Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Intensive Overnight Foot Cream Recipe

Pamper your feet with this potent moisturizer that contains exotic butters and essential oils. Best to apply this especially before bed time, so you’ll ready to dash to your desk the next day with soft, refreshed feet!

Ingredients:                                                 Amount:

Food grade glycerin                                2 oz.

Borax                                                   Pinch

Emulsifying wax                                    1 oz.

Coconut oil                                          1 oz.

Grapeseed oil                                       1 oz.

Jojoba oil                                            1 oz.

Lanolin                                               0.05 oz.

Palm stearic acid                                  0.05 oz.

Mango butter                                       1 oz.

Shea butter                                         1 oz.

Procedures:

Heat water just before it reaches boiling point. Add borax and dissolve well. Cool. In a separate bowl, blend the oils, waxes, and stearic acid. When the water mixture’s temperature drops to 50°C, slowly add to the oil blend while beating with a stick blender for two minutes. Add the shea and mango butters
when temperature drops further to 30°C. Beat well. Let it sit for five minutes and continue beating until it is completely cooled. Pour into sterilized jars.

Reference: http://www.soapnuts.com/lb2.html

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Moisture Rich Exfoliating Cream

Look forward to your bath time with this amazing body polish from Voyageur Soap and Candle Company via voyageursoapandcandle.com. This cream contains fine-grained pumice and bright cranberry seeds to gently buff your skin, while  plant oils, shea butter, and phytokeratin moisturizes and protects it from harmful elements. You’ll leave the tub feeling clean and energized.

Ingredients:                           Weight (%)               Grams:

Phase A:

Polawax (emulsifying wax NF)   9%                          63 gm.

Stearic acid                          2.5%                          18 gm.

Grapeseed oil                          8%                          56 gm.

Sunflower oil                           6%                          42 gm.

Refined shea butter                 2%                          14 gm.

Glycerin                                 2%                          14 gm.

Jojoba oil (clear or golden)       1%                            7 gm.

Phase B:

Distilled water                       68%                        476 gm.

Phase C:

Phytokeratin                         0.5%                           4 gm.

Optiphen Plus                         1%                            7 gm.

Phase D:

Fine pumice powder                 n.a.                         35 gm.

Cranberry                               n.a.                         10 gm.
(Vaccinium macrocarpon) 
seeds

Essential oil/s                         q.s.


Procedure:

Heat a double boiler to 65°C. Add all phase A ingredients into the boiler and mix them together. Bring the distilled water into a boil before adding slowly to the boiler. Continue stirring until all emulsifiers are melted and no flakes remain. Remove from heat. Cool the mixture to 45°C before adding all the  phase C ingredients. Mix well. Add preferred essential oil. When mixture gets thick, add the pumice powder and the cranberry seeds. Pour into clean jars. Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Glycerin for Hair

Glycerin is a viscous by-product of saponification. Saponification is the chemical reaction of lye, water, and fats usually observed after biodiesel production or soap making process. Much of the glycerin processed is sourced from the latter and is added into lotions, creams, shampoos, and even soaps.

This sweet tasting alcohol is very popular for industrial production. Modern methods extract glycerin from soaps and to be converted into other toiletry and cosmetic products. Glycerin has hygroscopic properties, or it can absorb moisture from the air, making it a great moisturizer. It helps the skin maintain its natural pH balance without intervention of oils.

Moreover, it also makes a great skin cleanser because it is non-comedogenic. It moisturizes the skin without clogging pores. Because it can attract and retain water, it prevents over-drying.

The moisturizing properties of glycerin are not limited to the skin but to the hair as well. Dry or frizzy hair will benefit greatly because it attracts and retains moisture. It also coats the outer layer of hair from the roots down to the shaft. This gives a sleeker and shinier appearance to the hair while adding texture. Glycerin also functions in hair shampoo formulas as fillers and smoothness enhancers to the mixture. 

Shampoo with glycerin prevents dryness, dandruff, and hair fall. This formulation is very gentle and moisturizing on the scalp. Aside from its cleansing abilities, it doesn’t leave a sticky residue or coating on your hair unlike other commercial varieties. Glycerin shampoos don’t contain any artificial enhancers like sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate. These sulfate derivatives are usually employed by other popular brands to increase lather, but these are harmful and strips hair of color. Lastly, glycerin shampoo is perfect for sensitive skin. They are hypoallergenic, provided that no enhancers or scents are added.

Handcrafting shampoo is a very popular hobby and great for saving as well. Making your own ensures that there are no harmful substances used to clean your hair. It is also effective and safe for your household pets as well. Here is one formula for making handcrafted pet shampoo:

Ingredients:
4 cups Water (970ml)
1 cup Vinegar (260ml)
1 cup Dish Soap (260ml)
1/3 cup Glycerin (100ml)

1.) Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a container.
2) Close the container with a tight-fitting lid and shake the contents until mixture gets even.
3) This shampoo gets separated over time, so contents should be shaken before every use.
4) Particularly, if your pet has sensitive skin, dilute more water.

Buy Glycerin for Hair by Chemicals Direct is commonly used in many handcrafted projects. All glycerin products sold are plant-based USP variety and have been repackaged and labeled into convenient-to-use containers. Glycerin for Hair formulations are blended in shampoos and conditioners, making it safer and more natural. It helps seals moisture during cold season as well.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Glycerin


Glycerin is high in viscosity and is colorless and sweet tasting. It has a high boiling point and freezes as a paste. The most common uses are in soap and other beauty products like lotions. Although, it is common in many other applications.