Calculating emulsifier in lotions.

[Stacy]

I have a super quick question...

To calculate ewax in a lotion its a simple mater of 25% of the oils/butters that you're using.

In another thread when reffering to cyclomethicone and dimethicone, Meganmischke said:

Though you add cones in the cool down, they are counted as a oil to emulsify. If you are having separation you need to look at you ewax/emulsifier amount and likely add more.

Do you also put fragrance oil into your equation? For that matter does anything non-water souluable (optiphen plus for example) get counted in?

 

[shunt2011]

Following......I'm not a huge lotion maker...only a couple batches so can learn with you.

 

[new12soap]

No, you do not need to include your fragrance in your oil to calculate your emulsifiers (and since you are usually using around 1% in leave-on products it won't make a huge difference anyway).

Optiphen is water soluble.

Yes, you do need to consider other oil-soluble ingredients, such as stearic acid or cetyl alcohol, and any silicones when you calculate your emulsifier. To emulsify silicones, though, I would recommend using at least part BTMS-50 in your product as it is really the best for that.

As for the 25% of your oils, when using ewax I would round up just to be on the safe side. For instance, if I had a total of 25g of oils, I would need 6.25g of ewax, but I would round that up to at least 6.5 and as high as 7g. For BTMS-50 you may be able to get away with a little less but it's a good guideline.

HTH