Teach Soap

What about something like this...

distilled water
jojoba oil
cocoa butter
avacado oil
shea butter
apricot kernel oil

Since jojoba is a wax instead of an oil and cocoa butter is a natural thickener, would I still need to add e-wax?

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Haven

Anytime you use water, you will need an emulsifier like e-wax. Jojoba will not act as a thickener. Don't forget a preservative.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks. I forgot to put on there preservative. So maybe...

70% distilled water
5% e-wax
4% avacado
5% apricot kernel
6% jojoba
5% shea
5% cocoa butter

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Haven

That's a lot of water to me. I would go maybe 60% water, use the e-wax at 4% and add more apricot kernel along with jojoba or avocado to make up for the less water.
Don't forget to calculate your preservative into your 100% total.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Ok. So...

60% water
4% e-wax
5% shea
5% cocoa butter
9% jojoba
9% apricot kernel
8% avacado
1% preservative

Thank you for all your help.

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Haven

That looks better.
Depending on your preservative, you might not need it at 1%.
Just follow the suggested recommendations from the manufacturer.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I use Phenonip. I think the suggested rate is between .5 and 1% according to Brambleberry. I use 1% just to make sure. I am so new to lotions so I figured that I should use the most recommended. I would hate to have something grow in my lotions. I guess I could test it at .5% but everyone uses it up before it has a chance to sit. Even if I hide it, they seek it out. LOL!

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Haven

Since you don't have any proteins in there like milk, I would go with 0.5%. More is not always better.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks for the tip! I did not know that. You know there is just not much information out there on Phenonip. And, there is no manufacturer listed on the bottle or brambleberry's website. I really do appreciate all your help.

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Haven

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Here's the recipe I did. It makes for a truly great lotion but I think I still need it to linger a bit longer. It is pretty thick but soaks in pretty quick. What do you think about adding liquid glycerin? Would that work? I have never used it before so I don't know exactly what it does. Any suggestions? Thanks.

60% Distilled water
6% e-wax
4% shea butter
5% cocoa butter
9% jojoba oil
8% apricot kernel oil
8% avacado oil
.5% Phenonip
.5% lavender eo

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Haven

Liquid glycerin might work, depending on your climate. I don't add glycerin to mine, as I live in a hot and dry climate. The glycerin, in my instance, would draw the moisture FROM my skin, instead to it.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Ahh. Well, here in Texas the weather is very different day to day. Today it is almost 80 and tomorrow it is supposed to be 44. Can't imagine why we are all sick. LOL! Maybe I will give it a try in a small batch just to see what it does.

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Haven