Perfume

Perfume is made up of alcohol combined with a fixative, essential oils or chemical scents. Cologne is essentially a diluted version of perfume. Perfumes generally contain up to 30% essential oils whilst colognes only contain 1 -2% oils.

Some perfumes contain just one scent such as verbena but most have a combination of a high note, the first scent that reaches you, middle notes, sometimes called heart notes, which is the personality of the perfume and finally the base note which lingers on.

It is important to remember that perfume reacts with each person's body scent to create a unique aroma. That's why the same cologne can smell so differently on different people. This is why you should try perfume on your own skin before buying otherwise you may be disappointed. A good rule of thumb is to never test more than three perfumes at a time.

Fragrance falls into six basic groups:

• Florals: jasmine, lilac, gardenia, rose
• Herbal: lavender, bay, sage
• Exotic: musk, ylang-ylang, vanilla
• Spice: cinnamon, ginger, cloves
• Wood: pine, sandalwood, cedar
• Fruit: lemon, orange, peach

The Basic Formula

All perfumes, from cost effective drugstore to high end designer brands, have the same basic formula:

Water + Alcohol + Fragrance Oils + Chemical Compounds

These four ingredients form the basic structure of a perfume, but the variations of fragrant oils and chemical additives used in each perfume are endless. Some ingredients found in your favorite scent may even surprise you!

Function

The materials used in a perfume depend mostly on how a perfume is used. Perfume, the most expensive fragrance, may contain rare flower oils, for instance. Perfumed soap, on the other hand, may contain low-cost materials. But all perfumes contain basic ingredients like flower and plant oils for scents, animal substances for fixatives, and alcohol and water. A wide range of synthetics are also used in perfume-making, either as imitations of rare scents, or in the development of new scents.

Types

There are three types of fragrances that are important when it comes to perfume-making. Perfume is the most concentrated form of fragrance oil, producing the strongest and longest-lasting fragrance. It's also the most expensive, and may contain up to a hundred different ingredients! Eau de parfum is 10 to 15 percent perfume compound (perfume is 20 to 50 percent perfume compound) and contains alcohol. Eau de toilette or cologne has a 3 to 8 percent concentration of perfume compound in an alcohol and water base. Cologne is a much lighter fragrance and lends itself to subtle hints of scent.

Features

Scientists use different methods to extract scents from nature in order to produce myriad fragrances. Some of these natural essential oils include sandalwood from India or the ylang-ylang flower from Madagascar. Other essences are more recognizable, as well as necessary, like roses, jasmine and the orange flower. Every superior perfume will contain one or more of these three oil essences, even if the essence is synthetically produced. For this reason, these floral oils are called absolutes. Resins from roots, barks, and leaves produce oils, too, like oakmoss and frankincense. To make perfume, many scents, called notes, are combined together. Top notes are light, and last only a few moments. Middle notes become apparent after 15 minutes or so and will last up to an hour or more. Bottom notes are the heaviest ingredients and will last the longest, perhaps as long as three to four hours.

Warning

Fragrances will last longer and keep their scent better if kept in a cool, dry area and away from windows. Exposure to sunlight can affect the balance of the ingredients and ruin the scent.

References

Perfume – Wikipedia, Adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume , Retrieved on 29march2010.

No1- in – beauty ingredients, Adapted from: http://www.no1-in-beauty.com/Articles/perfume_ingredients.htm , Retrieved on 29march2010.

Perfume originals, Adapted from: http://www.eimi.com/perfumeoriginals/perfumefaq.htm , Retrieved on 29march2010.

Facial Toner

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"Dortor, I have many open pores on both of my cheeks that make my face looks wrinkly. Please help me! "

Figure 1. Pores on face

Most of the teenagers or some adults are facing this ugly looking pores problem on their face , they worry about their face condition. I mean who doesn't want to be pretty and gorgeous like those celebrities on television? When patients seek for help/advice from skin professional, beauticians usually encourage people to apply facial toner after washing their face. What exactly the facial toner is?

Toner is referred as a toner/wash that helps to remove surface skin cells, soap residue and oil from the skin. They are often heavy on water and alcohol and sometimes contain other ingredients like salicylic acid, witch hazel, benzoyl peroxide. A good toner will remove surface oils and debris which may be helpful for oily or acne-prone skin. A big misconception is that a toner will close enlarged pores, but actually it gives the appearance of minimizing pores as the toner irritate the skin and make it swell slightly. The toners remove excess oil from the skin, whisk away impurities that usually lead to blemishes and breakouts.

Figure 2. Toner and astringent

Most of the dermatologists say that if cleanse your face regularly twice a day with appropriate skincare products you can go without applying toner after cleansing your face. But to those with oily or acne prone skin, they are advised to go with toner to keep their skin clean and frsh and t remove the excess oil from the surface of then skin. Toner containing alcohol benefits the patients with problem skin because it helps to dry the pimples faster. You should look for a product specifically designed for oil or acne-prone skin, containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxyl acid. If the amount of alcohol is too much, it can provoke production of more oils which in turns causing more breakouts of pimples, more blackheads and clogged pores.

Toner can be applied in a few ways :

• On damp cotton wool. (most frequently used method)
• Spraying onto the face using a vaporizer.
  
• By applying a tonic gauze facial mask - a piece of gauze is covered with toner and left on the face for a few minutes.
  
  

Types of toners :

1. Skin bracers of fresheners
   This contains virtually no alcohol (0-10%), water and a humectant such as glycerin. humectants help to keep the moisture in the upper layers of the epidermis by preventing it frpm evaporating. A popular example of this is rosewater. These tones are the kindest to skin, and rea most suitable for use on dry, dehydrated, sensetive and normal skins. But it is not advisable to those sensitive skin patients because it might cause a burning on skin.
   
   
2. Skin Tonics
   These are slightly stronger and contain a small quantity of alcohol (up to 205), water and a humectant ingredient. An example of a skin tonic is orange flower water and it is suitable on normal, combination and oily skin.
   
   
3. Astringents
   
   These are the strongest form of toner and contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skins as they are drying, but note that the removal of oil from the skin can lead to excess oil production as the skin tries to compensate for this and prevent moisture loss. To prevent dehydration, astringent is best applied only to problem areas of skin.

Let's see what are the ingredients contained in mos of the toner products :
Clean&Clear Oil Controlling Toner
Water, Alcohol, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hydoxide, Polysorbate-20, Fragrance, Polyquarternium-7, Benzophenone-4.

Glycereth-26
Glycereth-26 is a glyceryl ester and is a multitudinous oil used in cosmetics as an emollient, lubricant, as well as a water-binding and thickening agent. There is not much information on the use of Glycereth-26 specifically, or glyceryl esters in general, although it is clear that its primary function is as a thickener.

Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid commonly used to trear non inflamed acne. Salicylic acid helps correct the abnormal desquamation process that occurs in acne-prone skin. It works as an exfoliant, promoting the sloughing away of dead skin cells. Salicylic acid is especially helpful in treating acne because of its ability to penetrate the follicle. It encourages the shedding of dead skin cells from within the follicle, helping keep the pores clear of cellular debris. In this way, it reduces the number of pore blockages and breakouts on the skin.

Panthenol
Panthenol is a non-irriating form of Vitamin B that is usually derived from plants. When this natural, hydrating vitamin is applied externally, it penetrates into lower skin layers, gets absorbed into your skin cells and turns into pantothenic acid (commonly known as Vitamin B5). Because panthenol is absorbed deeply into the skin, it adds essential moisture and has a desirable plumping effect.

Allantoin
Allantoin relieves the skin irritation caused by soaps and detergent, acids, and alkalies in oral and skin care products. It is said to promote wound healing and tissue formation, but is not recognized for that by regulatory agencies.

Benzophenone-4
It is also known as sulisobenzone. When undiluted, some Benzophenones, were slightly irritating to the skin and eyes. At concentrations used in cosmetics and personal care products, Benzophenoens were not irritating. Benzophenone is used to prevent ultralight from damaging our skin.

Polyquaternium
Polyquaternium is the member of cationic copolymers used as ingredient for antistatic and film-forming properties primarily in hair-care products and in skin care products. These polymers are substantive to protein substrates and have water-binding property. They are used in hair care products for gloss, setting and antistat properties. They are added to skin care products to enhance a smooth and non-oily feel.

Polysorbate-20
Polysorbate 20 is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol which comes from fruit and berries. Polysorbate 20 is a water-soluble yellowish liquid used as a dispersing agent -mixes oil and water, fragrance solubilizer and stabilizer, lubricates and has a soothing effect on the skin.

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Before buying any cosmetic product, please do consult to your dermatologist regarding the ingredient that suits your skin condition better. Or else, skin irritation might occurs and brings side effects to your health. :D





REFERENCES
"How to use and apply facial toner in beauty tips and makeup tips" Adapted from: http://www.beauty-advices.com/how-to-use-and-apply-facial-toner/ , Retrieved on 28March2010.

"Toner (Skin Care) - Wikipedia" Adapted from :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toner_%28skin_care%29, Retrieved on 28march2010.

Palmer, A. (Jan23,2009) Salicylic Acid. Adapted from: http://acne.about.com/od/acnetreatments/a/salicylicacid.htm , retrieved on 28march2010.

Jenkins, J. Panthenol and your skin-what you need to know. Adapted from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Panthenol-and-Your-Skin---What-You-Need-to-Know&id=447783
Retrieved on 28March2010.

Allantoin - Beauty. Adapted from: http://en.mimi.hu/beauty/allantoin.html, Retrieved on 28march2010.

Ingredients - Benzophenone. Adapted from: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/benzophenone.html, Retrieved on 28march2010.

PolyQuaternium. Adapted from: http://chemicalland21.com/lifescience/UH/POLYQUATERNIUM%2010.htm , Retrieved on 28march2010.

Polysorbate 20. Adapted from: http://www.naturebath.com/polysorbate_20.html , Retrieved on 28march2010.

ErinP (March9,2009) Glycereth-26. Adapted from: http://truthinaging.com/ingredients/glycereth-26/ , Retrieved on 28March2010.

Naturel Cooking Oil

Have you seen this before?

I think that cooking oil is a must have for every household, well unless you do not cook. Then.. that's another story.


Anyway, my family have been using this Naturel cooking oil when we found out that it promotes good health as there is less trans-fat or no trans-fat at all. What is trans-fat actually?
Is the claim true like as said in the advertisement?


Let's find out. :D


Let's start with the basic cooking oil.


Cooking oil comes from fats and oils, materials that are derived from the plants. Cooking are are usually liquid at room temperature. However in certain cases, where saturated oils like coconut or palm oil are mot solid at room temperature than other vegetable oil.
When one see the oil is made of vegetable oil, don't be fooled but remember to look at the labels because vegetable oil could mean almost any green plants that oil can be extracted.


Do you know that saturated oils are actually not good for health? WHY?
This is because, eating food that contains saturated fat/ oil can actually raise the level of cholesterol in your blood level. High level of blood cholesterol can increase the risk of heart attack or lead tocardiovascular diseases or even stroke. Examples of food containing high amount of saturated fat is your daily dairy product. Therefore, try not to consume dairy products in an excessive amount.
here are some examples of your daily dairy product.

HOWEVER, here's the catch.
Vegetable oils are made of unsaturated fat AND unsaturated fat can also lead to coronary disease because unsaturated fat promotes Trans-fat.
Now, What exactly IS trans-fat?
Trans-fat is the common name for unsaturated fat with trans-isomer fatty acid. How did trans-fat come about? Trans-fat are fats that are never saturated. This is due to the kinks for every double bond they have with the hydrocarbon chains. There are cases where unsaturated fat undergo partial or complete hydrogenation to turn into saturated fat "hard" fat which could lead to coronary hear disease as it clogs the arteries by raising levels of "bad" Low Density Lipoprotein and lowers the levels of "good" High Density cholesterol.


Health authorities worldwide are recommending that the consumption of trans-fat to be reduce into a minimal amount. Research show that trans-fat from partially hydrogenated oils are more harmful and risky than naturally occuring oils.

Let's get back to the topic of Naturel Cooking Oil
The main ingredient of this cooking oil is Sunflower oil.
Sunflower oil is the non-volatile oil expressed from the sunflower seed. Sunflower oil is commonly used in food worlwide. Sunflower oil is also being used as an ingredient in some cosmetic products.


Sunflower oil contains few types of acids which are palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid.
Besides that, sunflower oil also contains lecithin, tocopherols, carotenoids and waxes.


Oleic acid is a mono-unsaturated fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable sources. It contains the chemical formula CH₃(CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₇COOH. Oleic acid is said to hinder the progression of Adrenoleukodystrophy( ALD) a fatal disease that will affect the brain and adrenal glands, and also help in boosting memories.


Linoleic acid(LA) is an unsaturated fatty acid as well. LA is said to help prevent cancer, being it tested on mice and also help children with cystic fibrosis to help aid in their growth.


Now, Palmitic acid with the chemical formula of CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COOH, is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. As I have mention earlier that palm is one of the saturated fat and therefore, palmitic acid has the capability of making human beings lead to cardiovascular or coronary disease due to the LDL increase and HDL decrease in the body.


Stearic acid is a waxy solid with the chemical formula CH₃(CH₂)₁₆COOH and is useful in many industries, like coating metal,making candles and even hardening soaps. Stearic acid is claim to be less unhealthy compared to the other saturated fatty acids.


Sunflower oil is high in the essential Vitamin E needed by the body and low in saturated fat. Sunflower oil that are Linoleic are proven to give a better taste and a low level of tans fat. Sunflower oil of any kind has beenshown to have cardiovascular benefits because high levels of oleic acid have been suggested to lower cholesterol which reduce the risk of heart disease. That's how the producers promote their sunflower cooking oil which is proven that the claim is true!


so now you know ;D


BUT! every good thing also has a bad side. There is negative health effects of using sunflower cooking oil which is directed towards woman that has gone through menopause leading to the development of breast cancer. The same goes to guys in developing prostate cancer.

Hope that all of you found this information helpful and gain a better understand towards some of the chemical terms that you didn't know and maybe never had the chance to check.

Enjoy ;)

References

-Sunflower Oil, 2010, adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower_oil#Negative_health_effects, accessed on 26 March 2010

-Saturated fats, 2009, adapted from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3045790, accessed on 26 March 2010

Pollick, 2010, What are Unsaturated fats?, adapted from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-unsaturated-fats.htm, accessed on 26 March 2010

Naturel Cooking Oil, 2010, adapted from http://www.lamsoon.com.my/naturel/naturel_cookingoil.html, accessed on 27 March 2010

Toothpaste

Toothpaste.

What is inside your normal toothpaste?

According to the picture above, the ingredients in the toothpaste are :

· Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate

· Water

· SorbitolGlycerin

· Dicalcium Phosphate

· Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

· Flavor

· Carrageenan

· Sodium Monofluorophosphate

· Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

· Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

· Sodium Saccharin

Dicalcium phosphate is also known as calcium monohydrogen phosphate. It is usually found in dehydrate form with the chemical formula CaHPO4.­2H2O. This toothpaste contains both dicalcum phosphate in dehydrate form and in anhydrous form. Anhydrous form is the chemical formula without water. It is practically insoluble in water in its anyhydrous form. The usage of dicalcium phosphate is to eliminate the odor inside the mouth. Although there are some research conducted that says that dicalcium phosphate would cause cancer in long term usage, however, there are no concrete evidence.

Sodium monoflourophosphate is an inorganic compound with the formula Na2FPO3.

Sodium monoflourophosphate is odourless, colourless and water-soluble. The abbreviation used for sodium monoflourophosphate is MFP. MFP is claimed to protect tooth enamel from bacterial attack that causes cavities.

Sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) or the formula C12H25SO4Na is an anionic surfactant in many cleaning and hygienic-related products. The molecule has a tail of 12 carbon atoms and having a sulfate group being attached to it. This gives the molecule the amphiphilic properties. Amphiphilic can also mean amphipathic which means having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic region or lipophilic ( fat –loving molecule).

SLS in toothpaste may cause aphthous ulcers or also known as canker sores. Using SLS free toothpaste can reduce the sores. However, research shown that SLS can represent a potential effective microbide, inhibiting infected by viruses such as Herpes and HIV.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is white odorless and a sweet-tasting powder. It has two thirds the calories of sugar and it is poorly absorbed by the body. Therefore, it does not raise the insulin level as much as normal sugar and it also does not promote tooth decay.

Sorbitol used in toothpaste is to give the sweet flavor as the taste. Sorbitol is said to be very stable and chemically unreactive. It functions well in toothpaste as it combines well with certain ingredients.

Why do I say that sorbitol is poorly absorbed by the body? This is because sorbitol is resistant to metabolisms by oral bacteria which break down sugars and starch that releases acids that could lead to cavities or tooth decay.

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate can also be known as sodium pyrophosphate, is a slightly toxic and mildly irritating transparent chemical compound with formula Na4P2O7. It contains the pyrophosphate ion where toxicity is approximately twice of table salt. The usage of tetrasodium pyrophosphate in toothpaste is to actually eliminate tartar. It serves to remove calcium and magnesium from the saliva and preventing them from being deposited on the teeth.

Carrageenan comes from algae or seaweed. Carrageenan is a highly versatile ingredient suitable for use in food and nonfood products. The function of carrageenan in toothpaste is to provide structure without masking the flavours, and it is resistant to enzyme breakdown.

Glycerin is a thick and colourless liquid that has a sweet taste and is use widely in many cosmetic products. Glycerin in toothpaste makes the paste creamy and sweetens the toothpaste at the same time. Due to its sticky characteristic, when one brushes their teeth, the glycerin would coat itself over the teeth. There are proclaims that glycerin is bad for the teeth as it coats the teeth, it prevents nutrients from being absorbed by the teeth.

Flavor gives the toothpaste the slight taste and there is also presence of water in the toothpaste. Many do not realize but you can even brush your teeth before wetting your toothbrush, because of the water content in your toothpaste.

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is an ionic surfactant derived from sarcosin, used as a cleansing agent in toothpaste, cleaning off all the bacteria that is lingering around the gum or teeth.

Sodium Saccharin is an artificial sweetener. The substance contains benzoic sulfimide and is sweeter that sucrose but, it has an unpleasant bitter or metallic after taste. Now this is why when you taste your toothpaste, it would be a bit tangy sweet but in turn taste bitter. Even so, saccharin is unstable when heated but it doesn’t react chemically with other food ingredients.

Now you know what is in your toothpaste, remember to check your labels next time to double confirm in what you’re using in your daily life! Next time, try and avoid toothpaste that contains SLS.

Have a great day =)

References

Piret J, Désormeaux A, Bergeron MG. (2002). "Sodium lauryl sulfate, a microbicide effective against enveloped and nonenveloped viruses.". Curr Drug Targets 3 (1): 17–

Calorie Control Council, 2010, Sorbitol, Adapted from : http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/polyols/sorbitol, Accessed on 21 March 2010

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate,2010, Adapted from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrasodium_pyrophosphate, Accessed on 22March 2010

Sodium Saccharin, Adapted From: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/sodium_saccharin.html

Accessed on 22 March 2010

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, 2010, Adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_lauroyl_sarcosinate, Accessed on 22 March 2010

Carrageenan, 2010, Adapted from http://www.micchem.com/products/Carrageenan.htm, accessed on 22 march 2010

Beauty routine that works, 2008, glycerin in toothpaste, adapted from http://beautyroutinethatworks.blogspot.com/2008/03/glycerin-in-toothpaste.html , accessed on 22 march 2010

Sodium monofluorophosphate, 2010, Adapted from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_monofluorophosphate, accessed on 22 march 2010

Christensen, 2010, What is Carrageenan? Adapted from : http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-carrageenan.htm, accessed on 22 March 2010

Toothpaste, 2010, Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste#Ingredients_and_flavors, Accessed 22 March 2010

Lens Solution/ Saline Solution

Lens Solution – Saline Solution

Figure 1. Bottles of lens solution/saline solution

Nowadays, people prefer contact lens more than spectacles or glasses. Contact lens can help us to get rid of nerd-looking and troublesome glasses. Some contact lens which are colourless, which is most popular among the people with short sightedness. It is very easy to wear on without being noticed by anyone else, at the same time we do not have to worry about breaking the pricey glasses.

Figure 2. Sample of coloured ring lens.

Figure 3. Proper way of wearing on the contact lens.

Figure 4. Visual effect done by the enlarged circle contact lens.

However, eyes infections are easily triggered if there is no proper care for both the lens and eyes. Our eyes are the only organ in our body which has no immune system at all, therefore bacteria or infection can easily attack our eyes balls. Our eyes balls have connecting tissues which directly connected to our brain, if there is any infection at our eye balls, it will directly affect our brain too. That is why optician usually encourage people not to wear contact lens for long hours or too frequently, because the longer time the lens stay at our eyes, the higher probability or chances to get infection in our eyes. All contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the clear front surface of the eye (the cornea) and thereby increase the risk of eye problems to some degree. Our eyes have no immune system to help us to kill the bacteria that lives in our eyes, any damage or infection can occur easily which might eventually leads to blindness.

Figure 5. Conjunctivitis.
One of the eyes infection caused by the contact lens.

So, that is why the lens solution is created and available in every pharmacy or market. We can see many lens solution products sale, each one is labeled with “Hygiene Guaranteed” for the lens solution users. Lens solution is a solution of sodium chloride, or salt in sterile water. Lens users have to rinse their lens before wearing it on and also after taking it out, and then the lens will be kept in a small case which is filled with lens solution too. Majority of the contact lens users would prefer multipurpose solution, which is for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storing your contact lenses. With multipurpose solutions, no other lens care products are necessary.

For further explanation, we will use a bottle of Bausch and Lomb ReNu lens solution as a sample.

Contents of lens solution :
- A sterile, isotonic solution that contains Hydranate
- Boric acid
- Edetate disodium
- Poloxamine
- Sodium borate
- Sodium chloride.

Hydranate
Known by chemists as hydroxyalkylphosphonate, it removes protein deposits, eliminating the hassle of a separate enzyme treatment. The eye's lubricating fluid contains mucus protein, which over time can build up and cloud your vision like a snot cataract. Hydranate is a compound that traps the mucus molecules and lifts them off the surface of the lens.

Boric Acid
It's a fire retardant, a nuclear-reaction controller, and the stuff that turns silicone oil into Silly Putty. Grandma knew it as an antiseptic eyewash; here it's also a pH buffer. But boric acid has been tagged by the feds as an infant-killing poison.

Edetate Disodium
This commonly used compound sequesters metallic ions (calcium from tears or possibly particles from air pollution) that might otherwise react with the lens.

Poloxamine
Made of multiple oxyethylene and oxypropylene segments, poloxamine is used in gene therapy as an alternative to artificial viruses for carrying DNA into cells.

Sodium Borate
More widely recognized under the alias Borax, it's the same crystalline alkali dust found in Death Valley. It's added to ReNu as a buffering agent, keeping the solution at a comfy pH of 6.5 to 7.8.

Sodium Chloride
Since soft lenses are liquid permeable, you want to make sure that your cleaning fluids are as osmotically close to tears as possible. That calls for a pinch of salt—otherwise, the lenses would dry out. Add too much, of course, and your lenses will suck all the moisture out of your eyes, get oversaturated, and start to weep.

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You can also make your own home-made lens solution! Things needed are distilled water or deionised water, laboratory grade sodium chloride or plain cooking salt and a clean sterile container to keep your lens solution. How to approximate the correct amount of salt? Let’s say you are aiming to make 1 litre of lens solution, you would need 9 grams of salt for every litre. Mix the salt and distilled water, and stir them well, then keep it in a clean sterile bottle.

Regardless of which brands of solution you use, do remember you shall never ever touch the solution bottle tips to any surface including your body because this can cause contamination of the solution. Avoid getting tap water on your contact lenses and accessories, as it can carry an microorganism called Acanthamoeba that causes serious eye infections. Remember to clean yur contact lens accessories as directed periodically. Lens cases should be rinsed with hot tap water and dried when not in use because Acanthamoeba may be present in tap water and can survive for years after drying.

REFERENCES
White, G. (March,2010) Caring For Soft Contact Lens. Adapted from : http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/caresoftlens.htm, Retrieved on 22March2010.

Forsythe,C. (2009) Make Your Own Saline Solution. Adapted from: http://www.craig.copperleife.com/health/saline.htm, Retrieved on 22March2010.

Beam,J. (March,16 2010) What Is Saline Solution. Adapted from: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-saline-solution.htm, Retrieved on 22March2010.

Justo,P.D. (January,19 2009) What's inside: Bausch and Lomb ReNu. Adapted from: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-02/st_whatsinside, Retrieved on 22March2010.