Antioxidant and Preservative Use in Natural Skin Care
Q – Yes I did get it in good time, thank you for inquiring.
Actually I was also wondering if I could ask you a few things about the vitamin E t-50 and the optithen because I am hoping to at some point sell some of the creams I’ve been making.
Through my research I have heard mixed advice on when to add the antioxidant to the emulsion, before the oils are heated or to the emulsion after it has cooled to 50′ or less? What would you advise with the vitamin E t-50 that you stock? I have been storing my oils and butters in the fridge over the last few days due to the humidity would you recommend this all the time?
Also I am using optithen at 1% in the cool down faze, how long can I expect my products to last based on this. I prefer to use the gentlest form of preservative but do not want to risk any bacteria growth in my products do you think you will ever stock Neopein or biopein?
Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
G.
I always add anything that could be heat sensitive after it has cooled (at the last moment before it becomes impracticle to mix etc.) That includes anti oxidants such as vitamin e, it is heat senstive, as well as preservatives and any delicate additives.
I also add nutritive oils after the other oils instead of mixing them all together. (I do two containers, one with the more stable oils and one with the less stable/nutritive oils adding the nutritive ones last)
Storing your oils and butters in the fridge will prolong their shelf life. You can store your oils in the freezer as well. You can find more info here Do I Need to Refridgerate My Oils?
Preservation always depends on many factors – recipe/ingredients/ratios, cleanliness/sterilization, temps and conditions when making can even be a factor so there is never any guarantee although for the most part I think the norm is that a preservative will be effective for about 1 year.
I think that challenge testing is always a good idea before selling. As I said, there are always variables, but at least this way you are sure that the preservative system and ratio you are using will work with your recipe.
I don’t plan to stock Neopein or Biopein, but I do have Suprapein, which is the latest in the series. I have posted about new Suprapein sizes available – smaller and bigger – and right now any order will receive a bonus pack of Natramulse™ as well.
Hope that helps! Jan
[tags]making natural skin care[/tags]
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Aug 17, 2007
I would like to order some nutramulse, as my lotion keeps separating–but unsure of how to use it–should I add it to the oil/wax mixture, or the water mixture?
Aug 21, 2007
Hi Mangomary :0)
It is melted and added in the oil phase. I melt it first, then anything that is also hard like stearic acid if I am using it and down the line from hardest to softest, I find it mixes better that way and makes the melt time for the softer items less (the less exposure of nutrative ingredients to heat the better where possible, IMHO)
HTH
Janice