Formulation and Evaluation of Acai Oil Nano-Lotion: Hydration, Stability, and Sensory Properties<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">

The growing demand for natural and sustainable skincare products has led to the exploration of bioactive ingredients, such as Acai oil, in advanced cosmetic formulations. Acai oil, known for its rich antioxidant and moisturizing properties, was incorporated into a nano-lotion to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing skin hydration, stability, and sensory attributes. Two formulations were developed: a traditional Acai lotion and a nano-lotion containing encapsulated Acai oil using chitosan-alginate nanoparticles. The moisturizing efficacy was evaluated by comparing the Acai lotion with a base lotion using the Delfin MoistureMeter SC Compact. Further evaluation was conducted on the nano-lotion to assess prolonged release, stability, viscosity, and sensory attributes, including texture, spreadability, absorption, stickiness, and greasiness. The comparison between the base lotion and Acai lotion showed that the Acai lotion significantly improved skin hydration. The nano-lotion demonstrated additional benefits, including successful drug loading (92%) within the nanoparticles, enhanced viscosity, and improved sensory properties. The nano-lotion had a lighter texture, better spreadability, and faster absorption compared to the Acai lotion. Both formulations maintained stability at pH = 5 over a one-month storage period and showed no significant changes in color, odor, or viscosity, confirming their stability. Moreover, the nano-lotion showed potential for prolonged release, suggesting extended hydration effects over time. The results demonstrate that Acai oil is an effective moisturizing ingredient, and its encapsulation in a nano-lotion formulation enhances the product&rsquo;s stability, sensory attributes, and hydration efficacy. The nano-lotion offers a lightweight, non-greasy, and easy-to-apply alternative with prolonged release properties, making it a promising candidate for future natural-based cosmetic products. Further studies on long-term release behavior are recommended to fully validate the nano-lotion&rsquo;s sustained hydration effects.