Water Soluble Dyes and Preservatives?

[DisneyMom]

Hi everyone! I’m thinking about switching from micas to water soluble dyes for my bath bombs, bubble bars, and whipped scrub so that I can get more vivid colors and stop using Poly 80. But here’s my question. To use water soluble dyes, I know you have to “bloom” them by mixing them in water first before adding them to your product. Since you mix them with water, does that mean I then need to add a preservative?

Thanks!
Stacie

 

[atiz]

Hi everyone! I’m thinking about switching from micas to water soluble dyes for my bath bombs, bubble bars, and whipped scrub so that I can get more vivid colors and stop using Poly 80. But here’s my question. To use water soluble dyes, I know you have to “bloom” them by mixing them in water first before adding them to your product. Since you mix them with water, does that mean I then need to add a preservative?

Thanks!
Stacie

I only have limited experience so hopefully someone else will chime in too, but I have used lake dyes in bath bombs just straight out of the packet, and it worked great. I didn’t add any additional water apart from the usual “spritz” and still got very vivid color.

 

[snappyllama]

Hi DisneyMom,

For my scrubs, I always use preservative since water is inevitably going to be introduced when someone uses the product.

My lake dyes will bloom with alcohol, oils, or water. I use oil in my bath bombs - so get a nice color. Of course, I still use Poly since I like to suspend the oils in the bath water when someone uses it.... so I know that won't help you. But, you should be able to use alcohol to bloom the color and not need Poly or a preservative. I think even the FO or EO would bloom it.

 

[shunt2011]

I agree with snappy llama on all accounts. I use lakes in bath bombs along with PS80. Scrubs, always preservative. I don’t know what my customers will so with the. I know I use wet hands myself in the shower.

 

[DisneyMom]

I agree with snappy llama on all accounts. I use lakes in bath bombs along with PS80. Scrubs, always preservative. I don’t know what my customers will so with the. I know I use wet hands myself in the shower.

Hi DisneyMom,

For my scrubs, I always use preservative since water is inevitably going to be introduced when someone uses the product.

My lake dyes will bloom with alcohol, oils, or water. I use oil in my bath bombs - so get a nice color. Of course, I still use Poly since I like to suspend the oils in the bath water when someone uses it.... so I know that won't help you. But, you should be able to use alcohol to bloom the color and not need Poly or a preservative. I think even the FO or EO would bloom it.

Ohhhh! I didn’t know you could bloom in oil or alcohol. Well, that solves that issue. Now I feel kinda stupid. Lol

I already use optiphan in my scrubs, so I was mostly concerned about bath bombs. Thanks for the advice and help!