Wow, I am so excited to begin a journey in sharing some knowledge with my followers and readers!
Today, Let's begin with understanding of several different types of natural skincare products that you can make and it is important to understand the differences between them. The three main types are:
• Oil-based, anhydrous products ( examples. balms and butters that don't contain water)
• Water-based products (examples. toners and spritzers)
• Emulsions contain both oil and water (examples. creams and lotions).
Oil-based products (anhydrous products) - are a blend of oil-soluble ingredients. They don't contain water or water-soluble ingredients.
Oil-soluble ingredients include:
~ Carrier oils such as jojoba oil, roship oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil
~ Butters such as shea butter, kokum butter, mango butter, cocoa butter
~ Waxes such as emulsifying wax, beeswax
~ Essential oils, EO
Water-based products - are a blend of water-soluble ingredients.
Water-soluble ingredients include:
~ Hydrosols / also known as flower water
~ Water H2O
~ Glycerin
~ Botanical extracts such as Chamomile botanical extract ~ Tinctures
You can't mix oil-soluble and water-soluble ingredients together unless with the help of either a solubilizer or emulsifier.
Therefore, if you wish to add essential oils to a toner etc. you can either use a solubilizer or you can shake the product vigorously before.
It is very important to know that oil-based products don't require a preservative because they are not prone to microbial contamination. However, you should avoid allow these products to come into contact with water as this can contaminate them, leading to product spoilage. Please also be aware that oils are prone to oxidation, which will cause them to go rancid. You may add antioxidant to these products, which will slow down the process of oxidation, and extend their shelf life.
Water-based products on the other hand, are prone to microbial contamination, therefore it is necessary to add a preservative to prevent them spoiling and ensure a reasonable shelf of life.
Emulsions - are a blend of oil and water. The emulsifying agent helps to bind the oil and water together. Emulsions like water-based products, do also need a preservative to protect the product against microbial contamination and waterborne bacteria. Antioxidants can also be added to the product to help prolong the shelf life but it is not to replace the needed preservative.
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PS: The above information is for personal use ONLY.
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