Development Of Calamansi Bath Soaps Enhanced With Tomato, Cucumber And Aloe Vera Extract

Abstract

Crops can never be shelved in, when it comes to product development. This study aimed to develop calamansi bath soaps enhanced with tomato, cucumber and aloe vera extract. Specifically, identified the suitable formulation of calamansi bath soaps enhanced with tomato, cucumber and aloe vera extracts; assessed the microbial activity of the  enhanced calamansi bath soap; evaluated the acceptability of the physical attributes and perceived skin effects of the developed and enhanced calamansi soaps; and compared the profitability of producing different enhanced calamansi bath soaps. The process of making bath soap comprises the following steps: preparation of water with salt and caustic soda; calamansi, tomato, cucumber extracts and aloe vera gel, palm oil, fresh milk, honey and mixing these ingredients to produce a thick solution, pouring the solution into the molder, cooling and solidifying the solution at a room temperature, curing, and packaging the finished product. The developed and enhanced CALAMATIS (Calamansi & Tomato), CALAPINO (Calamansi & Cucumber) and CALAVERA (Calamansi & Aloe vera) samples were brought to the DOST- Tuguegarao City for microbial analysis. After which, it was subjected to evaluation of acceptability on the physical attributes and perceived skin effects. Laboratory tests results revealed that Calamatis and Calavera soaps have active inhibition to fight Staphylococcus aureus bacteria while Calapino is partially active. Likewise, the enhanced calamansi bath soaps were found to have a Very High Acceptability in its overall physical attributes –texture, color, odor, hardness and size. It was also found out that Calamatis, Calapino and Calavera were rated much effective on the different skin effects as to non-experience of skin irritation, skin glowing, skin whitening, skin moisturizing and anti-pimple. Enhanced calamansi bath soaps act also as moisturizer, stain remover and minimize perspiration. Therefore, the developed calamansi-based bath soaps have competitive advantage to the high-priced commercialized bath soaps with anti-bacterial, anti-irritation, skin moisturizing skin benefits. It is then recommended, that pilot testing to wider consumer groups, to further test the market potentials should be done before commercialization.