Pharmacy Students Gain Hands-On Insights into Cosmeceutical Manufacturing at EKTEK Biocare

Students from Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial College of Pharmacy, Bela, Ropar—comprising B. Pharm 8th semester and M. Pharm 2nd/4th semester cohorts—visited EKTEK Biocare's state-of-the-art cosmeceutical manufacturing unit in Doraha, Ludhiana, Punjab. The excursion offered a deep dive into the formulation, production, quality control, and packaging of herbal and therapeutic personal care products, including olive oil shampoo with conditioner, herbal soaps, pet perfumes, and facial kits.

Cosmeceuticals, blending cosmetic appeal with bioactive, drug-like benefits, rely on natural ingredients and scientific precision. Operating under strict GMP guidelines, the facility features segregated zones: raw material storage, production, quality control lab, filling/packaging, and finished goods quarantine. Hygiene, temperature control, and safety protocols ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

In the production unit, students observed olive oil shampoo formulation—key ingredients like olive oil (moisturizer), surfactants (SLS/SLES), cocamidopropyl betaine (foam booster), glycerin, preservatives, fragrances, conditioning polymers, and silicones—mixed via precise blending. Herbal olive oil soaps underwent saponification with vegetable oils, sodium hydroxide, herbal extracts, natural colorants, and fragrances. Facial kits, comprising cleanser, scrub, cream, gel, and face pack, utilized emulsification, homogenization, essential oils, vitamins, and mild preservatives. The quality control lab conducts rigorous pH, viscosity, stability, microbial, and skin irritation tests on raw materials and finals. Packaging employs HDPE/PET bottles for shampoos, laminated wrappers for soaps, and jars/tubes for kits, with compliant labeling. Safety measures include PPE, chemical handling protocols, an effluent treatment plant, and waste recycling.

The visit highlighted cosmeceuticals' edge over cosmetics, quality testing's role in safety, packaging's protective allure, and industrial-scale techniques. It bridged classroom theory with practice, enriching students' grasp of formulation science.