Forum Replies Created

  • Forgot to mention that sodium phytate, sepimax zen, and allantoin are the only older ingredients that I have because it takes me so long to go through them. Could the sodium phytate be the issue here? Maybe it has lost its chelating properties? I’m not really sure if that would cause a rancid odor though, and the color/appearance of the final product has not been affected.

  • Oh, I did not know that isoamyl laurate can have a smell at higher percentages. I will keep that in mind as I do some knock-out tests. I will also add ROE for a better antioxidant system.

  • For a separate product that I had been testing, I formulated a face oil consisting of 15% black seed oil, 0.1% tocopherols, and q.s. squalane. After two months at 45C, the strong scent of the black seed oil dissipated, but was not rancid. Would you recommend adding ROE along with the tocopherols for the face oil? Or is the tocopherols on its own enough in this case?

    And jumping back to the original problem of this post with the moisturizer, can black seed oil be ruled out from being the issue since it seems to have done just fine in the face oil, leaving shea butter and pomegranate sterols as the culprits?

  • Thank you so much, your response is very helpful.

    Yes, I did not notice any odor after freeze-thaw cycles. The rancid odor is apparent after 1 month in 45C and also after 1 month of the product being opened daily at room temp to mimic regular use.

    You bring up very good points, and I will do some knock-out experiments. This is my first time working with oils like this; I typically only use esters like squalane, jojoba, or C12-15 alkyl benzoate.

    You also mention that I could increase the tocopherols by adding 0.05% with the oil, and 0.10% in the cool-down phase. Is there a difference between doing it this way versus adding all 0.15% in the cool-down phase? I will consider adding ROE and ascorbyl palmitate; that seems like it would be a good idea.


  • simplepimple

    Member
    July 18, 2025 at 3:21 pm in reply to: Anyone try Elfamoist AC?

    Yes, I agree. But the only downside to glycerin is that it can be sticky/tacky. I do believe a blend of humectants can reduce tackiness, which is what I’m trying to do here. Do you have any suggestions for a water-based hydrating serum?

  • I’m loving all the metaphors and humor here. Thanks for all the help!

    @Aniela I don’t mind at all. I learn more from all the questions and discussions here!

  • Wow, I did not know that about repackers. That’s interesting, and also unfair. I’m always careful with where I get my ingredients from, but I guess that still won’t matter especially with oils.

  • After reading the discussions around here, I was under the impression that a good preservation system includes PE 9010 (bactericide) + sodium benzoate (fungicide) + chelator + glycol/diols + pH 4.8.

    Should I add caprylyl glycol? I thought propanediol and glycerin would fall into that category of glycol/diol preservative boosters.