ingredients kill the bacteria that cause plaque or prevent them from sticking to the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not removed regularly. These ingredients are added to cosmetic products like toothpaste and mouthwash to help prevent plaque formation on teeth.

Types of Anti-Plaque Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of anti-plaque ingredients:

  • Antimicrobial agents: These ingredients can help kill the bacteria in the mouth that contribute to plaque formation.

  • Abrasives: Some cosmetics contain abrasive ingredients that can help physically remove plaque from the surface of the teeth.

  • Enzymes: Certain enzymes may be added to cosmetics to break down plaque proteins and help loosen them from the teeth.

  • Surfactants: These ingredients can help break down plaque's surface tension, making it easier to remove.

  • Astringents: Astringents can help to tighten and firm up the gums, making it more difficult for plaque to accumulate.

  • Chelating agents: These ingredients can help remove the minerals that make plaque, making it easier to remove.

  • Essential oils: Some essential oils may have antimicrobial properties that can help kill the bacteria contributing to plaque formation.

What Are Chelating Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has chelating characteristics.

Chelating ingredients in cosmetic products help maintain the product's effectiveness and stability by preventing degradation. They work by binding to metal ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, that can be present in the water used to make the product or that may be present on the skin.

These metal ions can cause the cosmetic product to deteriorate over time, leading to color, texture, and odor changes. Chelating ingredients help to prevent this by capturing the metal ions and preventing them from reacting with the other ingredients in the product.

In addition, chelating ingredients can help enhance preservatives' effectiveness by preventing them from being deactivated by metal ions.

Chelating Ingredients in Other Products

Chelating ingredients can be used in food and beverages to control metal ions affecting taste, color, and texture. For example, they stabilize colors in canned fruits and vegetables and prevent oxidation in wine.

Chelating agents are used in pharmaceutical products to help improve their stability and shelf life. They can help to prevent metal-catalyzed degradation and enhance the effectiveness of certain drugs.

Types of Chelating Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of chelating ingredients:

  • Amino acids and peptides: These compounds contain functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions, such as carboxylic acid and amine groups.

  • Polycarboxylic acids: These are complex organic acids with multiple carboxylic acid functional groups that can form strong chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Organic acids: These include citric acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Sugars and sugar acids: These include compounds such as glucose, fructose, and gluconic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Polyamines: These are organic compounds with multiple amine functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions.

  • Hydroxycarboxylic acids: These include compounds such as gluconic acid and tartaric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Sulfonic acids: These are organic acids containing functional groups that can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Phosphates: These include compounds such as phosphoric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

What Are Oral Care Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has oral care characteristics.

Oral care ingredients in cosmetic products serve different purposes in the mouth. Firstly, they provide cleansing effects by removing plaque, tartar, and stains from teeth and gum lines. These ingredients include abrasives such as silica, calcium carbonate, or baking soda, which act as gentle scrubs to remove surface debris.

Oral care ingredients can also help deodorize the mouth by fighting bad breath caused by bacteria. Antibacterial agents such as cetylpyridinium chloride can control bacterial growth in the mouth, reducing bad odor and creating a refreshing sensation. Additionally, protecting ingredients like fluoride can help protect against cavities by strengthening the tooth enamel, which can help prevent tooth decay.

What Are Preservative Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has preservative characteristics.

Preservative ingredients are added to cosmetic products to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold. These microorganisms can grow in the product over time and cause it to spoil, leading to a potential risk of infection or irritation when applied to the skin.

Preservatives work by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms or killing them, which helps maintain the product's quality and safety and extend its shelf life. Cosmetic products could become contaminated and unsafe to use without preservatives after just a few weeks or months. Each preservative has a specific mode of action and is used at a particular concentration to provide adequate protection against microorganisms while also minimizing the risk of irritation to the skin.

Types of Preservative Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of preservative ingredients:

  • Antimicrobial agents: These substances inhibit or kill microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which can cause spoilage and contamination in cosmetic products.

  • Chelating agents: These compounds bind to metal ions that promote the growth of microorganisms and accelerate spoilage. By chelating these metal ions, chelating agents can help to stabilize cosmetic formulations.

  • Acidifiers: These substances lower the pH of cosmetic formulations, making them less hospitable to microorganisms.

  • Antioxidants: These compounds help prevent the oxidation of cosmetic ingredients, which can cause them to degrade and spoil.

  • Natural preservatives: These are various natural ingredients, such as essential oils and plant extracts. These have antimicrobial properties and can be used as preservatives in cosmetic formulations.

What Are Skin Conditioning Ingredients?

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Ovotransferrin has skin conditioning characteristics.

Skin conditioning ingredients improve the texture, feel, and overall appearance of the skin, helping to avoid harmful effects from external factors. Skin conditioning ingredients moisturize the skin and strengthen its natural barrier function to help protect it from damage caused by harsh weather and sunlight. Some skin conditioning ingredients are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce redness and irritated skin.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.