[Kirkland]

Testing. I simply wanted to know if lecithin was effective as an w/o emulsifier

Chemistrygirl said:

@kirkland  What are you formulating.

[Kirkland]

Honestly it sounds like you’re using FD&c bath bombs colorant. Firstly this works in extremely low concentrations, a 1/5 teaspoon will color several ounces of dry product. You may want to try 0.1g/100g and work from there.

The second is it’s not designed for lotions and is prone to staining bathtubs unless it’s paired with poly 80, so likely isn’t going to be a good substitution in lotions.

[Kirkland]

MarkBroussard said:

There are several issues to working with Lecithin:

(1)  It isn’ t a good emulsifier … yields highly unstable, heat-sensitive products

(2)  It’s a mess to work with

(3)  Lecithin-emulisified products are virtually impossible to preserve, particularly against mold

I cannot think of one benefit of using Lecithin in any formulation.  Yes, I do have experience working with Lecithin and my advice would be for you to find something that actually works to your benefit if you are trying to develop a commercial product.

Thank you very much for your response!

[Kirkland]

Perry said:

You preserve the final product to the level that it requires. The preservative in your aloe juice will not typically be robust enough for your final formula. But only testing of your final product can tell you for sure. 

My philosophy: when in doubt, add preservative.

Noted, thank you 

[Kirkland]

Sorry, does anyone have specific experience with using lecithin as an emulsifier?

Whilst hlb isn’t designed for non peg emulsifiers, it’s 4-7 alluding to the fact it should be a w/o emulsion however I can’t get a stable emulsion with this logic.

In your experience, what ratios have you used when using lecithin oil/w/lecithin

For now I’m simply using almond oil as a base, however once a stable emulsion has been discovered I’ll likely attempt a mix of hemp, safflower and jojoba.

[Kirkland]

Sorry it’s worth noting I’ve used both granules and liquid and I’ve been unable to get a stable liquid formulation. As neither appear soluble the mixture is always achieved with high sheer.