04-06-2018, 07:24 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-06-2018, 07:30 AM by surferjoe2007.)
https://www.lotioncrafter.com/
There are other sources too.
Lotion or conditioner
Emulsifying wax NF
20% any oil(s), or less. Vegetable oil works, or you can get better ones.
0.5% xanthan gum, or 0-1% depending on desired thickness
Optional: Leucidal Liquid SF (natural but not 100% effective preservative; non-SF is even less reliable), or a chemical preservative
Any essential oils or extracts or other ingredients you want.
Water, balance. Or 100 times better is fresh aloe, straight from the leaf. Squeeze or blend and strain, such as through a cheese cloth. Bottled gel isn't the same, nor even lotion you made with fresh aloe more than a week ago.
Melt wax over low heat. Add oil and xanthan gum while it melts. Stir until gum is free of clumps. Add water or aloe and warm and stir until wax melts again. Turn off heat. Keep stirring occasionally as it cools. If it separates, warm it up again, turn off heat again, and stir more this time. If using a preservative, wait until it reaches 125F or below before adding. If using aloe, add little by little and don't let it get too hot but don't let it separate either (e.g., from rapid cooling without stirring). Refrigerate for 1-2 weeks. 1 week if using aloe, preferably within 3 days, and don't bother with the preservative because it won't remain potent either way. Likewise with other fresh plants. If using a preservative it may last months or years without refrigeration, but Leucidal is a little iffy and many ingredients can degrade within a few months if not sooner. Refrigeration will greatly extend this time. The surest way is to refrigerate, use it soon, keep rebuying ingredients, and refrigerate any natural ingredients you plan on holding for more than a few months. Even if they're dry and don't spoil.
Plain oil works too and needs no preservatives. However you may only add other oils to it (such as essential oils), and you must remember to use much less and spread it thin. You still often want to refrigerate anything that won't be used within a few months. Plain aloe is wonderful too of course, or aloe followed by oil or a lotion.
There are other sources too.
Lotion or conditioner
Emulsifying wax NF
20% any oil(s), or less. Vegetable oil works, or you can get better ones.
0.5% xanthan gum, or 0-1% depending on desired thickness
Optional: Leucidal Liquid SF (natural but not 100% effective preservative; non-SF is even less reliable), or a chemical preservative
Any essential oils or extracts or other ingredients you want.
Water, balance. Or 100 times better is fresh aloe, straight from the leaf. Squeeze or blend and strain, such as through a cheese cloth. Bottled gel isn't the same, nor even lotion you made with fresh aloe more than a week ago.
Melt wax over low heat. Add oil and xanthan gum while it melts. Stir until gum is free of clumps. Add water or aloe and warm and stir until wax melts again. Turn off heat. Keep stirring occasionally as it cools. If it separates, warm it up again, turn off heat again, and stir more this time. If using a preservative, wait until it reaches 125F or below before adding. If using aloe, add little by little and don't let it get too hot but don't let it separate either (e.g., from rapid cooling without stirring). Refrigerate for 1-2 weeks. 1 week if using aloe, preferably within 3 days, and don't bother with the preservative because it won't remain potent either way. Likewise with other fresh plants. If using a preservative it may last months or years without refrigeration, but Leucidal is a little iffy and many ingredients can degrade within a few months if not sooner. Refrigeration will greatly extend this time. The surest way is to refrigerate, use it soon, keep rebuying ingredients, and refrigerate any natural ingredients you plan on holding for more than a few months. Even if they're dry and don't spoil.
Plain oil works too and needs no preservatives. However you may only add other oils to it (such as essential oils), and you must remember to use much less and spread it thin. You still often want to refrigerate anything that won't be used within a few months. Plain aloe is wonderful too of course, or aloe followed by oil or a lotion.