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Formula Review Request // Body Lotion
Hi
I’ve been reading these forums for a while now and the discussions have been so useful in helping me on my journey to developing some skincare products for myself - I’m hoping someone can give me some further advice and pointers with the below recipe. I’ve tried to be as detailed as possible with the ingredients and method along with the specific issues/characteristics I am trying to change. I am going to engage with a local cosmetics chemist in the near future but before I do I want to do some further testing and experimenting.
The Formula: Body Lotion
Designed for to be a lightweight lotion (Thicker than a facial lotion) that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a tacky feeling. The following formula seems to achieve this but I do have a number of issues that I’d like to address.
Oil PhaseIngredient INCI % Unrefined Apricot Oil Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil 2.60% Unrefined Thistle Oil Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil 2.00% Unrefined Macadamia Nut Oil Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil 1.70% Caprylic Capric Triglycerides Caprylic Capric Triglycerides 7.00% Filtered & Deodorised Shea Butter Butyrospermum Parkii Butter 1.00% Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol 1.25% VE Emulsifier Glyceryl Stearate 1.50% Water Phase
Ingredient INCI
%
Distilled Water Aqua 66.00% Cucumber Glycerol Extract Glycerin, Aqua, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract 2.00% Gluconolactone Gluconolactone 0.50% MF Emulsifier Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate 3.00% Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum 0.30% Cooling Phase
Ingredient INCI
%
Preservative 12 Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin 1.00% Refined Hemp Seed Oil Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil 2.00% Vitamin E Oil (Mixed Tocopherols) Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil 0.50% Matrixyl 3000 Glycerin, Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 1.00% EcoSilk Isoamyl Laurate, Isoamyl Cocoate 5.00% Co2 Arctic Oat Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinaluse Leaf Extract 0.15% Saccharide Isomerate (Pentavitin) Saccharide Isomerate, Aqua, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate 1.00% Other Ingredients N/A 0.5%
Method
1) Heat the oil and water phases separately to 75c
2) Combine oil and water phases using a high shear rotor-stator and homogenise until fully emulsified
3) Mix at medium speed with a 4-leaf propeller as it begins to cool
4) Swap over to a low speed paddle stirrer after 15/20 mins and stir until below 40c when I then add the cooling phase ingredients
5) Continue to stir slowly with a paddle until cool
6) Adjust PH if needed (80% Lactic acid solution or 10% l-arginine solution)
7) Leave covered for 24 hours before bottlingThe Issues
1) Soaping - When I first tested this formula without the EcoSilk I found that it soaped on application more than I liked. After research I stumbled across EcoSilk and tested at different % and landed on 5%. This produces a really nice skin feel and it has reduced the soaping somewhat (Side effect is that it smells bad (See question 2). I understand that I could use Dimethicone as an alternative which would be more effective and require a lower %. Would you all agree with this? Are there any more natural alternatives to fit current ‘no silicone’ trends? I’ve not used Dimethicone before, would I just be replacing one odour causing ingredient for another?2) The Smell - It doesn’t smell great to be honest and it certainly develops over the days after formulating. Having smelt all of the ingredients individually and having run multiple tests excluding various suspects, I believe it’s coming from the Matrixyl 3000 and the EcoSilk. I can’t remove the Matrixyl 3000 as it’s a key active. If I successfully replace the EcoSilk (See question 1) the smell might reduce but I think it will still remain to some degree, how can I cover up/neutralise it? I’m trying my best to avoid essential oils or synthetic fragrances, not because I have an issue with them but others do. I’ve tried hydrosols but this was hit and miss. To be honest I think creating fragrances is outside of my skillset and too costly for me to have a bespoke one created. My research has pointed me to either Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin or just Cyclodextrin as smell masking alternatives but I really can’t find much information on how to use these and at what concentration. If these are a good solutions does anyone have any advice and possibly know where to source these in the UK/EU? If not does anyone else have any other suggestions?
3) Cost - I’m aiming for a premium final product but are there any simple changes that could reduce my costs whilst maintaining performance? Could I remove or replace a particular ingredient with a cheaper alternative? Are any of the key actives being included at excessive concentrations?Let me know if anything is unclear - I’m relatively new to all of this so any constructive criticism will also be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
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