Method of determining the share of an ingredient in a mixture. Percentage may refer to weight, volume, or any other clearly indicated basis. Without knowing what it refers to, you should not compare it directly with the number of milligrams of the entire serving.
First, determine the percentage basis
Percentage is a relationship, so it must be clear what the number refers to. Five percent by mass means five units of mass per hundred units of total mass. Volume percentage describes a different relationship. In an extract, the percentage of standardization may concern the determined compound in the raw material, and not the share of the extract in the capsule. Before performing the multiplication, both levels must be determined: the amount of the raw material in the portion and the content of the substance being determined in this raw material.
The provision of 2% in the cream and 2% in the raw material for its production applies to various stages. If a solution material is added to the recipe, its composition must also be taken into account. Do not multiply or compare percentages without describing the basis, because the same number may represent different amounts of a substance.
Meaning and application
The percentage only makes sense when you know what it concerns. It may describe an ingredient, a group of compounds in an extract or a specific share in a formulation. Two identical numbers do not guarantee comparable quantity or similar performance of the products.
In practice
Write down the name of the substance being marked and the basis for the declaration. Distinguish the percentage in the raw material from the percentage in the whole product. When calculating, use only confirmed data, consistent units and quantities for the same formulation step.
Don't choose a cosmetic or supplement based solely on the highest percentage. The form, purpose and the entire formulation are important. If the documentation does not provide the basis for the calculation, it is better to ask the manufacturer than to add missing data based on the trade name.