First, I want to stress that my lotion-making 101 guideline is intended for home use. If you want to make and sell a skin care product, you must adhere to the regulations set forth by the location where you conduct your business. Short version on preservatives: Just like my home-cooked meals, I do not use [...]

My earlier post discussed sun protection and an easy way to make sunscreen with zinc oxide. Those lotion base are fine for daily use, but if you want more of a water-resistant sweatproof formulation for active outdoor use, try this barrier cream with beeswax. Using a beeswax/borax emulsifier combination helps the cream stay on better. [...]

A diaper rash ointment is simply a cream with zinc oxide as the active ingredient. Zinc oxide is a naturally ocurring mineral. When used to treat diaper rash, it creates a barrier that keeps moisture and other irritants from your baby’s skin. Over-the-counter diaper rash creams contain anywhere from 10% to 40% zinc oxide (by [...]

Ever wondered which ingredient makes up the largest percentage in lotions? Water! If you look at the ingredients list on product labels, you will notice that water is almost always listed first, meaning it is the most predominant ingredient in the product. And, it is also ‘free’ and readily available. So what all are you [...]