Emulsions and how to make a face cream

Creating your own face cream can feel like a challenge, but with the right knowledge about emulsifications, it can be both fun and rewarding! In this part of NSL Cosmetics' little formulation school, we'll go over what an emulsion is, why it's important, and how to avoid common mistakes. We'll end with a step-by-step guide to making your own face cream with natural ingredients.

What is an emulsion and why is it important?

An emulsion is a mixture of two liquids that normally do not mix, such as oil and water. To get a stable face cream, we need to use an emulsifier that helps the oil and water to interact without separating. A well-formulated emulsion provides moisture, nourishment and protection to the skin.

Common natural emulsifiers include:

• Lecithin – a mild emulsifier from soybeans or sunflower.

• Olivem 1000 – a natural emulsifier from olive oil.

• Xanthan gum – helps stabilize the emulsion.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When making your own face cream, there are some common problems that can arise. Here are some tips for success:

❌ Separation of oil and water: ✅ Make sure both phases (water and oil) are at the same temperature before mixing them.

❌ Too thick or too thin consistency: ✅ Adjust the amount of emulsifier and fat phase to achieve the desired consistency.

❌ Mold or Bacteria Growth: ✅ Use a natural preservative and store the cream in a clean, sterile container.

Step-by-step: Make your own face cream with natural ingredients

Here is a simple recipe to create a 100 ml nourishing face cream:

Ingredients:

• 65 ml water phase: Distilled water, Aloe vera or flower water (e.g. rose water)

• 20 ml fat phase: Jojoba oil, argan oil or almond oil

• 5 g emulsifier: Olivem 1000 or lecithin

• 1 g natural preservative (e.g. Geogard 221)

• 5-10 drops essential oil (optional, e.g. lavender or rose)

Instructions:

1. Heat the water phase and the fat phase separately in a water bath until both reach approximately 60°C. Make sure the emulsifier is in the fat phase before heating.

2. Pour the fat phase into the water phase while stirring constantly with a mini whisk or hand blender.

3. Continue whisking until the cream begins to thicken and cool.

4. Add preservatives and essential oils when the temperature reaches approximately 40°C.

5. Pour the cream into a sterile jar and let it cool completely before sealing the lid.

This cream is perfect for moisturizing and protecting the skin in a natural way! If you want to learn more about how to create your own skin care products, don't miss our blog posts where we go even deeper into the topic: Natural preservatives in cosmetics , Vitamin-E - a natural boost for skin and hair, PH value in cosmetics.

With warmth,
NSL Cosmetics