Lotions

Tips & techniques: Testing and adjusting the pH of a emulsion with a pH meter

by

Welcome to this detailed page on how to test emulsions – like lotions and conditioners – with a pH meter! If you’d like to read a longer post with even more information, you can find it here – Acids, bases, and pH – oh my! Part four: Testing our products with pH meters!  If you’d like...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Emulsifiers: Montanov™ 68 MB (INCI: Cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl glucoside) – UPDATED!

by

Montanov 68 (aka at Sugarmulse or Glucomulse, might be Vegetal 68) is another liquid crystal emulsifier we can find at our suppliers. The INCI is cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl glucoside. It is an ECOcert emulsifier, which means it’s naturally compliant. Its suggested usage is 1% to 5% in the oil phase, and I’ve seen it...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Tips & techniques: Why it’s ill advised to use Aloe Vera Gel in emulsions!

by

I see questions about how to use Aloe Vera Gel in emulsions in every space online in which we discuss lotions, and I thought this topic needed its own post, so let’s take a moment to learn more about Aloe Vera, Aloe Vera Gel, and why I don’t suggest using the latter in emulsions. What...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

When lotions go wrong! (Updated 2023)

by
A collage of diagrams demonstrating different ways a lotion can fail. The top image is of a successful lotion, with micelles containing yellow oil floating in a sea of blue water.

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...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Q&A: Is Incroquat BTMS-50 a “true emulsifying wax”? Does it create less stable emulsions than e-wax?

by

In this post – Creating a vanilla and cornsilk protecting and conditioning facial moisturizer (part eleven) – Using Incroquat BTMS-50 as the emulsifier, the formula – Olena asked, Hi! I recently read a comment in a Facebook group where an admin wrote that Incroquat BTMS-50 is not a true emulsifying wax compared to Polawax, Emulsifing...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here