When lotions go wrong! (Updated 2023)

Original post shared 2009. Slowly updating it for 2023 with new information and diagrams. This is definitely a work in progress as there’s so much more to share!  At one time or another, we’ve all experienced epic lotion failure and asked ourselves what we did wrong. We call it separation, but do you know why...

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Weekend Wondering: What is the “dump and heat” method for creating lotions?

In the September Q&A on Patreon, Allison asked: I recently read an article on the blog for Majestic Mountain Sage where they advocate what they refer to as a “dump and heat” method for creating lotions, creams, or conditioners.  I have read quite a bit about creating emulsions and have never seen any instructions that...

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Weekend Wonderings: Is emulsification always immediate?

In this post, Weekday Wonderings: Figuring out the melting point, Melanie asks: Will emulsification always be immediate? I made your “pirate” beard conditioner last night and at first when i just poured it and and stirred it looked emulsified though yellowish. Then oil drops started forming. It wasn’t until I blended it with the hand mixer...

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Weekend Wonderings: How do I figure out if I can use some ingredients as emulsifiers? Why add cetyl alcohol to a recipe with e-wax?

HOW DO I FIGURE OUT IF I CAN USE TWO EMULSIFIERS TOGETHER?In this post, How do we make substitutions with our emulsifiers, Mette asks: I have some questions which I hope you can help me with. I am trying to make a baby lotion and I have Sucrose Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate and Cetearyl Alcohol on my hands. As...

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What do you want to know? Is there a limit to what we can include in the cool down phase?

Marjo asks quite a few questions on the What do you want to know post, and I’m going to do my best to answer them! (You’ve got quite the curious mind, Marjo! It’s great!) What are the boundaries of the additives phase? I mean, how far can or should you go in the cooling phase...

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