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Question: BTMS-25 and products not emulsifying

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Kathy wrote to me to ask why a recipe similar to this one wasn’t working for her. I knew right away that BTMS-25 was the culprit! If you’re using Incroquat BTMS as your emulsifier, please ensure you’re using BTMS-50 – not BTMS-25 – as your emulsifier! BTMS-25 contains 25% behentrimonium methosulfate, the active ingredient in...

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Question: Are the ingredients I mention on this blog safe to use in beauty products? (updated)

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Anonymous wrote in this post: Are phosphate esters derived from chemical or organic? Are they safe in beauty products? As there are really two questions here, let’s take a look at each one. The quick answers are no, and yes. From the post: Phosphate esters are a category of anionic surfactants that include alkyl phosphates and...

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Question: Are floral waters and hydrosols the same?

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What a week! The pickling cucumbers aren’t at their peak yet, so another week goes by without us making some awesome kosher dills! But we did get to be on the TV (the interview isn’t on the site yet, but I’ll link to it when it is!), and we had a great class with the...

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Question: What does active mean in our surfactants?

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Ruth wrote to ask me this question: What does it mean, when a ingredient says it is 25% or 30% or etc. active? Do you use them differently? Depending on the active %? Great question, Ruth! We see this mostly with surfactants in that the ingredient contains 25% of the active ingredient – something like cocamidopropyl betaine...

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Questions: Preserving scrubs

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Just so you know, this scrub uses melt & pour soap and is from this challenge (click for the post to find the recipes) as Petra and I tried to duplicate a Lush product. I used this mold from Voyageur – click here – one I use for a lot of things! In this post,...

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