This may also give you a 2-3 week shelf life if all utensils are sterilized. Will I get the same benefits from these herbs if I use essential oils vs the straight tea? I wanted the gel to function both as a styling aid and as a light leave-in conditioner. Some of the newer, natural preservatives require 3 preservatives used together to achieve preservation, and you might not want to mess with that.Storage is a concern. (I add the gelatin and xanthum gum after it's been strained, and started cooling down. Let them drain upside down to dry.I will link you to only broad-spectrum preservatives because you'll need that coverage for bacteria and molds. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. * OrganicNatural isolate blend sourced from essential oilsIf you don't mind, can you tell if anything else in that formulation is working in concert with the Leucidal as an antimicrobial or preservative? Here's my recipe:7oz Gel1oz OilEmulsifier (Xanthan or something better)FragrancePreservative (Optiphen PLUS)Problem: Optiphen PLUS breaks down the viscosity of my gel. Is easy to say.4. Hello,Getting a 1-2 year shelf life requires that you are able to create products in a sterile environment - which means air flow must be filtered and controlled, all surfaces sterilized, all tools thoroughly sterilized - inside and out.Flax gel has a tendency to break down, so it's very challenging to preservatives, so a 1-2 year shelf life is going to take some work to achieve - and some microbial testing and trial and error with different concentrations of preservative.Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets which is a flax gel sold commercially has a shelf life of 2.5 years, but 1 year after opening. And when in doubt - THROW IT OUT! For herbs that are boiled for more than a few minutes, some of these microbes will be killed. my recipe makes 8 oz. It seems like when i am using FSG, my hair gets smelly unless I wash it out that night. If you use this - make sure you are testing pH levels because the pH of the final product once you add the preservative will be too high, be ready to lower it to around 5 to 6 with citric acid. If so, what preservative can do this for me?3. A little redox to make you happy. Hello!
This is not a problem with storebought gel.
If it could inhibit bacteria, it will only inhibit the ones it's in contact with - not throughout the gel.If this sounds like too much work - you can freeze your product in an ice cube tray and thaw a single use (1-2 cubes). Btw this article is awesime! I am having trouble like you said above preserving it.
Essential oils are more concentrated than teas - but the effects may be different. P.S. Good luck! If you must "fudge" and use measuring spoons (approximate measurements, you will probably not get exactly this percent using a measuring spoon): Ideally, we subtract the weight of each additive from the total when formulating products (add one gram preservative, subtract one gram gel). Could you advise me?
I, also, add about 20 drops of the Neutral Protein Filler to this recipe for added protein (as my hair craves it). I'm interested in doing a flaxseed gel with both argon & olive oil. What do you recommend? Here is a link to a post about cleaning bottles for your homemade gel. Then empty and rinse. Copyright Wendy MS. Ethereal theme. :-) The flaxseed gel recipe with added xanthan gum, acacia gum, vitamin E, GSE (probably due to the glycerin in it) and Bronner's creme is working for me phenomenally well in Atlanta humidity, without a separate conditioner. That said, I looked at Aubrey's chia gel to see how they preserved a watery formulation with chia protein, thinking it would be analogous to flaxseed gel.By the way, I mistook ascorbic acid for citric acid in the usage note above. The full 1/2 teaspoon can be a bit too thick.Good luck! When youre done with your gel, if you wish to re-use the container, wash it well with soap and water (and a bottle brush if you have one), then use diluted bleach or rubbing alcohol (or un-diluted white vinegar) to sterilize. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/body-care-quality-standardsI was going to buy everything from your blog recommendation but then I saw EDTA was not permitted. A gel you plan to sell to customers must include a broad-spectrum preservative for safety's sake. Sometimes they work because of the preservatives added. Use a flip-top bottle so you don't contaminate the product with your fingers. *Is EDTA interchangeable with vitamin e for anti rancidity or is one better than the other?P.S I know it's a lot of questions, I would appreciate any help you can give.Thank you, Hello Karla,-A stick blender (immersion blender) probably does the best job of assuring the preservative is thoroughly distributed.
Best wishes - W, Hi! Best wishes - W. I'm making a flaxseed/marshmallow root hair gel. 2. in cream) and my skin doesn't tolerate well preservatives.Also, I have Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol mix, but when I used it at the concentration of 0.75% in my cream, small whiteheads appeared. Protein 101 - Lots of Basic Information About Using Protein in Hair Products, Oil Pre-Shampoo or Pre-Wash (And how to make it work for YOUR hair), Film Forming Humectants - What They Are and Why You Need Them. I need the gel to last 1-2 yearsis that even possible with Flaxseed Gel? If your nose is particularly sensitive to the odor of flaxseed gel - adding a fragrance would help also.If your gel isn't made with sterilized equipment (and your hair takes a long time to dry) - then it may be harboring something smelly.It might be worth trying some time when you have nowhere to go to use no products at all in your hair and see how it smells with nothing in it, too. I made it with gum arabic and xanthan gum. I thought I had commented on this already. Preservative: Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (0.5%) and citric acid to balance the pH: There was no evidence of bacterial or fungal contamination in the refrigerated or unrefrigerated samples.
Works with organic products.2. Rosemary extract on its own is probably not an anti-microbal, but its preservative may help, like the others. Back in April you helped me select a preservative for my flax seed hair gel. And, do you think adding Optiphen or some other preservative would solve the problem? Weighing is more accurate.Make sure you're sterilizing everything that touches the gel with dilute bleach or rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to prevent bacteria from getting into the product. I love your blog and use it all the time! If you are giving products to other people or selling products, you need to list the ingredients in their full ingredient names so people know exactly what is in there to manage your liability. Trish, Essential oils and teas will contain some of the same "active ingredients" - but probably in very different concentrations because for an essential oil - the oils are extracted from the plant. I noticed that the same base ingredients are in the kinky curly knot today leave in/detangler. W, I want to make a combination of gel aloe vera gel product commercial two months validity inside the cooler Is sodium benzoate suitable and what is the best way. Is this safe? For your oils and shea butter, some vitamin E would be nice to prevent oxidation (rancidity). Hello Melissa,I'm going to answer you in the form of links to ingredients. If your product goes funky because the measuring was off - don't say I didn't warn you. This article has been so helpful, but I'm still getting a little lost while reading. The gel was crystal-clear and the preservative did not change the texture or thickness. I haven't tried this product - it's fairly new. (38b, lavender), aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, chenopodium quinoa seed extract*, alcohol*, astragalus gummifer gum, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, xanthan gum, panthenol (vitamin B-5), rosa rubiginosa (Rosa Mosqueta) seed oil*, fragrance, alcohol, citrus grandis (grapefruit) extract, salvia hispanica seed oil* (chia), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), camellia sinensis leaf extract (black tea), hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, aspalathus linearis extract (rooibos tea), camellia sinensis leaf extract (green tea), citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) flower/leaf/stem extract*, salvia officinalis (sage) flower/leaf/stem extract*, equisetum hiemale extract (horsetail), tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) leaf extract, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract. Good luck! W. Very informative and fun to read article.How does Citric acid , potassium sorbate,cinnamon,greentea and vinegar work as a preservative in combination with each other? If you only want one week of room-temperature preservation, citric acid and potassium sorbate might be adequate if you've sterilized your equipment well - the percentages are listed above. It needs another preservative which is more active against bacterial growth - Sodium benzoate does not have enough anti-bacterial activity at concentrations safe to use in cosmetics. I used a Gram-stain test to detect bacteria in the gels as they were.
My concern is about homemade FSG without preservatives going "bad" on the hair itself. Remove the water and it's much more difficult for microbes to grow.If you're not having a problem with commercial products smelling bad in your hair, then adding a preservative to flaxseed gel (and sterilizing all your equipment and containers) should solve this worry.I keep my flax gel in the refrigerator or freezer - I never put my fingers in it to avoid contamination - and I've never had a problem with it smelling bad in my hair. Thank you so much for your help! "Extracts" are usually water-based ingredients.Rosemary essential oil (not extract) has antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, but essential oils are not thought of as preservatives. Sometimes it would be hours later before I would get back to my product and add the preservative. Hello Kathy,Preservatives are added when products have cooled down to 110F or below. Also I used a tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's styling creme, which has worked in combination with hair gel for me in the past. Better to be forthcoming.All preservatives are processed. The new gel doesn't work for me particularly well. Ascorbic acid is there - but that's quite different. A preservative is critical to preventing bacteria or mold growth in liquid products because all that water in the product is necessary for those microbes. I've been looking into making my own detangler out of the following ingredients: marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, aloe Vera juice and an oil of choice. I believe their preservative is Phenoxyethanol, though that alone is not broad spectrum. 1. It will be exposed to light and not refrigerated. Are you dissolving your Gluconolactone fully? I noticed you reply to everyone's questions and concerns, for that I say thank you because in many instances I've had the same questions/concerns. I can tolerate it, although I cannot tolerate other formaldehyde releasers, so to each their own. So the aloe, protein, and all the other herbal extracts also contribute their preservatives (although diluted) to the mixture. Okay - so you've had this problem before - that wasn't clear. The product was good stored in the bathroom for a week, but now it has started to create gas and grow like The Blob! Hi WS,This is such an amazing and informative post and the comments and yourresponses are just as great.I am very new to the DIY hair products and I'm a bit confused with the preservation aspect. Store it outside the bathroom (it's usually warmer in bathrooms) if possible. Therefore, the use of NeoDefend and L-Ascorbic Acid and Citric Acid in the same cosmetic formulations should be avoided." Once a product is dry in the hair, bacteria that can't survive drying out are no longer a problem. Hello Trish,Optiphen Plus would be a good choice as a broad-spectrum preservative.
"Gentleness" depends on whether a person has extremely sensitive skin or not. But others may not be if you just pour hot water over herbs and let them steep. They're diluted, but still working to some extent. Not a hair product question, but still about preserving Xanthan Gum gel.I think my preservative failed or it didn't mix well enough in my face serums with 0.75% Xanthan Gum :(The first one:10% Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate1% Glycerin0.75% Xanthan Gum0.5% Phenoxyethanol (and) EthylhexylglycerinIt went a little smelly. You can freeze the preserved gel. Grapefruit seed extracts have not been demonstrated to be true preservatives. I will not be adding oils directly to the gel, instead I plan on sealing my hair with a oils afterwards.
Best wishes - Wendy, Howdy! Preservative: Optiphen Plus (Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol and Sorbic acid, 0.5%): This preservative may not work well if you use hydroxyethylcellulose in your gels (it may be rendered less effective). Potassium sorbate inhibits mold growth in products. If you use other preservatives, you'll need to be careful to avoid interactions. Unless there is something in the Aloe Vera juice that is reacting with the preservative, that is my first guess - that it isn't staying dissolved or never was completely dissolved. The color and smell are still good, but I don't dare use it.I have some dermatitis, so I'm wondering what preservative would be the gentlest. Hello Jules,No, those additives will not help preserve the gel. Thank you for being such helpful blogger!! Hello "Unknown,"Refrigerating the preserved gel should assure a longer shelf life than leaving it out at room temperature. I am trying to use ingredients that are whole foods compliant. Like up to 6 months? And keeping it in as cool a place as possible.These ingredients need to be weighed out where 1% = 1 gram per 100 grams. -Blending up the gel does not change the texture permanently. This is not an issue with storebought gel. If so, how much should I use for my 8oz recipe? Hello again,I was a faithful user of the old Aubrey B-5 Design Gel, and mixed it as needed with Dr. Bronner's styling creme. ~W. I like hair spray now and then. to mess with your preservation. http://www.lotioncrafter.com/silverion-2400.html You use just a several drops for an 8 oz bottle of gel - so you would need very little for your mini-batch of hair gel. "Optiphen Plus" is a good choice too, but for such a small batch it could be difficult to weigh out (or measure) just the right amount.
Here is the list of what's not allowed. A very high proof ethanol will work for sterilizing also. I created my gelatin protein treatment recipe in the summer of 2010 and I've been using it ever since to reduce the frizz in my w What is a film-forming humectant? If not, what do you suspect is the longest I can preserve it and why?4. There are 3 - but I listed different suppliers.These preservatives come out fairly well in tests. Even then, I would refrigerate the product. We know preservatives can present environmental problems and can irritate some people's skin and contaminate water, but if we don't use them, we risk anything from minor annoyance at products going bad too soon, to minor skin infections, to life-threatening infections. These are the biggies, not only because they ruin your gel, but because the bacteria (or fungi) growing in your un-preserved, un-refrigerated gel could be pathogenic. And make it last outside refrigerating for a week or in the refrigerator. You might look into SwiftCraftyMonkey of Patreon.
They don't preserve the product, but they aren't such liabilities because they're pre-preserved. Astri, Hello Astri, sorry this response is so delayed. My question is: I make a flaxseed gel, with Marshmallow, Horsetail, Xanthum Gum, and Geletin. Am I doing a mistake by adding the preservative to the formed gel and better option would be to mix it first with water and then with a Xanthan Gum and Glycerin? With flax gel, you need to aim for the middle to higher end of the recommended use because the carbohydrates in the gel are challenging to preserve.http://www.makingcosmetics.com/Phenoxyethanol-SA_p_243.htmlhttp://www.lotioncrafter.com/optiphen-plus.htmlhttp://www.ingredientstodiefor.com/item/Optiphen_PLUS/87?category=32http://www.makingcosmetics.com/Gluconolactone-SB_p_978.htmlhttp://www.lotioncrafter.com/neodefend.htmlhttp://www.ingredientstodiefor.com/item/Gluconolactone_Sodium_Benzoate_GSB_/565?category=32http://www.makingcosmetics.com/Benzylalcohol-DHA_p_236.htmlI have also wondered about dehydrating flaxseed gel on a food dehydrator sheet to pack along and re-hydrate.
Is there another emulsifier you would recommend? Can I actually preserver the gel 1-2 years?2. I use mine up within a month or so and have never experienced any changes in texture or smell. I have not tested this for bacteria yet, I am sensitive to this preservative.
I suspect it is made in a cosmetics formulating lab, which is a very controlled environment.A broad-spectrum preservative is best for longer shelf lives. It is hair that is easily kept in a healthy condit Silicone Solubility List Updated April, 2022 I compiled these lists based on information from ingredient manufacturers. Test kits can be purchased (Makingcosmetics.com sells one), and some cosmetic formulating labs can test that for you. I cant make it last I need to add preservatives so my question is what preservatives can I use for my gel that is gentle enough children. Or can i just add the preservative without subtracting anything?. If you make homemade hair gels (I wont discuss other products right now because ionic-charged ingredients in conditioners or shampoos makes preserving more complicated), and you do not store them in the refrigerator or if you usually do, but are going away from home, then you need to think about preservatives. There may be a case for adding them while hotter to kill bacteria - but it might also de-activate preservatives in your additives.- Better to sterilize a metal strainer. That's a necessary sort of processing to assure the preservatives we use will keep our products safe to use and free from bacteria and mold growth.Those 2 preservatives should work with most ingredients you'd put in flaxseed gel. Check out all the "broad spectrum" preservatives and see what the specs are and if they might work for your product. Even rinse out your bottles with alcohol or bleach - and then rinse them clean with distilled water or tap water you've boiled and then cooled. Of course I always refrigerate it. Both should not have any interactions with your ingredients.Your formula will require using the preservative at the higher end of the recommended use because you have multiple challenges to preservation - herbal "tea," and flax gel. I appreciate it. Updated: June 2016 Plant oils are emollients used to soften hair or add plasticity or pliability. Thank you so much for this science-y information, it was much needed and showed me I have a long way to go before I can start selling these products. The product this one replaces used to have acacia gum in it, which adds just a bit of "crunch." The smell is ok.What can I do to prevent it from spoiling? I hope to produce Flaxseed Gel commercially but I am running into a few problems. If the Aloe gets some crystals in it alone - that might be the problem. But I will hazard a guess that you've created a dilute, but still somewhat-working "preservative system" with the multiple preservatives in your gel and the Neutral Protein Filler.I encourage you to sterilize everything that touches your gel when you mix with bleach solution or alcohol and let it all air-dry. I have used it in other products and I know of another person who used it in a complex flaxseed gel mixture with no evidence of contamination after almost a month. I try to avoid adding the maximum percentage because I use it in other products (f.e. Certain additional conditions are required for trace levels of benzene to form, including heat, ultraviolet light and metallic ions in the mixture. The preservative is reacting with something. Hello Trish,You need a broad-spectrum preservative for that blend, like Optiphen Plus or Sodium benzoate with Gluconolactone. W, Howdy,I also want to say thank you for replying to everyone's comments I have found them as informative as the article! The ingredients in my gel are Water, Carbomer Triethanolamine, Poluacrylate Acid, Glycerin, Fragrance, Phenylcarbinol, Methylchloisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Pathenol, Aloe Vera Extract, Tetrasodiaum EDTA, Colorant FD&C Violet #2. Questions: 1. There are times when bei First of all - this is not my technique. For 2-3 months, Optiphen Plus with EDTA would be the way to go. It needs to be compatible with anionic ingredients (check the label).Kinky Curly probably used commercially prepared herbal extracts which are pre-preserved and concentrated. I am going to Africa this summer for 3 weeks and need to find a way to preserve it with no refrigeration. Or does the fridge temperature somehow deactivate the preservative? pH and Your Hair. I have two hypothesis as to why this is happening. That's why I started researching DIY hair gel and landed on your blog. When I post links, they're not always active ones. I do not plan on making much gel at the moment. (ethanol), but it's listed after the guar gum, so it's preserving powers aren't much help. You have been such a big help to me, thank you so very much. If you're using distilled water and herbal extracts, you probably don't need citric acid to lower the pH, it should stay around 6. That's not meant to sound snarky - it's a difficult compromise people who formulate products must make. Hello Nicole,Your combination of commercial gel and flax gel is lending the preservatives from the commercial gel to the flax gel. Even that is on the low side.As far as dry vs. wet - the bigger risk of a contaminated product is whenever it has the most access to eyes, nose, mouth, open wounds. Optiphen Plus makes thick polysaccharide gels like flaxseed gel slightly less stringy (alters viscosity when added). It clumps a lot and sometimes leaves a bit of white residue on the hair. But it is better to combine Sodium benzoate with other preservatives like potassium sorbate (for mold control) and another co-preservative like EDTA or one of the antimicrobials that has good activity against bacteria. But I was shocked because PAD is antimicrobial and it was even stored in the fridgeThen I made another one:5% Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate1% Glycerin0.85% Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin0.75% Xanthan GumLactic Acid to 6.5 pH.It was ok in room temperature, but after like 3 weeks it went a little cloudy. Would you recommend the Optiphen Plus? (I don't have any sensitivities with any preservatives)*As I sanitize everything how long do I need to leave the alcohol or rinse right away? However, L-Ascorbic acid is also not supposed to mix well with GSB, so I'm confused as to why that's in there. I'm still getting pH drift with GSB but at least it's not crystallizing anymore! Preservatives by their required effect must prevent the growth of bacteria and molds and in doing that - they are not 100% gentle and benign or they would not work. I can't remember what these translate into (in percentages) but somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon per 8 oz gel is enough to add a bit of hold and thicken the gel without too much flaking. But it depends on what the problem is. Other things to do are store the product out of the light and use bottles with flip-tops so you are not putting your hands into the product to use it.
(After straining, while boiling etc)* Can a cheesecloth be sanitized and safe enough to strain the gel and still last 1 month? Dehydroxanthan gum might work better. Distilled water assures your pH is correct and there are no minerals or bacteria etc. I hope they will be, otherwise, copy and paste.Make sure you use distilled water (not "spring water" and not tap water). Good luck! Is minimally processed.3.
I think I looked into that and that's how I got sidetracked. Having said. The result was beautiful on my hair.
In addition to that - Carbomer (the thickener in your commercial gel) tends to be inhospitable to microorganisms and that can also help discourage microbial growth.Neutral protein Filler is also loaded with preservatives because proteins can go bad easily - so those are adding to the mix. I have the following questions:A) is adding all the additional ingredients a bad idea (is it too much? I see that the ascorbic acid would bring the pH down and that the rosemary extract might be in there as an antioxidant.Thank you again.Dali. And can you please tell me at what point to add a preservative to my process? Thank you! Also just wondering if you had heard of this problem. And using distilled water so there are no minerals or bacteria and the pH is suitable for most preservatives.Broad-spectrum preservatives tend to be combination products so they cover a wide range of bacteria and molds.
Conditioning Technique: Squish to Condish, How it Works. If you'd rather measure, you would be using about 1/2 teaspoon preservative per cup of strained gel with additives to reach something around 1%. Preservatives such as Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol and Sorbic Acid (Optiphen Plus), Gluconolactone and Sodium benzoate. "-Usually additives are added when the hot phase has cooled below 110F.
The presence of ascorbic acid and benzoates alone does not lead to the formation of benzene. If you didn't subtract those 30 grams and you added them to the 100 grams of gel (new total =130 grams), the 1g of preservative that was supposed to equal 1% would be present only at 0.75% and in some cases, that could cause preservative failure. Phenoxyethanol sold as "Optiphen Plus" which has 2 other ingredients to make it broad-spectrum (sorbic acid and caprylyl glycol) might work.Optiphen Plus might be a good choice, so is Gluconolactone + Sodium benzoate. Hello! Ingredients: filtered water, organic flax seed, organic aloe vera juice, gluconolactone SB.If it's 1 what pH do you think the product should be to not crystalized. Flaxseed gel is anionic - that's important to know for predicting preservative interactions.Good luck - W. Hello,I am new to the DIY products I love the flax seed guar gum combo I use it for my 1 1/2 year old curly haired child. It is better to weigh the gel and the preservative so you're certain to have 1% (or 1 gram preservative per 100 grams gel). You would need a broad-spectrum preservative. Then the next day it's thinner with less hold. What can I add to preserve it.
If you're adding a conditioner base - you need something compatible with cationics too.Citric acid is a pH adjustor. --pril, Hello April, sorry for the delay. http://www.lotioncrafter.com/neodefend.html. Let me get up on my soapbox for a moment. Citric Acid is not thought to induce significant benzene production in combination with Benzoic Acid, but some evidence suggests that in the presence of ascorbic acid and benzoic acid, citric acid may accelerate the production of benzene. Cinnamon, green tea and vinegar are not preservatives and do not necessarily assist in preservation.
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