In Lightweight Rose Geranium Foaming Hand Wash, I chose Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside and Cocamidopropyl Betaine as the surfactants. Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is a cationic surfactant. It is a highly effective solubilizing agent for essential oils, but I will be using Sodium Lauroamphoacetate for this Pomegranate Foaming Hand Wash. Sodium lauroamphoacetate is a zwitterionic surfactant which simultaneously has both cationic and anionic ionic states. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is an amphoteric surfactant, and in this case, it is used as a secondary surfactant to improve foam stability. And because I will be adding Palmarosa essential oil, so we need a solubilizer – PEG-40 Hydrogen Castor Oil is the most widely available and used solubilizer. It works excellently and is very easy to work and forgiving ingredients.
Key Ingredients
Rosewater is incredibly versatile, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and rich content of antioxidants. The water helps soothe your skin, tone it, and keep it moisturized. Full of antioxidants and vitamins, rosewater can slow the aging process, soothe irritated skin, cleanse oily skin, and add a beautiful glow to the healthy skin.
Hydrolyzed Silk Protein has excellent moisture binding properties & a silky smooth feel. Due to its high moisture-binding capacities, it provides a protective barrier. It helps to create a smoother appearance and reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Pomegranate extract is rich in antioxidants, neutralizes the effect of free radicals in our body. The anti-aging plant compounds in the fruit also help in stimulating keratinocyte cells (skin cells) and help in cellular regeneration, thereby keeping wrinkles and sagging skin at bay. Pomegranate is a rich source of vitamin C, and when used regularly, it can reduce skin roughness. It is effective in keeping you hydrated.
Palmarosa essential oil enhances any skin types. It regulates the production of sebum or oil, restores, and maintains water balance. It stimulates sebum production and helps to replenish moisture. When it is used regularly, it stimulates the regeneration of cells, discourages wrinkles, heals wounds and sores, and soothes inflamed or irritated skin.
Foaming cleansing is a very lightweight cleanser as it consists of no oil content. To make the liquid foam, the key is we need a foamer bottle. The finished product is filled into a foamer bottle. The foam pump then pushes a dose of liquid through a foam chamber where the liquid is mixed with air creating a mousse/foam-like consistency.
Pomegranate Foaming Hand Wash
Tools & Equipment Needed
0.1g / 0.01g digital weighing scales
Glass beakers
Bain-marie/double-boiler
Spatula
A thermometer
pH strip / pH meter
Airless Pump
Ingredients
Phase A
- 63.3 mL Distilled water | 63.3%
- 15 mL rosewater | 15%
Phase B
- 10 mL glycerin | 10%
- 1 mL Hydrolyzed Silk Protein | 1%
Phase C
- 5 mL Pomegrante Extract | 5%
- 1 mL Sodium Lauroamphoacetate | 1%
- 2.5 mL Cocamidopropyl Betaine | 2.5%
Phase D
- 1 mL PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | 1%
- 0.2 mL palmarosa essential oil | 0.2%
Phase E
- 1 mL Preservative | 1%
Instructions
- In another beaker, weigh out distilled water and rosewater
- Blend the glycerin and hydrolyzed silk in a glass beaker.
- Blend surfactants in another beaker
- Add water-hydrosol (Phase A) mixture to glycerin & hydrolyzed silk (Phase B)
- Slowly blend the surfactants (Phase C) into the water-glycerin, but be very careful to avoid creating foam.
- Add the essential oil and stir well. Because the essential oil needed is a very low amount, you will need to use an accurate scale—preferably one accurate to 0.01g.
- Check that the pH using a pH strip or pH meter, check that the cream has a pH range that is compatible with your chosen preservative. This range is normally indicated by the supplier of the preservative. If your pH is not in a suitable range, you can lower it by adding an acid i.e., lactic or critic acid, or raise it by adding sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate.
- Finally, blend in the preservative
- Transfer it into a foamer bottle and label the finished product.
Notes
- Because this foam wash contains water, you MUST include a broad-spectrum preservative to ward off microbial growth. In the event, you notice any change in colour, scent, or texture, chuck it out and make a fresh batch.
- A formula should be written in a percentage of ingredients as well as grams. Our popular formulation calculator can be used to convert from percentages to weight easily. It also gives you warning alert if any of the category ingredients are out of recommended range to make sure the ratios between the ingredients are as desired.
- You can use a different hydrosol instead of the rosewater, or you can also use more distilled water instead of a hydrosol.
- You can replace both Sodium Lauroamphoacetate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine with other surfactants such as Coco-Glucoside or Decyl Glucoside. Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is good alternative a highly effective solubilizing agent for essential oils which you don’t need a solubilizer.
- PEG-40 Hydrogen Castor Oil is PEG-derivative, so it is not considered “natural” cosmetics but general they are much better than “natural” solubilisers. You can choose a natural solubilizer, Symbio®Solv Clear Plus. But if you use Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside as your choice of surfactant, solubilizer is not necessary.
- You can always use a different essential oil blend as you wish but make sure you find the optimum EO: solubilizer ratio.
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon.
