‘Emulsifier’ and ‘emulsion’ are words that get used a lot in DIY beauty products. Cosmetic companies use all sorts of chemical or synthetic emulsifiers, but the good news is that there are plenty of natural emulsifiers out there too! Here are my top 5 natural emulsifiers so you don’t have to use chemicals ever again, beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, rice bran wax and organic liquid lecithin.
This may seem like a scary word out of a chemistry class, but it is actually a simple process that helps you to create a smooth consistency in your beauty products. An emulsion is simply a mixture of molecules that create a smooth blend of all the same size molecules. For instance, a lighter oil may have small molecules and a heavier butter may have large molecules. To mix them successfully, you will need an emulsifier. The emulsifier helps to bridge the small molecules and the larger molecules, resulting in molecules that are all the same size. Emulsifiers also helps blend oil and water molecules.
Cosmetic companies use all sorts of chemical or synthetic emulsifiers, but the good news is that there are plenty of natural emulsifiers out there too!
These emulsifiers are completely natural. You may choose different ones to use in your products based on texture or nutrient content.
Beeswax is made from the honeycomb of bees and provides a natural protective barrier when applied to the skin. It is also an anti-inflammatory, moisturizing wax with a thick, tacky texture, which makes it a good stiffening agent in DIY beauty products. This is one of my favorite natural emulsifiers because it is very versatile. You can use it to create lip balm, lip gloss, salves, body butter, creams, massage bars, candles, wood polish and much more!
Melting point is 62 to 64 °C.
Check out my honey lip balm recipe like Burt bee’s here.
Candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative to beeswax and is made from the candelilla shrub. It is similar in texture to beeswax. While it is a bit denser than beeswax, candelilla wax absorbs easily into the skin and is full of nutrients. Great to use as a vegan alternative to beeswax!
Melting point is 68-73 oC.
Check out my vegan lip balm recipe here.
Carnauba wax is an edible wax made from a Brazilian palm tree. It is one of the hardest natural waxes available and it provides a glossy finish in natural cosmetics. It is highly emollient, delivering moisture to the skin.
Melting point: 80-86 oC
Check out my coconut oil body butter here.
Rice Bran Wax (Oryza Sativa) is a wax that can be used in lipstick, salves, body butter but also creams and lotion. This is a good alternative to use if you are vegan.
The melting point is 75/80C.
Check out my favorite lipstick recipe that uses rice bran wax here.
Liquid Lecithin is a naturally occurring fat found in both plants and animals. Lecithin is an emulsifier and restores skin health by reducing flakiness and dryness. It is also used as a thickener, stabilizer, mild preservative, moisturizer, and emollient in natural beauty products. The only thing I do not like about lecithin is thatit comes from from soybeans and is solvent extracted.
Naturally derived emulsifiers means they are not 100% natural and are made in a lab, a good example is Emulsifying wax (also called polawax) . This one comes from from palm and is additive-free, making it a good alternative to the 100% natural emulsifiers listed above. This has a high melting point and can help to create an ultra-smooth cream The downside of using emulsifying wax is that you will have to use a preservative because usually you are mixing water with oil and this does not last long without spoiling and getting mold.
I personally don’t use emulsifiers that are made in a lab on a daily basis. They can, however, be useful if you want to make a liquid lotion that is not greasy. If you are looking to recreate the non-greasy texture of more conventional beauty products, using an emulsifier is the way to go. Just keep in mind, your beauty product will NOT be 100% natural.
The answer may surprise you, but it is a ‘yes’. And it is my favorite way of making a cream or body butter without any beeswax, or emulsifying wax.
Basically, if you use a butter and a carrier oil and mix them very fast, it will create a cream and even sometimes a whipped body butter. Even though it is not a proper emulsion, the end result is still a body cream.
Check out my anti-aging face cream recipe without beeswax here.
To make a cream or lotion with an emulsifier, you will need to:
1/Melt down the emulsifying wax, or natural wax with your other ingredients
2/ Blend thoroughly with your other ingredients.
Be sure to pay attention to the ratios your specific recipe calls for.
If you are inventing your own recipe using a natural emulsifier, you typically want to be between 5% to 10% of the emulsifier in the mixture.
Please let me know if you have any questions and if you are using any other natural emulsifiers in the comments below!
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View Comments
Hi,
Great info. I was wondering which emulsifier best works to combine water and oil to make a face lotion or cream. Does Rice Bran wax do the job?
Beeswax is NOT a true emulsifier. It can help to STABILISE w/o emulsions, however during the cooling stages it captures small droplets of water. Beeswax is an occlusive! PLEASE know the difference! and do proper research or join a school if you are going to be the one to educate and post to those who do not know better. Don't continue the chain of uneducated info.
Hi there, I’m trying to make some home made cleaning products. But I find that the essential oils can sometimes float about on the surface. All the emulsifiers that I come across are mostly for creams. Is there a liquid alternative that I could use. I currently use deionised water, coco glucose, decyl glucose. I’m trying to keep the ingredients as natural as possible. Thanks
Good day to you. I would like to mix my eucalyptus oil and a water based hand sanitizer, and not sure of the best natural emulsifiers I can use, to stop these two separating? Your guidance is appreciated.
You would need to use a solubilizer like solubol: https://www.aromatics.com/products/solubol-dispersant
Hi, what do you recommend for a all natural emulsifier & preservative to make a hair leave-in conditioner. I want to combine water, infused oils, & butters.
I USE STRAIGHT JOJOBA OIL JUST A FEW DROPS MASSAGED INTO & BRUSHED THROUGH WET HAIR IF YOU CONCENTRATE ON THE ENDS AND MID SECTIONS ENOUGH GETS BRUSHED THROUGH THE TOP AFTER IT HAS DRIED NATURALLY GIVE IT ANOTHER GOOD BRUSH TO BRUSH IN THE SHINE. LEAVES HAIR SOFT AND GORGEOUS I HAVE VERY LONG OLD HAIR AND IT KEEPS IT HEALTHY WITH IT'S LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT IT PENETRATES THE HAIR SHAFT. i DO NOT USE CONDITIONER WHEN I SHAMPOO.
What about cocobutter as a emulsifier for moisturising cream and how much could I use?
Thank goodness I'm not the only one that knows whats wrong here!
Which emulsfier is good for hair condition?
Looking to make a Body Spray with Eo and aloe or Vodka.. Need an emulsifier
Thank you for all your recipes, they have been so super helpful. I cant even express my appreciation well .Thank you!