emulsifier!
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free skin care · Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:50 pm

hi.
i am thinking of using an emulsifier for my ACV toner (to dissolve the ylang ylang oil in water)

i have lecithin gel caps at home... and i know that its an anti-oxidant AND and emulsifier...

but do you guys know exactly how to use it?

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:11 am

aprilha wrote:

hi.
i am thinking of using an emulsifier for my ACV toner (to dissolve the ylang ylang oil in water)

i have lecithin gel caps at home... and i know that its an anti-oxidant AND and emulsifier...

but do you guys know exactly how to use it?

You might send a PM to Darren (pbsadhaka) – he’s our resident “chemist” and could probably advise you.

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:36 am

Hi aprilha,

Darren is great ... and very helpful!

However, should that not work out for you ... here's a tip.

For some reason, the last time I made my ACV toner, I added about a tsp of witch hazel to it. My witch hazel doesn't have alcohol ... but it does aloe vera in it.

Well ... I added the witch hazel and immediately the mixture turned white. I shook it a bit ... and since then ... everything has been emulsified.

I believe that the aloe vera is a mild emulsifier ... either that or the witch hazel itself ... or perhaps it's the combination that works.

Just my observation.

Mary

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:01 am

Hi Mary,

What is the brand of your witch hazel? Did you get it from a health food store? I am trying to find one without alcohol.

Thanks.

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:19 am

Hi Tidieu,

It's Thayers ... and it's called "Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner with Aloe Vera"

I'm in Canada ... and it was pretty pricey ... $11.99 for the bottle ... but I did find it in health food stores ... several local ones carry it.

Good luck

Mary

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:56 am

hi mary,

u mean the witch hazel emulsified the essential oil in the toner?

if this is the case... i think i need to get my hands on some witch hazel!!

thanks

april

free skin care · Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:45 pm

Hi aprilha,

I don't know if it was the witch hazel or the aloe vera ... but something emulsified the toner! Laughing

As soon as I added the witch hazel the entire mixture turned white-ish ... and when I shook it ... the essential oils blended in with the rest.

That was over a week ago and I've yet to find essential oil either floating on the top or down at the bottom ... which certainly suggests emulsification to me.

Remember that aloe vera is one of those odd gels that has properties kin to both water and oil ... and could well be a very mild emulsifier in terms of combining essential oils and "water".

Not all "emulsifiers" are equal. Some thicken like corn starch and xanthan gum ... and others simply help combine oils and waters.

Mary

free skin care · Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:23 am

I got some emulsifier from the chemist in the essential oil section.It is specifically for dissolving essential oils in water Very Happy

free skin care · Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:17 am

Hi Carol,

Can you tell us exactly what this emulsifier is called?

Thanks

Mary

free skin care · Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:23 am

It was the sunspirit brand and it just has aromatherapy solubalizer on the bottle.

free skin care · Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:58 am

Okay, even though I said I was more or less ignoring the criticism and controversy regarding my ACV toner recipe over on MUA and here by “Blue Butterfly,” but I’ve actually been thinking about what she said about needing an emulsifier in my toner so the essential oils would blend with the distilled water/tea.

Now maybe I’m being deliberately obtuse, but the whole reason I decided to add the essential oils (specifically Ylang Ylang and Lemon) was because they are known to help regulate sebum production (i.e.: Decleor Aromessence Y-Y oil or homemade version). It is my understanding that these oils should stay on the surface of my skin in order to do their job. If they emulsified in the water/tea, wouldn’t that mean that the oils would evaporate once the toner dried on my skin?

See, even dedicated DIYers have moments of self-doubt! Confused

Also, has anyone come up with a recipe for a homemade Vit-C + Vit-E serum and – if so – would you mind sharing?

TIA,
Carrie

free skin care · Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:18 am

Hi Carrie,

Like you, I'm in search of a C + E serum ... but so far I haven't found one.

I did just receive my copy of The Biochemistry of Beauty ... and when I manage to actually understand what Carol Demas is saying about making serums, I'm hoping that I'll find the secret to this combination. Laughing

In the meantime, I use my Vitamin C serum [yours, thank you very much] and apply Vitamin E after it ... in the hopes that beneath the skin the two will blend and I'll get an increased benefit from the Vitamin C. Laughing

I suspect that some sort of emulsifier is necessary to blend E and C ... because E is oil soluable and C is water soluable. But frankly emulsifiers scare me a little since I think they are largely to blame for my skin's intolerance to some products. Confused

Even if I could produce an effective Vitamin E serum that I could apply on top of the Vitamin C serum would make me happy. Wink

I'll keep you posted. Carol does include what she calls a Physiological Antioxidant Serum in her recipe section ... and that may just be the ticket!

Mary

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