Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Tallow making my skin…. dry? Confused.

  • Tallow making my skin…. dry? Confused.

    Posted by Dennis on November 28, 2020 at 10:16 am


    Straight to the point: Applying tallow to the skin in the evening and then in the morning, after a gentle normal handwash, the hands became really dry.

    From all I’ve read online, the fatty acids in tallow should be very skin compatible. What is going on here?

    I formulated a tallow cream which I am going to share here:

    Ingredient Concentration
    Water phase
    durosoft SF (PG4-O) 1.50%
    water 60.7500%
    carbamide 5.0000%
    xanthangum 1.2500%
    allantoin 0.5000%
    phenoxyethanol EHG 1.0000%
    Oil phase
    durosoft SF (PG4-O) 1.50%
    tallow 20.0000%
    white bee’s wax 2.0000%
    squalane 5.00%
    perfume / essential oils 0.50%

    I first thought it was because the emulsifier made the fats wash away more easily so I also applied pure tallow on my hands, feet and body. The same thing happened. The skin actually got more dry than it would if I had not applied any tallow to it. This occurs with home made tallow as well.

    I have searched the web and I can not find any other anecdotes regarding this issue.

    Another interesting note:
    I know what you are thinking, Durosoft PKSG should be used instead at the water/oil ratio but I just experimented with this one and it has actually stayed emulsified for 8 months. I have made an after shave cream with tallow and Durosoft PKSG (new name PG4L-SG) too and it makes my face dry too.

    pattsi replied 3 years, 3 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • ketchito

    Member
    November 30, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    @Dennis I believe this can also be caused by irritation from some ingredient in your formula. Can I ask why are you using carbamide? I’ve synthesized it in the lab while studying, but seems a bit strange to see it in a cosmetic formula. 

  • Dennis

    Member
    December 1, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    @ketchito
    Thank you for your response.

    I found out what the problem was!
    I had also used a 20% carbamide solution on my hands prior to this happening. My skin was exfoliating. The flaking and feeling of having dry skin has not occured since then and I have used the formula many times on my skin since starting this thread and it has only improved my skin. Thank god I found out what the problem was.

    I also want to add that the carbamide concentration in the above formula can be reduced to 3 or 2,5% if it is being used very frequently.

    “Carbamide(urea)-containing creams are used as topical dermatological products to promote rehydration of the skin.” - Wikipedia

    It is present in some creams prescribed by physicians in Sweden.

  • pattsi

    Member
    December 3, 2020 at 6:29 am

    20% urea is prescription dose - alone or in combination with other drugs for Keratolytic effect used in Psoriasis and other hyperkeratosis lesions.
    You probably be fine with 5% in your moisturizer.

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