Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Mixing o/w and w/o emulsions?

  • Mixing o/w and w/o emulsions?

    Posted by AliciaN on October 21, 2020 at 7:05 am

    Is it silly to combine two emulsions together? will it be unstable over time?

    AliciaN replied 3 years, 6 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Pharma

    Member
    October 21, 2020 at 6:19 pm
    You mean mixing two finished products?
    Well, at first glance it is silly. After second thoughts it may give an entirely new product if you’re lucky, use the right mixing technique, and at least one of the two allows for cold emulsification.
    Chances for failure are way more likely than for success and that’s just based on physical possibility of mixing, not long-term stability, sensorial profile, or effects.
  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    October 21, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    there are ways to formulate 3-phase emulsions (o/w/o or w/o/w) but it’s a highly specialist technique, and not generally necessary for cosmetics and toiletries

  • AliciaN

    Member
    October 22, 2020 at 1:52 am

    Thanks @Bill_Toge and @Pharma for your inputs!

    Yes, mixing 2 finished products. I’m trying to create a rinse-off body scrub, but with o/w emulsions i find that it rinses off too cleanly with no residue. I want an occlusive layer left behind, which I achieved when i mixed in a small percentage of a w/o from a previous project. Off the bat it looks really stable, i guess i’ll only know how it’ll hold up against time :)

    Alicia

  • Pharma

    Member
    October 22, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Ah, I see. Why not just add some ‘re-fattening’ ingredient such as a plain oil, glyceryl oleate, polyglyceryl-3 oleate or stuff like that?

  • AliciaN

    Member
    October 24, 2020 at 6:31 am

    Thanks for pointing me in that direction, @Pharma. I’ll have a look, much appreciated!
    Alicia

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