Help with liquid lotion?

Soapmaking Forum

Help Support Soapmaking Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jun 18, 2013
Messages
10,928
Reaction score
9,589
Location
Idaho, USA
I've been using straight argan on my face and I really like it but I'd like to add some water so its more moisturizing and not just greasy. I don't want it thick at all, a water like consistency is just fine with me (I don't want extra wax on my face).
I've tried to figure recipes out for myself but I just can't seem to grasp the concept of lotion formulas. I was thinking 50/50 water/oil and just enough ewax to keep it emulsified would be great, can anyone help?
 
Yeah, I know I need preservative but I know to to calculate that. The recipe you linked sounds ok but I don't want any thickeners in it. I really just need to know how much ewax it will take to emulsify a 50/50 water/oil mix but I think I may have found the answer on that link. Thanks.
 
I haven't tried out any formulation like this, but I was thinking... poly 80 to emulsify instead of a wax? Almost like an oil mister? It would give you more you a spritzing consistency.
 
For the emulsifying wax, my notes say it should be 25% of the oils and butters. But that Poly solution sounds interesting. Let us know.
 
I JUST made a face cream. Babassu oil and tallow. Whipped the raw ingredients (no heating involved) and it was very nice, but the jar I had in the bathroom, there was oil in the bottom after my shower so it didn't hold up to heat or humidity very well. I melted it over a double boiler and added soy wax which gave it a marvelous consistency, and hopefully some added protection against the dry cold winter. I still have a jar from the same batch that is as it was when I originally made in it's original state. I want to add glycerin and am in the process of working out how to do that. I did not add preservative to it as it contains no water and is only for my use (at least until I get it perfected). Personally, I'd rather have a wax than a preservative in my product. I used soy wax as it seems softer than bees wax. The wax did thicken it a bit which is ok with me, and I do not use my hands to get the product out of the jar.
 
If you want a light lotion, the oil is going to be 5 to 10% of the total, no more. By the time you get to 20% oil or higher, it is no longer a lotion. It gets very thick. The emulsifier will add anywhere from 3 to 10% of the total, depending on the emulsifier. Plus, you need a preservative. You can always use a water and oil mix that you shake before using. You would still need a preservative.
 
Back
Top