ikindred
Well-Known Member
I have not dared to venture into making my own lotion as of yet but I am really interested in practicing. Do any of you know of any good tutorials out there that can help formulate a good basic recipe to begin with?
Lotion Making
- Thread starter ikindred
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Definitely! I think the best source out there is Swift's bog - http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/. She has a "Lotion Making 101" type of manual. Here's the link... http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1020026/introductiontolotionmakingthingie.pdf.
I second SwiftCraftMonkey. She's awesome!
IrishLass
IrishLass
LauraHoosier
Well-Known Member
Soon as I have spare the cash I'm buying her ebook, 305 pages, on lotion and more.
soapbuddy
Well-Known Member
If you are just making lotions, I would wait and get them tested to make sure that you are selling a safe product.
LauraHoosier
Well-Known Member
Stupid questions ahead. If you are making lotions with new products, new containers, properly cleaned utensils and work area and nothing unusual added like herb infused oils or herbal tea what is the purpose of testing?
Not asking to be contrary or difficult of course but I'm curious what testing will tell us when/if we have it done so we know what to expect. I say if because we know there are folks out there that won't test, won't do it right away or can't afford testing and sell anyways.
If you are making lotions with new products, new containers, properly cleaned utensils and work area and nothing unusual added like herb infused oils or herbal tea what is the purpose of testing? Not asking to be contrary or difficult of course but I'm curious what testing will tell us when/if we have it done so we know what to expect. I say if because we know there are folks out there that won't test, won't do it right away or can't afford testing and sell anyways.
Testing is important because even if we do everything right, things can still sometimes go wrong because the lotion was not made in a 100% sterile environment with 100% sterile ingredients/equipment. Sanitized, yes, but sterile, no. Our equipment and working surfaces may be as sanitized as we can get them, but the air around us is not. Testing will let you know if your preservative system is working and holding up well for your particular formula under the different conditions of the use (and possible abuse) that it may be subjected to by the end user, such as putting dirty fingers in it, or getting water in it, or leaving it in an overly warm area or exposed to the air, etc......all of which many a customer has been known to do, and which weaken and can completely overwhelm the preservative.
Testing is also important because most of the nasty things that can grow in lotion and that cause serious skin infections are not necessarily detectable by the naked human eye, or even the nose if you go by smell. When your lotion is challenged tested, the testers pretty much abuse it for you without anyone having to get hurt, and then they check to see how the preservative is holding up and what's going on at the microscopic level.
If you are just going to be using the lotion for yourself, or giving it to only the people you know and can absolutely trust to treat the lotion properly (i.e. not get their fingers in it or get water in it, expose it to heat, etc...), and if you conscienciously followed all the proper sanitizing and preservative protocols, then you may choose to forego testing, but if you are ever going to sell to the public, that's a different story. Testing in that case is an absolute must, if you ask me, because chances are pretty good that more than a few of your customers might not treat their lotion all too properly and the first person they'll come looking for when their skin breaks out or something worse happens is you. Testing is not only for their benefit and safety, but for yours as well, in more ways than one.
I have never sent my lotions in to test, but I make lotions for only myself and 1 or 2 other people that I can absolutely trust to use it without abusing it. If I ever decided to sell it, there's no question that I would have it challenge tested. I'd be too scared to sell it and/or a nervous, sleepless wreck otherwise.
IrishLass
Testing is also important because most of the nasty things that can grow in lotion and that cause serious skin infections are not necessarily detectable by the naked human eye, or even the nose if you go by smell. When your lotion is challenged tested, the testers pretty much abuse it for you without anyone having to get hurt, and then they check to see how the preservative is holding up and what's going on at the microscopic level.
If you are just going to be using the lotion for yourself, or giving it to only the people you know and can absolutely trust to treat the lotion properly (i.e. not get their fingers in it or get water in it, expose it to heat, etc...), and if you conscienciously followed all the proper sanitizing and preservative protocols, then you may choose to forego testing, but if you are ever going to sell to the public, that's a different story. Testing in that case is an absolute must, if you ask me, because chances are pretty good that more than a few of your customers might not treat their lotion all too properly and the first person they'll come looking for when their skin breaks out or something worse happens is you. Testing is not only for their benefit and safety, but for yours as well, in more ways than one.
I have never sent my lotions in to test, but I make lotions for only myself and 1 or 2 other people that I can absolutely trust to use it without abusing it. If I ever decided to sell it, there's no question that I would have it challenge tested. I'd be too scared to sell it and/or a nervous, sleepless wreck otherwise.
IrishLass
LauraHoosier
Well-Known Member
Thanks IrishLass! That's what I was figuring. With this forum's standards on soap being clear I figured I'd ask about bath and body products since their boards are slower moving.
I'm sure some have thought about whether to test or not but I figured asking and seeing it on paper, so to speak, would make it clear what this forum expects for products other then soap.
ETA: Makes me glad I asked before I started offering it for sale too. While I have all the ingredients I'm glad I ordered small amounts to experiment with. Hopefully they won't go bad before I use them all up since I likely won't be able to afford testing for a long while.
I'm sure some have thought about whether to test or not but I figured asking and seeing it on paper, so to speak, would make it clear what this forum expects for products other then soap.
ETA: Makes me glad I asked before I started offering it for sale too. While I have all the ingredients I'm glad I ordered small amounts to experiment with. Hopefully they won't go bad before I use them all up since I likely won't be able to afford testing for a long while.
I buy the testing kits from Snowdrift Farms now to test each batch of lotion. I had some problems with a preservative not holding and I was getting really frustrated so rather than put them on the shelves and take the risk, I now test using this kit and it gives me such peace of kind. I've also dropped that preservative from my shelf.....
soapbuddy
Well-Known Member
That particular test will only give you a general idea. I would send it to get it tested at The Sage Script Institute.tasha said:Lindy said:
hello Lindy
good info, I will look that up! thanks soapbuddy!
in your opinion, is it necessary to have every batch of lotion tested? or is it necessary only to get your formula/preservative combo tested, meaning once you have your one formula, you test it and then stick with that if it's okay.
also, what do they do when testing your formula? I heard someone say they will "abuse" it (for lack of a better term) to see what it can withstand. Do they keep it for a certain amount of time and test it over time, or just once?
is the pricing pretty reasonable for having this done?
in your opinion, is it necessary to have every batch of lotion tested? or is it necessary only to get your formula/preservative combo tested, meaning once you have your one formula, you test it and then stick with that if it's okay.
also, what do they do when testing your formula? I heard someone say they will "abuse" it (for lack of a better term) to see what it can withstand. Do they keep it for a certain amount of time and test it over time, or just once?
is the pricing pretty reasonable for having this done?
soapbuddy
Well-Known Member
You're welcome. Sage Script does Aerobic plate count (APC) - enumeration of bacteria present in a sample & Fungal/yeast count (F/YC) - enumeration of fungi (mold) or yeast present in a sample. The price is $31 each for one to two samples, then the price goes down according to how many samples you send. Ideally, you should get every batch tested, but I realize that's not always possible. Here is their link> http://www.sagescript.com/microbiologyservices.htm
Because I was having a very definitive problem I used the kit to help me get it under control. I found it told the story really quickly if there was fungal or bacterial there. However I agree that a professional test is going to by quite a bit more sensitive than the one I'm purchasing.
