Water and Oil don't mix on their own. When it comes to creating a cream or a lotion, something must be done to water and oil based ingredients in order for them to combine. Emulsion occurs when water is allowed to encapsulate oil molecules with the help of a stretchy ingredient called an emulsifier. Lecithin is a common emulsifier found in nature. In cooking, the lecithin contained in egg yolk allows chefs to create luscious emulsified sauces such as mayonnaise or hollandaise. Creams and lotions are created in a very similar way. Only when it comes to lotions and creams, other ingredients must be used to maintain a stable, long term emulsion. Emulsifying Wax is an ingredient that has been especially formulated for this purpose. It contains just the right amounts of wax and emulsifier to maintain a stable emulsion in most simple cream or lotion formulas. For beginners, I often recommend this ingredient. It is very easy to use, even when you are creating your own recipes from scratch.
You can also create an emulsion with the help of natural ingredients. However, unlike Emulsifying Wax, natural emulsifiers must be used in conjunction with each other in order to work. The best combination to start with is Beeswax, Liquid Lecithin, and Borax. Together, these ingredients can help to create a stable emulsion of fats and waters.
To create a basic emulsion formula, try working with this simple formula:
- 1 part Emulsifier
- 3 parts Oil / Vegetable Butter
- 6 parts Water or Hydrosol
The emulsifier part can be 100% Emulsifying Wax, or a combination of 80% Beeswax, 10% Borax, and 10% Liquid Lecithin. Try experimenting with the amount of water, oil, or emulsifier you have to create unique textures. You can also try switching Beeswax for other waxes, such as Candelilla, Carnauba, Bayberry, or Floral Wax.
To create the emulsion, start by heating the waxes and oils/butters together, along with the lecithin, if you are using it. In a separate container, heat the waters along with the borax, if you are using it. When both phases have become hot, and the waxes have fully melted, begin whipping the water phase. Slowly pour a very thin stream of the oil/wax mixture into the water phase while continually whipping. After the ingredients are fully combined, continue to whip the mixture for at least a full five minutes. The mixture should become thick and opaque.
Depending on your ingredients your mixture can vary in texture and appearance wildly. Achieving a stable emulsion may also require some tweaking of these ratios depending on the ingredients you choose. Becoming an expert on making creams and lotions is an adventure! Embrace experimentation, and don't lose heart when formulations break or fail. It is all part of the learning process. For a more in depth look into handmade emulsions, check out Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions by Donna Maria, an indispensable guide to cream and lotion making.
Do you have a favorite emulsion recipe to share? If so, please share it with us in the comments below!
Thanks for the info! This is just what I needed
Hi Kelly Ann. Im glad this post was helpful for you! Getting the knack of emulsions can be a tricky process, but once you get a feel for it there will be no stopping you. Please let me know if you have any questions while you are learning. I would be happy to help!
Looking forward to trying the formula later on today!
Great, Laura! Let us know how it turns out.
I can’t understand what is exactly emulsifying wax. It is a combination of other waxes or something like that? Can this be used for creams formulated for combination, oily or acneic skin types? I know that this kind of skin types can’t handle really well waxes like beeswax for example. Which one is the most adequated emulsifier for those skin types? Thanks!
Hi Emma. Emulsifying Wax is a vegetable based wax that has been blended with alcohol and synthetic emulsifiers to create an easy to use emulsifier for cream and lotion recipes. Im not aware of any effect that this ingredient has on acne prone skin one way or the other. If you are concerned about using the ingredient, you may want to perform a patch test on your skin with a small batch of cream made with it, before making or using a large batch.
If creams and lotions that use waxes tend to bother your skin, you may want to look into using a Moisturizing Facial Oil instead. We have a great article on blending those oils at the following link: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2007/12/creating-moistu.html
Just came across your site and glad I found this article. Just started lotion making using e-wax NF and I find no matter what formulas I use my cream is not stiff, should I add some beeswax? Also, the organic cream I am using has just one emulsifier (vegetabel based e-wax it says) does that mean it is NF or are there other emulsifiers for W/O emulsion/ Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Getting a cream recipe to be thicker or thinner usually depends on the proportions of water, emulsifier, and fat. Try increasing your fats, and see if that does the trick. Youll also achieve a thicker texture by using butters or oils that are hard at room temperature instead of liquid oils. Some great choices are Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, or Babassu Oil. Adding some extra beeswax could also help stiffen your lotion, but keep in mind that beeswax doesnt emulsify on its own, and there may be a limit to how much you can add without adding more E-wax or an additional emulsifier, such as lecithin and/or borax. Try experimenting in small batches and see how it goes.
The term NF means national formulary and is added to the titles of certain ingredients that meet certain specifications of the National Formulary, an organization that creates standards for ingredients used in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. The term is often used by suppliers of ingredients, but less often attached on ingredient labels. That doesnt necessarily mean that the wax used in your lotion is not NF, it may just not be labeled that way on the container due its being a sort of in-industry term. Whether or not an emulsifying wax is titled NF should not affect its ability to emulsify in a lotion or cream.
Great article, but what do you mean when you say 1 part Emulsifier, 3 parts Oil / Vegetable Butter, 6 parts Water or Hydrosol. What exactly is a part?? 50mg? 100mg?, 1 cup, 1/2 cap??
Hi Belinda. In this article, I tried to show readers the ratios used to create recipes for lotions and creams. You can use any measurement you like to create your recipe. Measurements by weight are generally preferable. For example, you could use ounces or grams.
HI there, not sure if you are still replying to this post, but i was just wondering if there are any Emulsion formulas that do not contain Borax? Or something else besides Borax? Thank you!!! 🙂
Hi Anastasia. Check out our new Organic Emulsifying Wax. It contains a blend of beeswax, lecithin, and carnauba.
Heres a link: http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/product.asp?product_id=ORGEMULWAX
I love your site and many of the posts, but it disappoints me to see all the logs out there who post natural recipes, but some of them contain toxic ingredients. Borax is an ant poison. I just stopped using castor oil in my products because while I love it, it just doesn’t seem safe enough. I know you’re trying to help but condoning borax,while its “natural” is not very safe! I do love your articles, and it’s not just you, I just wish good recipes weren’t spoiled by this.
Rose Geranium essential oil will also kill ants, yet has therapeutic properties for people. Chocolate is also fine for people to eat, yet is harmful to dogs, and the list goes on and on. Please do not assume that all species share the same anatomy, therefore the same things that are good or bad for each.
Also, while on the subject of borax, many people think that borax and boric acid are the same thing; they are not. They are different chemical compounds. Boric acid’s chemical formula is H3BO3 whereas borax is Na2[B4O5(OH)4]·8H2O. Very different compounds with different effects.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Wishful. Making healthy choices is a very personal decision. Everyone has a different measure of what they consider to be healthy or safe enough for them. The beauty of making handmade skin care products is that you get to decide for yourself what you consider safe enough or healthy enough for you and your family. As natural and DIY skin care becomes more popular, alternatives to ingredients like borax or conventional emulsifying wax are starting to appear. Check out our Organic Emulsifying Wax next time you are on our site. Its a combination of beeswax, lecithin, and carnauba.
Can citric acid be substituted for the borax? I think that some people make that substitution in liquid soaps, but I don’t know if it would work in a lotion.
Hi Jaime. The chemistry going on in a lotion is a little different than whats happening in a liquid soap, so unfortunately subbing citric acid for borax wont work. Borax works as part of the emulsfiers in a lotion recipe. One alternative you might consider would be using a pre-formulated emulsifying wax in place of the borax, beeswax combination.
Just wondering about lecithin and whether you can use granular. I was able to locate some at the bulk store and thought I would try it out. but haven’t as of yet. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
i am wondering if you could shed some light on using some sort of natural preservative in lotions or creams. i have noticed a few of mine even if they are refridgerated turn funky. love your site! thanks
What would you use as a stabilizer and preservative with this (if you want to prolong the life of the product for selling purposes)?
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for visiting The Natural Beauty Workshop. Some preservatives that are commonly used in lotions, creams, and emulsions are Germaben II, Liquid Germall Plus, and Grapefruit Seed Extract. If you are formulating a product for sale, it is highly recommended to have your formulation challenge tested by a professional lab. They can also help you determine the best preservative to use in your recipe.
Mary Helen Leonard
http://www.NaturalBeautyWorkshop.com
http://www.FromNatureWithLove.com
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Oxford CT 06478
Tel: 203-702-2500
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Hi:
I enjoy making natural hand and body creams and I place them in a jar. The problem is, with this hot weather, if I leave the jar on my table for a while it begins to liquify. Should I add more Stearic Acid to harden it, or beeswax. The cream is great and I am very disappointed as I do not feel confident mailing it to anyone as I feel when they receive it, it will be liquid.
Please let me know if you have any advice. Thank you.
Karen
My creams become soft in the Summer weather. It melts and turns to oil. I would like to know, do I need to put more stearic acid to make it thick or what would you suggest.
I don’t think because it’s Summder and the place is hot that my cream should get soft, please advise
Hi Karen. The simplest solution is to store the lotion or cream in your refrigerator between uses. You could definitely add more wax or stearic acid to firm up the recipe, but that will also affect the products texture and slip.
Hi Karen. If you remove the stearic acid and add between .60% to .75% cetyl alcohol, that should eliminate that problem. I’ve been doing this (formulating) for about 25 years. This will work. Give it a try. You can get cetyl alcohol at Hobby Lobby. White wax.
Don’t use Borax on your skin. It is not safe, it is for bug control and cleaning. At this point there is no natural preservative, all are synthetic. Some people claim pink grapefruit but that is also a synthetic made product. If its just for personal use, then just make enough to use in a week and refrigerate. Use an immersion or stick blender instead of a beater and make sure everything is at room temp before mixing and there should be no separation. I only use beeswax and haven’t had issues so far. Add antioxidants like vitamin E and know your oils so if you want a longer lasting lotion then use the fattier oils like coconut instead of ones like grape seed. Hopefully some of the silver products will be found to be a true natural preservative, until then either use the poisen preservatives or make smaller batches.
Thanks very much for the info!
What difference in ratios would you suggest to make a liniment for arthritis. similar to icy hot?
I make my own emulsifying wax, and am imagining an increase of wax and decrease of water would be the key, yes?
Thanks again!
Hi Cliff. I usually suggest starting out with the basic ratio and going from there. You have to be careful about reducing the water phase too much, because that can actually break the emulsion. There needs to be enough water in the formula to get between all of the oil molecules, or the bridge breaks, and the emulsion collapses. I know that sounds a little weird, but its the best way I can think to explain the process. If you want to cream to be thicker, it is sometimes better to add a thickening agent like starch or gum instead of reducing the water.
I am having trouble with stabilizing my water/oil lotion. I currently use E-wax & the same formulation/ingredients. Some days it will be oily/slimy, other days too thin, and it separates. Do I need to add another emulsifier into this to stabilize it more? Looking into guar gum?
Also, I am looking at adding an ingredient to matify. Would silk peptide powder, arrowroot powder or zinc oxide help to get this?
I have a couple of questions. If you whip a cream or lotion too long will the emulsion break? Also, my lotions are always oily and don’t penetrate quickly. What can I use to fix that? I’m also concerned about not using toxic ingredients. Thanks.
Hi Jodi. Homemade lotions always tend to be heavier and more oily than commercial lotions, but you can reduce it slightly by choosing lighter, more non-greasy ingredients, and by incorporating additives like silk peptide powder or starches. Emulsions can break if they are whipped for too long. Of course if you don’t whip long enough, the emulsion won’t stabilize either, so it’s all about finding the right balance, which comes with practice.
Hi Andrea. Adding an additional emulsifier would be a great idea. Try lanolin, or lecithin. The addition of Borax can sometimes help too. Silk Peptide, Zinc, or Arrowroot can be added to facial moisturizers by including them in either the water or oil phase, depending on their solubility. Look up each ingredient for its specific usage rate.
Borax is a natural salt
There are now natural preservatives on the market. Natapres and leucidal-check them out
Christina
“I just stopped using castor oil in my products because while I love it, it just doesn’t seem safe enough” Where are you getting your information? Castor oil is a wonderfully healing oil. Yes, all parts of the plant are poisonous, but not the oil. “Borax is an ant poison”. So is any salt an ant poison.
Coconut oil on its own is very drying, it does not prevent me from using it, I mix it with other oils. I have made moisturizer for 24 years without preservatives because there were never any good, natural choices, now there are from aspen bark, elderberry compounds and the bacillus from kimchee.
FromNature with love carries an organic emulsifying wax you should try out.
Leucidal and Natapres are 2 new preservatives that are natural. Leucidal is the bacterium in the popular Korean food, Kim Chee and natapres is that same bacterium with the addition of a constituent from honeysuckle and one from aspen. Shelf life is supposed to be 1-2 years. They claim to add no smell to your product, but my experience is that they do and I need to add double the scent I used to use in my recipes. Hope this helps
Hi Christina! I am really happy to hear about these new natural preservatives, been searching for some more alternatives!
I wanted to know how exactly do you use Leucidal & Natapres? And do you use them both, or is one sufficient? Do you use them together with other emulsifiers?
Could you give me a sample recipe? Thanks a lot!
I do not see the organic emulsifying wax on your website.
Hi Erin,
Here’s a direct link to the Organic Emulsifying Wax: http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/product.asp?product_id=ORGWAXEMUL
Thank you for the instructions. Is it 10% borax by weight or by volume?
Hi Davey. You can use the ratios in this post to create a lotion formula in either weight or volume measurements. Just make sure to keep your recipe consistent. You can either measure everything by weight or everything by volume, but you shouldn’t use both in the same formula.
Since borax is a natural salt, can you use sea salt instead of borax with beeswax to create an emulsion??
Both Borax and Salt can help soften water and reduce surface tension. This is part of what helps Borax stabilize emulsions, so there is a definitely a chance that your theory could work. However, I don’t know of anyone ever trying this, so it will have to be an experiment. I would suggest giving it a shot. It never hurts to try, after all. Please let us know how it turns out!
Hello
Has there been a new cream and lotion created besides the one here in these. I just became a new subscribed member to your site. Could you send me a simple cream & lotion recipe.. Please
Thanks
Nhutalu
We do have a few other lotion recipes on our blog that you can check out. Here are some links:
Fresh Margarita Body Cream: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2007/12/fresh-margarita.html
Blossom Body Cream: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/02/blossom-body-cr.html
Rainforest Flower Body Cream: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/12/rainforest-flow.html
You might also want to check out the recipes available in our user-submitted Recipe Database: https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/default.asp
I’m having a problem with the emulsifying wax blending or mixing when I make Liquid Dish Soap. It just separates and refuses to blend, what am I doing wrong?
Would it be possible for you to share the recipe you are using with me? It’s hard for me to guess what might be going wrong without seeing the whole picture. I’m not actually familiar with any liquid soap recipes that use Emulsifying Wax in this way. I look forward to learning more about your recipe and hopefully being of some help!
Hi there. I have been making my own moisturizer for a few months now. I have had success with just beeswax. I have 66% waters and 34% oils and have not had separation. I also mix when oils are set and waters are room temperature. I keep in the fridge.
That’s great, Simone. Getting an emulsion to stabilize with just Beeswax can be tricky. Congratulations on a job well done!
Hi there,
All my creams have been oil and butter based and I am now going to try a water/oil or oil/water based facial cream. I have glycerin as my water emulsifier and want to know if candelilla wax alone is sufficient to be used as my oil emulsifier ?
Thanks much !!
Hi Stephanie. In general, plain waxes like Beeswax and Candelilla require the use of Borax and Lecithin in order to emulsify lotion and cream recipes. You could certainly try using the wax on its own, but I think you’ll find more success by including those two additives.
Actually, borax, or sodium borate, is a perfectly natural mineral used for centuries to heal health problems, both internally and externally.
A little research will set you straight.
Drug companies, of course, hate it because it has the potential to shut down their entire, toxic, corrupt industry, so they set about fabricating ‘Danger, Wil Robinson!’ propaganda and influenced (if not directly demanded) certain governments to help spread the propaganda.
Again, a little research will lay out the realities.
Hi Stephanie! Oil/butters + water emulsions can be quite tricky if using the wrong emulsifier. I have been experimenting quite a lot. Some emulsifiers work perfectly fine on their own (given you’ve used them in the right percentage), and some need to be combined with others in order to do their job. I
From experience, the combination of Emulsifying Wax NF (Cetearyl Alcohol) + Cetyl alcohol works well (the ratio is normally between 7-10% of your formula). Olive-M 1000 works well in combination with Cetyl alcohol, as well as on its own (plus, it’s olive-derived, which makes it more natural).
Speaking of natural, lecithin is the only 100% natural emulsifier which works on its own in basic formulations, but only in water/oil emulsions. I personally find it very challenging to work with.
Whatever you end up using, ask the manufacturer about percentages, combinations etc. as many of these details are not explained clearly.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
If I’m looking at a recipe that calls for emulsifying wax, but I want to substitute it for a natural beeswax/Borax/liquid lecithin mix, would I substitute the exact same amount of my mix as the recipe originally called for emulsifying wax?
In general, emulsions work as long as the overall ratio for oils, emulsifiers, and waters is sound. In theory, you should be able to swap out the portion of Emulsifying Wax with an equal portion of Beexwas Lecithin Borax mixture (80% Beeswax, 10% Lecithin, 10% Borax). For example, if a recipe called for 10 grams of Emulsifying Wax you could try using 8 grams Beeswax, 1 gram Borax, and 1 gram Lecithin. Of course, some formulations are more tricky than others and swapping out one emulsifier for another may not always be successful. I’d suggest testing your new formula in a small batch before making a larger amount.
What percentage of wax do you use to your water oil ratio ?
can i use 80 percent beeswax and 20 percent of borax?
You certainly can try experimenting with an 80% Beeswax, 20% Borax combination. I haven’t tried making a lotion with that ratio yet, but I do know that Lecithin is really helpful in stabilizing the emulsion. I wouldn’t recommend skipping it in general, but that doesn’t mean that the emulsion won’t work without it. You’ll just have to give it a shot and see what happens. If you have a chance, it would be great if you could let us know how it works out for you.
thanks for the reply! i am doing this cream for my engineering design process, and i changed my mind in the 80 percent beeswax and 20 percent borax instead, i made it 85 beeswax and 15 borax. it worked well and made a stable emulsion. i just used cacao butter in my cream. THANKS SO MUCH for the help. =D =))
You’re welcome, Josiah! I’m glad that we could help.
Hi Simone, what percentage of beeswax do you use in your 66/34% lotion?
Hi there
I was wondering if there is any way to fix a cream that has separated? I used emulsifying wax.
Thanks!
It’s not usually possible to truly stabilize a cream after the initial emulsion fails, but you may be able to re-mix it as a quick temporary fix. Try warming the mixture gently then whipping it for five to ten minutes. It may separate again, but that might give you a usable texture for a little while.
Hi – I just discovered this, thank you for an amazing resource.
I’m a healthcare professional looking for a recipe that uses all natural butters, oils… no borax or anything synthesized for extremely chemical sensitive folks.
Is there a lotion (not a harder butter) recipe on this site I could try? Something with the creamy consistency of a lotion. Alternately, can you recommend anything, even perhaps one of the softer more spreadable and non-greasy body butters?
Your help and resource is immensely appreciated.
Marie
http://OurNutritionKitchen.com
I would recommend checking out some whipped butter recipes. Body butters that are whipped as they cool end up having a creamy, spreadable texture while still providing the intense conditioning found in a balm. To cut down on the greasiness of your formulations try adding a starch such as Cornstarch or Oat Starch or Silk Powder at around 3-5% of the total formulation. Check out our complete recipe list here: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/the-natural-beauty-workshops-recipe-article-guide.html
Thank you so much for such a helpful blog!!!
Hi there,
I have just had a sulphur moisturiser cream fail its stability testing due to seperation at 45 degrees. Everything else was fine. They have advised me to put in an emulsifier such as stearic acid and/or cetyl alcohol to bond the sulphur and make it more stable. Do you have any advise you can give me about how/when to add it to the mixture and what amount I should use. Do you have any other ideas which could help me solve the problem?
The cream is made with shea butter (whipped), sweet almond oil, flowers of sulphur powder, pure essential oils and vitamin E.
The shea butter is whipped, not melted, except for a small amount which I melt in order to mix the sulphur powder.
Many thanks
Yvonne
Can I use Carnauba wax to thicken organic concealer…I need it to be thicker to cover better..
Hi Yvonne,
I am very interested in your recipe as mine is very similar. I do not add any oil as the shea butter is already rich in vit E and other oils but I do add flowers of sulphur and essential oils.
The flowers need to be heated and strained into the shea. You will notice all the gritty bits stay behind in the sieve.
I also prepare my shea the way you do but am going to try bees wax to prevent melting at room temp and am also looking at adding borax with that (but don’t won’t to use water)
It would be great to chat.
Janine
Glad that you are enjoying it. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Yvonne. This sounds like a rather advanced formulation issue so I’m not sure how much I can help – but I can tell you that emulsions usually work best when both the oil and water phases are heated. If you are emulsifying with the shea butter at room temperature that could be the problem. If you end up needing more help with this I would suggest talking with a private label cosmetics lab. They are experts at stabilizing emulsions and shelf life issues.
Hi Arlo. It really depends on your formula, but in general, yes. You can often use Carnauba Wax as a thickener.
when making a moisturizing cream if i need an emulsifier so that i can add something water based…
do I have to use water in my final product?
I need 15g of beeswax to make a moisturizer, but I want to use emulsifying wax NF instead. How much should I use? I’m a vegan.
Hi Christy. If you’d like an alternative to making lotions that include water you might want to try making a Whipped Body Butter instead. Our article on Making Whipped Body Butters is a great place to start. https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2013/02/how-to-make-whipped-body-butters-1.html
Hi Debbie. I would try replacing the Beeswax at an equal rate to start. Emulsifying Wax is very easy to work with so it should work well as a replacement. If there are other additives (like Lecithin or Borax) in the recipe you may also be able to leave those out.
Hi Simone S. …
My queries are well after you posted that you’ve had great success w/ your lotion, specifically that you mixed the oils and water WHEN BOTH ARE ROOM TEMP.
I just made my 2nd batch of lotion, and it pretty much separated after the 1st day, and looks like cottage cheese. However, my 1st batch took 2 wks to separate, and still looked like lotion. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the temperatures of the oils and water specifically that time (I must remember to take improved notes!). If anything, the results of my 1st batch is preferable!
Pls comment — MANY, MANY THANKS! (I don’t really wish to add emulsifiers)
OR – can anyone else comment on Simone’s method, or how to regain my first result?
LLV
Hello, So glad I found your lovely site! I am really excited about your Whipped Tamanu & Shea Butter recipe. But I just can’t afford the silk powder. What will happen if I leave it out? Is there any other natural item that I could substitute?
Thank you.
Hi Pat. The Silk Powder in the Whipped Tamanu Shea Butter recipe helps to impart a silky after-feel on the skin. It’s a totally optional ingredient in the formula and can be omitted completely or substituted with a starch such as Arrowroot Powder, Oat Starch, or Corn Starch. Either way I think you will still love the finished butter!
I am very interested to making my own face creams/lotions. Where do you purchase your basics from. I would like to keep everything organic and natural as possible. Trusted suppliers?
Thanks!
Trista
Hello there!
What a great blog and website. Very helpful :-). I am working on my own skincare line based on argab oil. I would like to contact you for maybe a business talk?
Looking forward hearing from you,
Omar
Hello,
What is the ratio of Emulsifying wax and cetyl alcohol ? Should I mix 50/50 of each?
Thanks
Hi Trista. This blog is owned and operated by one of the country’s leading suppliers, From Nature With Love. We’ve been supplying natural ingredients since 1997 and pride ourselves on only offering the highest quality products while providing outstanding customer service. We would love for you to come and explore our selection at http://www.FromNatureWithLove.com. Our blog readers can also enjoy a special discount of 7% off on qualifying items using the code NBWS4277. If you have any questions about any of the ingredients please feel free to reach out anytime.
Hi Omar,
Thanks so much for visiting The Natural Beauty Workshop. We don’t offer any business consultation at this time but I would be happy to point you toward some resources that you may find helpful. The following links offer a wealth of insight into launching your own skin care business.
This article from our resource library covers some of the basic steps in launching a business:
https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/reprint/inhomeskincarebusiness.asp
The Indie Business Network is an organization that offers support and education to small businesses. It also offers discounted liability insurance to its members: http://www.indiebusinessnetwork.com/
The Private Label Insider blog is a great source for information on the business side of operating a skin care business:
http://www.privatelabelinsider.com/private-label-insider-blog/
I hope these links will help get you started. If you have any specific questions along the way please feel free to reach out and we will do our best to help. Thanks again for stopping by the blog!
Hi Charity. Emulsifying Wax already contains cetyl alcohol so you shouldn’t have to add the ingredients separately. This is what makes Emulsifying Wax such an easy emulsifier to work with. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of the formulation.
i dont want to use emulsifying wax. i want to use lecithin, beeeswax, borax…i tried once but doesnt worked…so pls suggests any other alternatives
if possible pls tell me any natural preservatives & antioxidants….
Hello,
Where can I buy Borax? Thank you!
Borax can usually be found in the laundry products section of most grocery stores. It is a common ingredient for cleaning and washing clothes.
Hi Yatin. Emulsions, like lotions and creams, can be a little tricky and sometimes it takes a little practice before making them comes easily. The two very best emulsifiers to use are Emulsifying Wax or a combination of Beeswax, Lecithin, and Borax. While you may be able to find alternatives with some research, I can’t personally vouch for how well they work or how easy they are to use. The two types of emulsifiers I discuss in this post are, in my experience, the easiest and most consistent. I would recommend trying an established recipe that uses the Beeswax, Lecithin, and Borax combination and practicing with it until you get the hang of creatinf stable emulsions. After that you can move on to formulating your own recipes. Here is a link to a recipe that uses that combination as an emulsifier. The essential oils it mentions are optional. http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/recipe.asp?recipe_id=246
I am going to try one or two of you body butter recipes. They look great. Besides cornstarch or oat starch, is there another that I could use? Tapioca for example?
Do you have a recipe for a oil in water emulsion? I’m interested in making an everyday type of lotion. Just want a jumping off point rather than trying to apply the above article on my own. =)
I just made a green tea cream with aloe gel, beeswax, coconut oil and pumpkin seed oil. It came out great. I would have liked a creamier consistency but didn’t want to ruin the batch by trying to add more aloe. I did ruin my lavender lotion, too much hydrosol with the aloe gel. I want an emulsifier that is organic. Is there an organic borax to use? Thanks.
Hi I’m trying to make my own ‘unorthodox water based’pomade. These new pomades at work like classic oil based. But are using emulsified wax to make it much easier to wash out.
Wondering if u knew any recipes for pomades like this?
Hi Rene. Borax is a type of mineral salt. While it isn’t available as a certified organic ingredient it is generally considered natural. The blog, Crunchy Betty, has a really helpful post about Borax and her concerns on using it here: http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not
Unfortunately there are not a whole lot of natural alternatives when it comes to emulsifiers. My personal favorite emulsifier other than the beeswax, borax, lecithin combination is Emulsifying Wax – a soy wax pre-blended with cetyl alcohol. It is not natural, but it is non-toxic and very easy to work with.
I hope this helps, Rene. If any other readers have a suggestion for a borax substitute please leave a reply!
Water soluble pomades are usually made with a lot of heavy-duty emulsifiers, silicones, and preservatives so they are a little outside of our wheel-house. I don’t know if I have personally ever seen an all-natural water-soluble pomade, but finding one would be the first step toward cracking this code. Take a close look at the ingredients they are using and see if you can figure out the ratios and techniques they use to achieve the final product. Good luck! If you come up with a recipe please let us know. We would love a guest post!
Can I use cetyl alcohol alone as an emulsifier or should it be paired with another one?
Thank you! My goal today is to make a base for a diy foundation. I bought the sample makeup pack from The All Natural Face. I need to mix the minerals with a ‘lotion’ to find my foundation color. I was doing research… finding different recipes but you give the ratio and why. Love it!
Hi Alicia. Usually cetyl alcohol is used as a support ingredient to another emulsifier. For example, it is used along with a plant-based vegetable wax in Emulsifying Wax to make emulsions. It will probably not work unless it is used in chorus with wax and possibly other ingredients such as lecithin, borax, or salts.
You’re welcome, Missy. I’m so glad we could help!
What a great page! Not just the original article, but all the comments, questions, and answers.
I like to make creams with about 2/3 oils/fats and 1/3 water, and you indicate the beeswax borax lecithin is better for. Oil in water rather than water in oil. Can you recommend a similar natural emulsion that isgood for WIO?
Hi,
This article was very informational. I’m starting a lip gloss line and I’m still trying to make my glosses a little thicker (sorta goopy). Is the emulsifying was a good option? Or an alternative to beeswax? My products are 100% vegan.
Thanks!
I know this is a super old thread but I’m hoping someone can help! I used witch hazel, oils and added a bit of lecithin and a splash of xanthan gum and arrowroot powder. I know have what looks and feels like a creamy, rich lotion but this doesn’t sound right correct? I thought I needed something like a wax to thicken it but when I added the xanthan it gave it a beautiful consistency. How can I know if this will hold? Is there like a lotion stress test? I’m making gifts and would love your input before sending them out.
Can emulsifiers be added thin enough to be used in a spray bottle? I have a mixture of liquids and oils and I need them to bind and be distributed evenly from the spray bottle?
Hello Lauren, Polysorbate 20 can help oil to bind with water. It’s important to note that it can leave your finished product cloudy.
Thanks for the advice on how to make a stable emulsion that has fats and waters. I might just buy some first to see if I like it. Then I’ll consider getting stuff to make it on my own.
It was our pleasure, Chris. Thank you for your feedback. Let us know if we can be of any help during your testing.
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Thank you for your support. We’re glad to hear you’re enjoying our blog’s content.
Hi Kelly,
I am wondering if you could suggest the ratio? I am using Olive oil, beeswax and rose water with Lonolin as an emulsifier.
Hello, thank you for reaching out! The article suggests a basic formulation of 1 part Emulsifier, 3 parts Oil/Butter, 6 parts Water/Hydrosol. As for specific percentages, we encourage you test as we do not carry Lanolin and have not tested with it.
Hi I wanted some advice on making breast milk lotion. I tried a recipe which was 3oz Breastmilk, 3oz grape seed oil. 1tablespoon beeswax and 3 drops lavender essential oil. This split, which now I understand could be due to my ratio, should I have done 1.5oz grape seed oil? Or should I add in liquid lecithin to help combine? Also should I add grapefruit seed extract to prevent mould? I’m new to all this and want to choose natural products as it’s for use on my baby. Thank you for all your advice! Your article is so helpful! Xx