The problem in formulating a topical application is getting the active ingredient through the skin. The outer layer of the skin consists of non-polar molecules and the inner layer of polar ones. Ibuprofen is, as we have seen, relatively non-polar and will therefore have difficulty penetrating the inner layer. This is because non-polar molecules tend to mix with other non-polar ones rather than polar ones. This is an example of the ‘like dissolves like’ rule.
So ibuprofen gel is formulated with propan-2-ol (isopropanol in the list of ingredients on the pack, Figure 16). This is of medium polarity. It is sufficiently polar to carry the ibuprofen through the inner layer of the skin but not so polar that it will not dissolve ibuprofen. Other ingredients such as hydroxymethylcellullose (a substance similar to starch) are used to make the product into a gel which will stay on the skin rather than running off.