Thanks. I only made a few bottles fortunately. But it’s SO yummy amazing!!!
The only aloe I used was the 100x powder.
The only aloe I used was the 100x powder.
Mine is an aloe distillate.Thanks. I only made a few bottles fortunately. But it’s SO yummy amazing!!!
The only aloe I used was the 100x powder.
I have heard that the aloe distillate doesn’t “soap” as much as AV powder. Is that your experience?I usually (often) add 1% IPM (Isopropyl Myristate) as an additive. It's supposed to help with the soaping effect.
I can't really say. I use aloe distillate, among other things, and some creams have the soapy effect but others don't. I still don't have that all figured out.I have heard that the aloe distillate doesn’t “soap” as much as AV powder. Is that your experience?
Part of the 5%, yes. I sub out part of the water for the distillate.Wow! I wasn’t even sure if what I was asking would make sense. How cool that you knew what I meant!! I‘ll look in the group. @Misschief is the IPM part of your %25 ingredients extra additives? The distillate is a liquid, correct?
Hello, I am just about to delve into the DIY world (following on FB)… can you please clarify, in the Basic Lotion recipe, by adding “up to 5%” of varied additives: some oil, some dry (colloidal oats), some water based (honey etc), does this change or affect any of the other ingredients, such as the preservative? I’m used to plugging everything into the soap calculator, and this lotion world is so very different…If you love the DIY Bath & Body Lotion Concentrate but aren't sure what to do with it, how to work with it, or questions in general, welcome. This is where you can ask your questions and look for inspiration. If you've made it, what's your favourite final product?
I'll start. I think I can honestly say that the DIY Lotion Concentrate recipe is my absolute favourite DIY Bath & Body recipe. I'm constantly experimenting with it, adding all sorts of interesting additives. I had a pop-up market at a yarn shop last weekend and made a knitter's hand cream that incorporated ingredients like Lanolin (knitters, after all), Aloe Vera Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Silk Amino Acids, Argan oil, and Colloidal Oatmeal. It's absolutely amazing! After a week, I've already received positive comments about it.
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The 5% additives are already covered in the recipe. As long as you're staying within the 5%, you're fine. You can add more liquid if you want the lotion thinner but, if you do, you may need to adjust the preservative slightly.Hello, I am just about to delve into the DIY world (following on FB)… can you please clarify, in the Basic Lotion recipe, by adding “up to 5%” of varied additives: some oil, some dry (colloidal oats), some water based (honey etc), does this change or affect any of the other ingredients, such as the preservative? I’m used to plugging everything into the soap calculator, and this lotion world is so very different…
Thank you!
Thank youThe 5% additives are already covered in the recipe. As long as you're staying within the 5%, you're fine. You can add more liquid if you want the lotion thinner but, if you do, you may need to adjust the preservative slightly.
I know many folks think it is fine to add in honey, oats, and other botanicals and proteins safely but be aware it may not be as safe as you think unless you are actually having your final lotion tested. At the bare minimum test with dip slides as a preliminary test, but use with caution because they are not 100% reliable. It is always best to send them to a lab for challenge testing (PET) before selling or sharing handmade lotions. I found Arnica impossible to preserve with our available preservatives including PhenoNip, or I just could not hit the correct combination. Additives such as Allantoin, niacinamide, peptides, etc were fine. I even stayed away from most botanical extracts, better to save them for the big boys with full testing labs.Hello, I am just about to delve into the DIY world (following on FB)… can you please clarify, in the Basic Lotion recipe, by adding “up to 5%” of varied additives: some oil, some dry (colloidal oats), some water based (honey etc), does this change or affect any of the other ingredients, such as the preservative? I’m used to plugging everything into the soap calculator, and this lotion world is so very different…
Thank you!
This is very helpful, thank you!@Georgeandstella, the only thing I do different is go to the max safe usage percentage with whatever broad spectrum preservative I am using. So although the recipe calls for 1% (if I am remembering correctly), with (eg) Optiphen I use 1.5% and take the .5 percent off of some water based/soluble ingredient.
Regarding the additives, Carolyn's caveat regarding safety is a good one, but I do use various additives - colloidal oats, hydrolyzed proteins, honey, etc. - in the lotions I make for myself and others. I tell my giftees that it is impossible to make home made creams with the kind of sterile procedures that the big companies use (and that they are likely to mold if their hands are not clean when they dip them in the jar), so to throw them out if they see signs of mold. I don't ever remember having a lotion mold, but I am careful when I use them and don't have them sitting around for months and months. No reports of mold from giftees, although who knows there.
Thank you for the information!I know many folks think it is fine to add in honey, oats, and other botanicals and proteins safely but be aware it may not be as safe as you think unless you are actually having your final lotion tested. At the bare minimum test with dip slides as a preliminary test, but use with caution because they are not 100% reliable. It is always best to send them to a lab for challenge testing (PET) before selling or sharing handmade lotions. I found Arnica impossible to preserve with our available preservatives including PhenoNip, or I just could not hit the correct combination. Additives such as Allantoin, niacinamide, peptides, etc were fine. I even stayed away from most botanical extracts, better to save them for the big boys with full testing labs.
Don't mind me, aside from using soap as shampoo this is my next biggest red flag...
Folks die of Sepsis daily which can come from bacteria, fungi, and viral. So it is really my new red flag.
I can wait to try it out! You will love what IPM does to your lotions!Can’t wait to hear how you like the results, @Kcryss - I love the lotion from that concentrate. I just got IPM!
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