oils

Experiments in the workshop: Whipped shea without butter – stearic acid

by

For the second experiment, I’m using 10% stearic acid and 90% rice bran oil (I’m running out of shea oil and it’s not cheap stuff!), hence the slightly yellowy cast of the picture to the left. Stearic acid is a great thickener, although it will make my creation feel more draggy than cetyl alcohol. And...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Experimenting in the workshop: Whipped shea without butter – cetyl alcohol

by

For the whipped shea without butter experiment, I know I need some shea oil and a thickener. Today I’m experimenting with cetyl alcohol… For my first experiment, I used 90% shea oil and 10% cetyl alcohol. I weighed both together in a Pyrex jug, then put it into the double boiler. It melted relatively quickly...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

An aside…shea oil

by

The other day, while standing in the workshop waiting for my conditioner to heat and hold, I thought about shea oil. I have two versions – one from Soapcraft that is a medium to heavy liquid oil and one from Voyageur that is quite a heavy liquid oil with a creamy colour – and I...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Arnica, calendula, and comfrey oils

by

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m on a quest to make some lovely products to help my best friend’s foot heal after surgery. So I’m turning to three oils I’ve heard might help – arnica, calendula, and comfrey. I’ve written about comfrey extract in the past, so let’s just go for a summary here. Comfrey oil...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Argan oil

by

I’m getting a lot of e-mails asking for more information on this oil and the products in which it is contained, the Moroccan oil hair care products. So let’s take a look at argan oil! Argan oil contains 12% palmitic acid (C16), 6% stearic acid (C18), 42% oleic acid (C18:1), and about 36% linoleic acid...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here