Hello!! help with runny lotion

[erlove87]

Hi all! I am very new to making my own beauty and household products, but I am trying my best to create a sustainable living lifestyle for me and my family. I found this forum through a Google search when I was trying to figure out why my lotion keeps turning out runny...? It is the most frustrating thing ever!! The recipe I found is as follows:
*5 tbs + 1 tsp of grapeseed oil
*2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
*1 tbs coconut oil
*1 tbs bees wax
*1/2 cup distilled water
*1 tbs pure aloe vera
*1/4 tsp cosmetic grade borax
*5 drops vitamin e oil
*4 drops essential oil
Basically, I stir the oils over low heat until the beeswax melts, and then pour them into the base of my blender to cool (approx 15 min). I then mix the waters together and melt the borax into the water, and then I set those aside to cool as well. Once the oils are opaque on top I turn the blender on low and slowly pour the waters in. This is where is all goes wrong....because fluids just start flying everywhere and the lotion mixture never firms up but remains as water. Any help offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

 

[vikkime]

Re: Hello!!

It looks like a lot of fluids and not enough solids. I would slowly add a little more beeswax and I do mean slowly, like by the pinchfuls. Or, maybe cutback on the liquids by like 1/4 tsp at a time.

If you found the recipe from a web page I would scroll down and see if there is a comment section. Most likely you aren't the first to have this problem or email the person that posted it (there should be a contact me/comment box/etc). Also, read up on borax. It isn't as "green" as you may think. More specifically, it can cause some issues with children reproductive organs. I use to use it all the time until I was researching some home/beauty product recipes and someone had concerns. A quick search for "borax controversy" or "borax side effects" will bring up tons of stuff. I try to stick to actually studies and reports from ".edu" or ".gov" sites.

Hope this was some help.

 

[Hazel]

Re: Hello!!

Welcome!

It would be better to weigh your ingredients for accuracy. Also, beeswax and borax aren't very stable as an emulsifying system. You'd have better success with using an emulsifying product like ewax or BTMS-50. You'll find wonderful info for making lotions here. http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/ Scroll down the site and on the right hand side there are links to info on formulating a lotion recipe and making basic lotions.

Are you using a hand blender or an immersion blender? From your description, it sound like you're using a regular blender. A stick blender is better for blending lotions because it has a higher shear. Another important factor is blending at the correct temperature. If the oil phase and the water phase get too cool, they will separate and then the water will puddle on top. I also recommend you use a preservative since oil and water don't play well together. Then your beautiful lotion can be a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, fungi, etc...collectively known as "the nasties".

eta: I'm moving your post to the Bath & Body Forum since it has information which will be relevant to other members.

 

[erlove87]

Also, read up on borax. It isn't as "green" as you may think. More specifically, it can cause some issues with children reproductive organs. I use to use it all the time until I was researching some home/beauty product recipes and someone had concerns. A quick search for "borax controversy" or "borax side effects" will bring up tons of stuff. I try to stick to actually studies and reports from ".edu" or ".gov" sites.

Thank you for the heads-up Vikkime! Do you have a suggestion for a green emulsifier?? It would be greatly appreciated

 

[Lindy]

Here is a recipe for making a lotion. viewtopic.php?f=20&t=28472&p=287029#p287029

Now the thing with beeswax as an emulsifier you need to be using a blender and you are going to have to make sure that all ingredients are at the same temperature. You will need to have your blender going at its highest setting because you need high sheer to get it to work. You don't need to use the Borax. The problem is that very few people have succeeded using this process.

Ewax is a good solution and it's the one I use. BTMS can get a fishy odour as it ages.

Since you saying you want a natural lotion please tell me you are going to use a real preservative rather than something like grapeseed extract as that is only an antioxidant and does not protect you from bacteria or mold. There are some really good ones on the market and for your needs I think I would recommend Optiphen Plus. It is generally a very stable preservative and as close to natural as you are probably going to get. Their are a couple of others that are supposed to be natural, but they are really, really pricey.

Also Hazel has the right of it. You need to measuring by weight rather than volume. By volume is never going to give you an accurate recipe when we're talking lotions or any other bath / body product.

Good luck and have fun with this journey....

 

[judymoody]

If you are interested in greener or Ecocert emulsifiers and preservatives, try the Herbarie, Ingredients to Die For, or Lotioncrafter.

I agree with what everybody else said about using a stick blender, minding your temperatures, and Swiftcraftymonkey's wonderfully informative site.