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Perry, I have not called it repelling….I think there is a difference between mosquito lotion, and mosquito repelling lotion.  Am I wrong about this?

Perry said:

If you’re not using DEET, you shouldn’t be calling it a mosquito lotion. 

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Cafe33, the last batch I made…I added ROE and dl panth, as that was about the only two antioxi’s I had on the bench…. I think I will get some Vit E, and toss that in there as well.  (The E that I have is too expensive…with CoQ10 and squalene.)
So far that last batch is look’n good…. I have it in a clear bottle sitting in the window….as I do will all my batches…

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Should probably start a new topic….but let me toss this out there… Typically I make ‘reasonably natural’ lotions that are super light…and non-greasy…simply by selecting oils that are….non-greasy.  On my mosquito lotion…not only am I using the typical….EO’s….but also using only carrier oils that are thought to repel…ie: Karanja, Pracaxy, Andiroba, Soy, etc…  I am ending up with a product that has a little greasier feeling than I like… But I want to keep those oils….since the product (personal testing only) is 100% effective for more than 1 hour.  What (if anything) can I add…to make oily oils feel less oily?   …..Hehehe….and prefer something reasonably natural….  

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Cafe33, I realize….the word ‘Natural’ … can be fight’n words….hehehe….so I have taken to the term….reasonably natural…hehehe…no one argues with me.  

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chemicalmatt, thanx for the comment…I did some searching and am interested in that.  Since I will be buying a small quantity (found a seller of small amounts, even the Natural version)…. But I did not find anything in regards to formulation….inclusion rate.  Typically when I add ingredients…I use % of total formula….so if you can give me some info on inclusion rate, please specify…. inclusion rate of entire lotion…. or percentage based on just the essential oils… 
Thanx!

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Gene, Thanks for tossing me a comment.

After I posted… I got an email from Tree to tub, offering a FREE bottle of their new body wash….hehehe…I guess that will be the first one I test!  

Hehehe….I know about the ‘leftovers’… I think I have a 100 bottles of lotion laying around!

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Cafe33 thank you for your insight.  Couple of q’s….sometimes multiple modes of action…(example….several types of fixative) work synergistically…and sometimes it is just stupid repetition.  Regarding fixatives and essential oils…. would multiple fixatives be redundant, or synergistic? …. (I am sure the answer will include something to the effect of…depends how each works… So if you could list a couple that would work synergistically…that would be helpful… )

Regarding Aerosil 200…. haven’t done my long drawn out study yet….but in my 15 min preview….I saw no mention of ‘fixative’ as a feature.  I realize that products can be used in many ways… but would you consider it common knowledge/practice in the cosmetic industry… Aerosil 200 is being used as a fixative in leave-on products? 

I also discovered on my workbench….I had PPG-20 Menthyl Glucose Ether…. Any thoughts on this product as a fixative? 

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Avick , regarding the Benzyl Benzoate, do you know if this can be used as a sole solvent for Vanillin?  I had heard that BB and B Alcohol in a 50/50 blend was an effective solvent for Vanillin.  I would like to minimize the ingredients, so if BB by itself was a solvent, and ALSO gave me some ‘fixative’ aspects…that would be a stone that killed many birds at once.

Love to hear your thoughts….or anyone else with some insight on the topic.

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Thank you Avick, your answer was very helpful.  I had come across coumarin in my research, and after further review, my interest is perked.  Do you have any idea was the inclusion rate would be?  A quick scan of ebay/amazon shows about $8/ounce.  Not sure my regular (small) suppliers are going to carry this.

Thank You.

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I have Benzyl benzoate on hand, but don’t know the use rate for a leave on lotion.
And I could get Glucam P 20, from one of my suppliers.

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timcan said:

Thank you all so much for your replies. I emailed them asking about minimum order quantity but received no reply, though I was using gmail.

Will create a business email, address and contact them again.

I am needing to also create a business email….let me know if you find a FREE avenue to get this done.  Go Daddy…. wants to charge me monthly for this service!  

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maria said:

Pritty much for me.  For instance if you have Sal butter in your formula, you cannot ignore its specific 40+% of stearic acid content, so different form other butters.

Maria, I use some Cupuacu, and it also is high in stearic…. makes for a nice thickener with great label appeal.  

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Marketing….   You can charge more for face creams.  Typically face creams may use some lighter oils, and hopefully less comedogenic.

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@czkld  Just curious, where do you source you Betaine from.  I started making lotion last year, and have had a difficult time finding a reasonably priced supplier for that ingredient.  (FYI:  I use it at 3% in my lotions.)
Thanx!

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Suggesting…copy cat….or affiliation?

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“their” meaning…. Nature in a bottle?
lmosca

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EVchem , you list of suppliers above….would you also include any of these as good (quality) suppliers?  LotionCrafter, MakeYourOwn.Buzz, BrambleBerry, Bulk Ap, Ingredients to Die for?

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Yes….regarding conference…I was mainly looking for a place where suppliers congregate…  
Thank you for that list of reputable suppliers.  I was familiar with at least 1/2 of them…..
One site I had seen….that was very well worded…but I think based out of India ,,,, (which scared me),,,, was: “Nature in a Bottle” …. Anyone have any feed back on them?

Thanx!

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I took a peek at the vendor list….and they mainly seem to be big time suppliers…..of which I have had a very difficult time with making in roads with, due to my small size.  Right now I am buying from vendors like: Ingredients to die for, New Directions, LotionCrafters, MakeYourOwn.buzz…etc…. Buying a pound or Kilo at a time.  Since I for see slow growth….(which is what I desire)…. I would like to know a show or conference in the US, where I am most likely to find this type of supplier?
Right Now….I am primarily suppling one retail store with about 150 bottles of lotion a month, and focusing my time on developing two new (lotion) formulas.  Once these products are completed, I will turn my efforts to marketing, and can then possibly seek out bigger suppliers.

Thank You

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What about: 

Euxyl® K 703 contains:

• Phenoxyethanol          78.0 - 84.0%
• Benzoic Acid              11.0 - 13.0%
• Dehydroacetic Acid     6.5 -   7.5%

Just found this on LotionCrafter….is this not essentially Optiphen on steroids?  

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I guess regarding skin feel….it is a little hard to put into words…..but I want that wow factor…. Eyes brightening and widening when the product is first applied…and to some degree, I am getting that.  I did not mean to imply that the emulsifier had to carry the load….just contribute, and not detract.  I also use HA, silk amino acids, Daikon extract, and some pretty good feeling oils….Camellia, Kukui, Macadamia, Jojoba etc… So I have tried to create the silicone profiles via natural products.  I am trying to avoid the synthetics, I am Hawaii based and trying to keep it natural.