What does the oleic number mean?

[rebeccajo99]

I just tested a small piece of my second lotion bar recipe and I still felt like it was oily, so I started researching on what ingrediant(s) could be causing that.

I found a website that gave an oleic number for my oils and butters used. So, I looked up oleic in the dictionary and it said:

1. Of, relating to, or derived from oil.

2. Of or relating to oleic acid.

So, does that mean I would want to get that number lower to be less oily?

Thanks

[country bee]

oleic acid refers to shelf life and conditioning properties-for less or more oils of butter or oils look under saponification values.Unless I don't get what you are saying.

[rebeccajo99]

Thanks for your response.

I'm just trying to think of what I could lower in my recipe to get it less oily feeling. When I looked up that word, the definition made me wonder if the lower the number, the less oily the product feels.

I'll just post my recipes in a new thread and see if anybody has any suggestions.

[Faerywren]

This question comes up all the time, but think about what goes into a lotion bar. Oils, butters, waxes. All would be greasy when you rub it on your skin. There is a happy medium where you get a formulation that sinks in better than others. But the purpose of a lotion bar or stick is to be intensely moisturizing. That's why we use them on thicker, problematic dry skin like elbows, heels, knees and feet. I've read recipes that call for corn starch or Natursorb to cut the greasy, but haven't tried them. Maybe look into that?