[Squinny]

Doesnt sound like any preserving system that Marie from HumbleBee uses - she generally sticks to Liquid Germall plus at 0.50% - look at her preserving sheet if you want to change her formula’s. I make products inspired by her all the time for my own use and have only ever had problems when I add Essential oils on occasion. So likely your fragrance is the irritant or your cream’s pH has changed after time? Have you rechecked it? She doesnt make her products to sell so she doesnt do stability tests etc and if you make changes to her formula it isnt something she has necessarily tested (especially if you change the preservative).

[Squinny]

What country are you based in? Are prices USD? The price seems quite high to me. I’m only a home formulator and if I use expensive packaging my overall costs are much higher than if I use more basic packaging. Have you costed the cost of the product what it would be if you made the product yourself? I know for me the cost of the formulated product can be less than the packaging - so I would ask for a breakdown of all the costs that the manufacturer is charging you because it doesn’t seem worth it to me. I would then look around for other manufacturers and get a few quotes. For instance I can make a very nice face cream in a very nice expensive looking glass pot 50 ml with labels I do myself for around $5 (AUD) total and the face cream itself costs me less than $2. (and I dont even buy ingredients or packaging in bulk).

[Squinny]

Hi all I have made a Mag Cream a while ago and didnt have any issues with separation but I’ll make another one soon and see if ok and if so I’ll let you all know my formula. I added the Mag Oil which I make also (with 45% MgCl to 55% Water) and added this to Water phase at 20% (Total Water phase was 70%). The emulsifier I used was OliveM1000 and MCT Oil in the Oil phase. Cheers

[Squinny]

Aren’t these already in powder form? I have used these ingredients to make a face primer and there was no need to grind them and they mixed nicely into my product (mind you the one I made was anhydrous).

[Squinny]

I would love to see some answers here from some of our great chemists we have on the forum. I tried to make stick type deodorants earlier on and was never successful due to making formula’s with a high pH which were ok for week or so but after that the irritation would start happening. I finally gave up and made a deo spray that I am really happy with a low pH - around 3.8. But I would like to revisit the stick do at some stage as would be better for travelling etc. So any helpful advice I’m sure there lots of us out there that would be interested. The only lame suggestions as a homemaker I can make are perhaps using beewax and adding a thickener like Cetearyl Alcohol and perhaps Kaolin Clay (no idea what this does to pH but I’m sure all the chemists know). With my Spray Deo I now use an ingredient called Cyclosorb (I buy from My Skin Recipes in Thailand even though I’m in Australia) which they have in a water soluble and cream version (I have only used the water soluble one) and it is great I can go 24 hours without reapplying - but mine is deo unscented. Anyway I hope this may be of some help. Good luck and let us know if you come up with a solution. Cheers

[Squinny]

From where I buy my Magnesium Ascorbyl Phospahte it says that

Mixing method: Mix in the water By avoiding heat exceeding 60 ° C The formula should have a pH between 7-9.

Rate of use: 0.5-10% (3% recommended), use in concentrations above 8% may cause solubility problems.

Also maybe try another emulsifier like <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(-bb-body-text-color);”>Glyceryl Stearate & PEG100 Stearate if you want a thin emulsion?

There may be some chemists that have a better explanation for you. (sorry this is bolded text but dont know how to make it normal text again!)

[Squinny]

HI there is there a link where you can buy the mini pro homogenizer in Australia?

[Squinny]

Hi @MarkBroussard is Refined the same as Deodorized? The one I buy is called Refined from AWO in Australia and description is - Conveniently cast into in pellet form to allow for ease of measurement and melting, AWO’s Cocoa Butter Pellets have been gently refined to remove colour and odour, leaving pure, yellowish solid quality butter with a slight cocoa odour.

[Squinny]

Yes I think you need to list all your ingredients at least - I can’t see Urea in your list but it is 40% Urea Cream? People on the forum do like to help but it is a bit hard if we don’t know the ingredients or the similar OTC product you are trying to replicate or make with different ingredients. Cheers

[Squinny]

@Graillotion - Great IMHO. So many ways to answer so little time 🙂 Early stages but I love my new product so far and happy with the formulation I had worked on taking into account what I liked about the previous formulation etc. Not giving away too many secrets much like you and your Deo. It is unscented which is what I wanted for a Deo. I just thought I’d let you know in case you wanted to get some to play with if you order more products from MSR. Cheers

[Squinny]

I cant imagine there being a special grade for cosmetic uses (buy could be wrong!). I worked in Sugar Industry for many years (a long time ago but doubt if things have changed that much). Whilst there are different grades and sources worldwide white sugar is pretty basic (so is Raw for that matter it just has more molasses covering the grain) and more minerals and water content and color obviously. There are also lots of different particle sizes with Raw sugar but White is pretty standard in Australia (It is made from Sugar Cane here)- it is also known a refined sugar. Here in Australia, I buy Coles (Supermarket brand) as know for a fact it comes out of the same refinery and process as the more expensive brand (CSR). I use the Supermarket brand in my sugar scrub. Hope this helps.

[Squinny]

Hi @lhunt I am only a homemaker so only make a very small batch for myself and a few friends. I put into 30 ml glass pots (kosma jar I think they are called as quite fancy looking!) - They also keep the light out (not that I think it matters too much for this product). If I made more I would probably keep in my wine fridge but so far I have had them just a room temp (about 25 degrees Celsius) for a few months and no issues.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Squinny.

[Squinny]

Maybe this article may help : So you want to avoid graininess in your butters and balms? - Swettis Beauty Blog (skinchakra.eu). Also maybe if you list the ingredients and % of Shea butter others may be able to offer suggestions. May be to do with rate and conditions of cooling time and temp? I tend to like emulsified body butter products personally as haven’t made an anhydrous one yet that isn’t greasy (maybe that’s just me as my friend’s seem to love them!). All the emulsified ones I have had an issue with and even the cold processed whipped ones I have had no issues (luck?) Cheers

[Squinny]

Hi not sure why you want to add Water to your scrub (to add the glycerin?) - Do you want to stick to your formula or happy to change formula? I make a nice sugar scrub without water if you would like me to share? Do you intend to sell product or for personal use? Cheers

[Squinny]

Yes I’m not sure about the ticks - my partner does use it for when he is the bush though and hasn’t had any ticks but can’t really say one way or the other - but if it does work for that too even better. It has a quite pleasant smell but I really can’t pin it down - it isn’t unpleasant anyway. I use other EO’s though to add to the scent (peppermint - also gives the cream that nice cool and soothing feeling, Lavender) so the finished product has a nice fragrance we think anyway. It isn’t a cheap EO but then again it isnt that expensive in the scheme of things. I kinda based my cream on a Kunzea Pain Relief cream made in Australia which retails for around $35 for 100ml and I make mine for around $5 plus cost of container and I like my cream much better and it absorbs into skin nicely so win win.

[Squinny]

Hi I have been using TEC and Ethyhexylglycerin in my Spray Deo and love it. I have just been looking up ingredients from MYSKINRECIPES and they have a product called CycloSorb™ Clear (Water-Soluble) INCI Name : Alpha Cyclodextrin, Gamma Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Beta Cyclodextrin. I was wondering if any other have used this and if so what are your thoughts - before I buy any to try. I am making a Water soluble deo spray (they also have one that is for a Cream called CycloSorb™ Cream (Non Water-Soluble) in case anyone is interested.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Squinny.

[Squinny]

I use an Australian Essential Oil called Kunzea in my muscle creams and balms and find from personal experience (and from friends I have shared my creams and balms with) it works - I use in conjunction with other EO’s but found that the addition of Kunzea improved the product a lot. Not sure where you are located or where you can buy as I buy here in Australia. Anyway research it and see what you think. Cheers

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Squinny.

[Squinny]

Hi sorry for late response have been on holidays! I sent you an email using the mailbox on this site if you want to discuss further happy to do so. I have found Cyclosorb to be brilliant in my spray deodorant and without it the product failed after a few hours whereas lasts for 24 hours with Cyclosorb with no underarm odour whatsoever (could be more but I shower daily! ) Cheers

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Squinny.

[Squinny]

@MarkBroussard thanks Mark good to know - I actually don’t have a problem with the scent and only use in small amount with other butters like Mango plus other oils etc. when I make an emulsified product. I haven’t seen one that is available for homemakers here in Australia but again I haven’t looked too hard as didn’t have a problem with scent etc. Cheers.

[Squinny]

Hi @Graillotion I ended up buying some Cyclosorb from our Thai place and made my first test deo spray yesterday - have only used for yesterday and today but so far it is great - will update you on how it goes after a few weeks to see if any irritation issues - but so far no problems and no odor! It is also much cheaper to make than my previous dep spray. Cheers

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Squinny.

[Squinny]

Yes I just thought it interesting and I really dont care if deo in unscented (I currently use some essential oils - but if I can get away without using any and therefore Polysorbate 20 etc then I would be happier with my product I reckon - All I really want to do it stop the odor (mine works great for my partner but I am not totally happy with it for myself - so thought this product may be more suitable for women? I use nice smelling lotions and an essential oil mix roller perfume (not for underarms) for light scents - but nota fan of strongly perfumed products anyway.

[Squinny]

I believe so and if not ask them what is so special about their sugar. All refined sugar (and raw sugar sold retail) is a clean as it will ever be - all refined sugar is made in same sugar refineries and just packed in different bags etc. depending on which companies they are packing for. If they come back some weird response feel free to contact me on email and we can discuss.

[Squinny]

Hi - love all the useful and insightful info provided by @ngarayeva001 - I would love to make my own makeup one day (but probably won’t as seems far too complicated for a home formulator like me but love learning and reading all this just the same!). Not sure where you are based but My Skin Recipes in Thailand have a whole section on supplies for makeup that you may glean some extra info from and also depending on where you are and what your budget is you can buy very small amounts of lots of ingredients to try and won’t break the bank. Example : ReadyMixTM D&C Red No. 30 Lake (Oil Based) (myskinrecipes.com) - anyway may be worth taking a look. I recently purchased 10gram of Beige Iron Oxide EasyMixTM (myskinrecipes.com) for 45 Baht incl packing cost (but not shipping) with a recent order and I will never use the 10g in a lifetime as only need a very small amount for my use in a Primer I make (anhydrous) - It doesn’t color the skin (at the level I use anyway) but it colors the primer itself to a nice beige and it easy to disperse using only a hand stirring rod and paddle - It is seriously my best home-made product yet (and I like mine better than Clarins Primer - sorry for bragging! and there is no way I would have been able to make it if it wasn’t for this forum and the help I got, from sorry I think it was @Pharma ?). Anyway, just note that if you buy anything from MSR to get at least 500g total of all products to make the Shipping cost worthwhile. Cheers and good luck with your venture.

[Squinny]

Sorry just something basic to ask - Do you weigh your water ingredients vessel before and after heating so you actually know how much water you may lose each time as this will likely vary? If so Add back the lost water (using water heated at same temp). Just a very basic suggestion and not likely to add anything of value compared to all the other excellent answers given (which I learn so much from so thanks all :))

[Squinny]

Oh right - looks like a lovely product if you can get it right. There doesnt seem to be too much (that I found anyway) on the market to compare to to try dupe. I did find a few if you look at the INCI decoder that may be of interest that included gylerin but not water. One is called MOR Sugar crystal Sugar Scrub and lists the following active ingredients: Sucrose, Glycerin, Silica, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean), Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Persica (Peach) Oil, Persea Gratissma (Avocado) Oil, Althaea Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract.

Sorry cant be of more help. Maybe adding some Silica to your formula?