lotions

[Mr. G]

ok here is a biggie. I make the candles and now my wife is wanting to branch off and make lotions. can anyone suggest where she should start to learn about the testing and making of lotions. I hope I have not created a monster. Any help would be appreciated.

[slow-burn]

Is she wanting to use a base or make one that is formulated?

[Mr. G]

she has I guess? a base..they told her to add 1/2 to 1 oz FO.

but she does not know what temp to heat it up to before adding the FO.

This is the 1st time she has tried to make a lotion...and maybe the last

[slow-burn]

Generally, you can stick the gallon of base in a sink with warm water, and that will warm it enough to add the fo.

If she is only doing a container or two at a time, I wouldn't heat the whole gallon or so. I have cheated at times :embarasse And placed a bowl on my scale with a ziplock baggie in it, tare it, then add my amount of lotion for the container. Once it was weighed, I have tossed it in the micro for about 10 seconds or so, just enough to take the chill off, put it back on the scale and added color and fo. Get all the air out of the bag, seal it, cut the corner off, and you can easily pipe into your lotion bottle then.

I *normally* make bigger batches of lotion and don't use this method, but if she is just testing, it would work. Don't get it too hot or you will kill a preservative, you just want to take the chill off. HTH

I just realized that you said 1/2 - 1 oz fo, That must be for a whole gallon then, right?

[Mr. G]

Thank you !!!!

yes ..128 oz base to 1/2 oz to start he said no more than 1oz (grade FO.

and told her DO NOT COLOR !

Mr. G

[LynnS]

I did color the first year but decided to leave it natural(color).I do 8 ounce bottles at a time when doing a show and use 1/8 teaspoon per 8 ounce.I am going to start making 4 ounce.Might sell better.That 8 ounce bottle could last a year.

LynnS

[Mr. G]

she got 2 oz tubes, 4 oz and 8 oz bottles. she thinks purse size is a good start...plans to give to family and friends. she read about insurance rates and does know if it would be worth it, to be able to sell. still on fence.

[slow-burn]

If she makes smaller batches, she will be able to use different scents on each. And putting it in a baggy either before or after fo is added, works great for a cheap and easy way to fill those bottles or malibu's!

[sudsnwicks]

It sounds like she is off to a good start. The smaller sizes should make good gifts.

[cindym]

I never heat my bases, I just put them in a sanitized bowl, and use sanitized equipment to stir.

[slow-burn]

I never heat my bases, I just put them in a sanitized bowl, and use sanitized equipment to stir.

I only do mine cuz I don't have any heat to speak of in my basement, so it gets fairly *cold* down there this time of year. So I take the chill off