Lotion Help?!

[innocent114]

Hello Guys,

I am pulling my hair out over here. I can not get an emulsified lotion to save my life. This is literally like my 10th attempt at making lotion and my failures are consistently of 2 types:

Separated: I used 70% water, 27% olive oil, 3% beeswax, 1/8 teaspoon borax (in the water phase)

I boiled my water phase, melted my wax/oil, dribbled the WATER into the OIL this time, used blender, AND ...got most together and the rest was lots of drops of water sitting on top of the THICK unusable cream, I even poured some of the water out.

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Watery and Foamy: I used 70% water, 27% olive oil, 3% beeswax, 1/8 teaspoon borax (in the water phase)

I boiled my water phase, melted my wax/oil, dribbled the oil in the water, used a stick blender to blend, AND ...foamy, plastic feeling liquid was the result.

HELP! What am I doing wrong. EWAX is not an option.

I'm using the most basic "recipe" so I can get my feet wet and make what I really want later, but I can't get a grasp of this. Please help, any help is appreciated!

 

[Manda]

I'm not sure if there is any way around it unless you use an emulsifier.

Can I ask why E wax is not an option? Is it you can't get it or don't want to use it?

 

[Deda]

I love BTMS.

What are your options for emulsification? Other than beeswax and borax?

 

[innocent114]

I just don't want to use the EWAX because of it's contents. Going more for organic recipe at this time.

Ummm...my other option would be organic liquid lecithin (I just have to buy it).

I've found RoseMary Gladstar's recipe for the "Perfect Cream" I have read it super rich and is most suitable for dry skin in the winter. I something a little more on the lotion side.

Just in case anyone needs a cream...


Ingredients

WATERS

2/3 cup distilled water--OR distilled rosewater or
-- orange flower water)
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1 - 2 drops essential oil of choice
Vitamins A and E as desired

OILS

3/4 cup apricot, almond or grape seed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 tsp lanolin
1/2 - 1 oz grated beeswax

Directions

1. Combine distilled water, aloe vera gel, essential oil and vitamins in a glass measuring cup. (Tap water can be used but it will sometimes introduce bacteria and encourage the growth of mold.) Set aside.

2. In a double boiler over low heat, combine remaining ingredients. Heat just enough to melt.

3. Pour oils into a blender and let cool to room temperature. The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid and cream coloured. This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn't get too hard.

4. When cooled, turn blender on the highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle pour the water mixture into the center vortex.

5. When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes, and the cream looks thick and white like butter cream frosting, turn off the blender. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon, but don't over beat! The cream will thicken as it sets.

6. Pour into into cream or lotion jars. Store in a cool place.

The above is the basic recipe but you can get more detailed information about making this cream and ingredient properties in Rosemary's handy book "Herbs for Natural Beauty". This inexpensive book is a must have for anyone interested in making their own cosmetics.

Note: Do not use this or any other aloe-based product on staph or strep infections as aloe will promote the infection.

http://www.recipenet.org/health/recipes ... t_ceam.htm

 

[Abijay]

Lotion Recipe

What a promotion :wink:

 

[soapbuddy]

Borax is not quite safe either. You can try ECOMulse. It's ECOCERT Approved for Organic Products.

 

[Healinya]

I say give ewax a chance.. it's just as 'natural' as everything else.

Ceteareth-20
: A compound made from stearyl alcohol (solid alcohols mixed with stearol, a derivative of stearic acid) and coconut or palm oil. Used as an emollient and emulsifier.

Cetearyl alcohol
: Not an "alcohol" such as ethyl or rubbing alcohol. It is an emulsifying wax made by combining fatty alcohols derived from vegetable sources. Used as an emulsifier and emollient, it is not drying to the skin.