Methyl ethyl ketone (butanone) is an industrial solvent produced on a large scale. It is used in surface coatings, adhesives, printing inks, chemical intermediates, magnetic tapes, and lube oil dewaxing agents. Methyl ethyl ketone has a fruity odor similar to acetone. It is used as a flavor/fragrance agent in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Triethyl citrate is a triester of ethyl alcohol and citric acid. It is a colorless, odorless liquid used as a food additive (E number E1505) to stabilize foams, especially as whipping aid for egg white. Triethyl citrate is a plasticizer, that plays an important role as a dispersing aid in the processing of polylactic acid/chitin nanocrystal (PLA/ChNC) nanocomposites.

SODIUM ANISATE is derived from fennel, this is the sodium salt of p-anisic acid. It is classified as antimicrobial and flavouring. It acts as an anti-fungal agent, and when paired with sodium levulinate the two ingredients make for a comprehensive preservative for cosmetics. This ingredient is approved for use in organic cosmetics. Sodium anisate (dermosoft® anisate) is an easy to use water soluble salt of an organic acid with an excellent fungicidal activity. It can be added to the cold or hot water phase at any step of the process. The combination with antimicrobial surface active substances or organic acids is recommended to improve the performance of the product even at higher pH.

Propylene glycol diacetate (PGDA) is a colorless low-viscosity solvent with a slight ether-like odor. The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) manufactures and sells PGDA and other propylene oxide-based glycol ethers under the trade name DOWANOL Glycol Ethers. Propylene glycol diacetate may be used as an emulsifier, solubilizer or solvent in pharmaceuticals.

Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat soluble vitamin C ester. An ester is simply a compound formed by the combination of an organic acid and an alcohol – in this case it is ascorbic acid and palmitic acid (a fat – which is composed of fatty acids and glycerol - an alcohol). Therefore, ascorbyl palmitate is formed by the esterification of ascorbic acid with palmitic acid to form vitamin C ester. Ascorbyl palmitate is an amphipathic molecule, meaning one end is water-soluble and the other end is fat-soluble. This dual solubility allows it to be incorporated into cell membranes. When incorporated into the cell membranes of human red blood cells, ascorbyl palmitate has been found to protect them from oxidative damage and to protect alpha-tocopherol (a fat-soluble antioxidant) from oxidation by free radicals. Basically, the fat-soluble aspect of ascorbyl palmitate extends vitamin C free radical protection into the fat parts of the body. However, the protective effects of ascorbyl palmitate on cell membranes have only been demonstrated in the test tube (in vitro). Taking ascorbyl palmitate orally may not result in any significant incorporation into cell membranes because most of it appears to be hydrolyzed (broken apart into palmitate and ascorbic acid) in the human digestive tract before it is absorbed. The ascorbic acid released by the hydrolysis of ascorbyl palmitate appears to be as bioavailable as ascorbic acid alone. The presence of ascorbyl palmitate in oral supplements contributes to the ascorbic acid content of the supplement and probably helps protect fat-soluble antioxidants in the supplement. This is also true for food products. Ascorbyl palmitate is used to increase the shelf life of vegetable oils and potato chips. The role of vitamin C in promoting collagen synthesis and its antioxidant properties have generated interest in its use on the skin. Ascorbyl palmitate is frequently used in topical preparations because it is more stable than some aqueous (water-soluble) forms of vitamin C. It is also suggested that this form of vitamin C is better able to penetrate the skin and the thin membrane of cells (due to its dual solubility), which can then go on to help produce collagen and elastin.

Oleyl alcohol (also octadecenol or cis-9-octadecen-1-ol) is a non-ionic, unsaturated fatty alcohol. Oleyl alcohol is a long-chain aliphatic alcohol that occurs naturally in fish oils. It is used in such large-scale applications as the softening and lubrication of textile fabrics, and the production of carbon paper, stencil paper, and printing ink. Oleyl alcohol is also utilized as an antifoam agent and cutting lubricant. It also is a precursor for the preparation of its sulfuric ester derivatives, which are used in detergents and wetting agents. Oleyl alcohol has been incorporated into various formulations for drug delivery. Oleyl alcohol is found in a wide variety of products such as hair conditioners, foundations, eye makeup, skin moisturizers, skin cleansers and other skin care products. Oleyl alcohol helps to form emulsions and prevents an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components. It also reduces the tendency of finished products to generate foam when shaken. When used in the formulation of skin care products, Oleyl alcohol acts as a lubricant on the skin surface, which gives the skin a soft, smooth appearance.

Aspartame (l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester) known to the public as NutraSweet has been the subject of controversy since it first became an ingredient in food products. The perceived sweetness of aspartame in humans is due to its binding of the heterodimer G-protein coupled receptor formed by the proteins TAS1R2 and TAS1R3. Aspartame was used in experiments on animals to study its role in delays of osteoarthritis. It was shown, that aspartame improved bone cortical density and muscle mass, and might contribute to a better quality of life for these diseased animals. In addition, was investigated the effect in patients with sickle cell anemia. It was revealed, that oral administration of aspartame lead inhibition of sickle cells. That effect was explained by binding aspartame with two human Bence Jones proteins: Mcg and Sea. Thus was suggested, that aspartame could interfere with sickle hemoglobin fibril formation. Then several studies showed that aspartame had no effect on the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin.