(Part 2) Best products from r/DIYBeauty

THANK YOU. This response was exactly what I was looking for and more, and I learned a lot of new things from everyone's comments. I now totally understand why a preservative would need to be used if the product isn't being made fresh daily. I also didn't know turmeric is oil soluble, which is interesting because that means if you drink it in tea you aren't even getting any benefits. Huh. You seem like a very informed and knowledgable person on this, and I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and suggest a product. I went on the alba botanical website, and I feel like they are one of those brands who has an oil phobia. Oils and oil cleansing is basically what cleared my acne and "dry skin" (caused by cleansers and synthetic moisturizers) and it's not something I want to get rid of. Also, not that it really matters but the girls on their website are definitely photoshopped. I guess what I'm looking for is a serum with chemical exfoliants? Before seeing any of these comments, I purchased this while at an organic market because it looked like something that could work. How do the ingredients look to you?

Source please?

SAP recommended usage rate is 0.2-3% for antioxidant activity, 10% for skin lightening (Source: https://www.makingcosmetics.com/Vitamin-C-sodium-ascorbyl-phosphate_p_1040.html). However since Vit C SAP is a synthentic C, its conversion to usable ascorbic acid is lower than that of a natural L-Ascorbic Acid. 15% L-Ascorbic Acid is typically the "gold standard" % for use in serums (think SkinCeut CE Ferulic). Therefore a concentration of 20% Vit C SAP is ideal.

Here are some links to successful commercially-made Vit C SAP serums that use a 20% concentration: https://www.amazon.com/Amara-Organics-Vitamin-Serum-Hyaluronic/dp/B00G2TQNZ4/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506308000&sr=1-4&keywords=amara+organics ; https://www.amazon.com/TruSkin-Naturals-Vitamin-Anti-Aging-Hyaluronic/dp/B01M4MCUAF/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506308515&sr=1-4&keywords=vit%2Bc%2Bserum&th=1 ; https://www.amazon.com/Seoul-Ceuticals-Korean-Skin-Care/dp/B072K1LNNY/ref=sr_1_12_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1506308515&sr=1-12&keywords=vit+c+serum

Ooo, I looked up cera bellina and it sounds perfect! I have a few questions for you. It looks like the cera bellina comes solid. Do you heat it up then add it to your room temperature mix? Or measure it out solid and warm the entire recipe up, then mix? Something else?

I'm interested in the optiphen just for the extra protection. I have this bottle that I'd like to use to store the oil, and it's easiest to keep it in my bathroom. My main worry is that steam from the shower will get in the pump area enough to contaminate the oil (the bathroom doesn't vent well at all), but this might be silly.

Also, if you wear makeup, does the 11.5% cromollient emulsify enough to get it off? I was planning to use 10%. I have a separate eye makeup remover that I like to use before cleansing so I'm mainly wondering about foundation and sunscreen.

Cos de baha Azelaic Acid 10% Serum 1oz with Niacinamide - Rosacea Skin Care Product + Reduce Cystic Acne Scar + Redness Relief Face + Pimple Pigmentation Blackhead + Vitamin B3 + B5, Gluten Free, 1oz (30ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QM5KGDK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4pCDDb6PNND1J

By 'really accurate' I mean one that won't drift up & down, give a different reading every time the same item is placed on it... stuff like that. I've been using this scale because my husband already had it for his coin collecting (we both have expensive hobbies XD ) and it's not the most accurate. I have to constantly calibrate it, like not just once when I first start using it during my DIY session but every time I turn it on. And it's hard to get it to pick up very small measurements like .02 grams (I often make very small batches to try a recipe out- like 10 grams total in order to not waste materials if it doesn't work out). Thank you for the link, I will check it out.

You probably can start with intro chemistry like this one. If you are still interested in cosmetic science, Perry recommended this book. Taking a chemistry course at community college is another option. Institute of Personal Care Science offers an online cosmetic chemistry program.

I have "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy" by Valerie Ann Worwood. I haven't dug into it yet but it's a pretty big book (400+ pages) and seems to cover almost every possible topic. Definitely written from more of an herbalist's/medicinal perspective, though.

The best mixer for you depends on batch size, the products you most like to make, and your budget. If you make a lot of small (<200ml) batches of not-very-viscous things like toners, serums, and lotions, a cheap milk frother or a batter-powered mini mixer designed for drinks (like this one) will probably do the trick. If you make larger batches, or very thick creams, you may need a plug-in mixer designed for cakes or an immersion stick blender.

I have a battery-powered mini mixer and I use the plastic attachments way more often than I do the metal ones, and always when I'm making an L-AA serum. When I'm making a thick face cream, even in a very small batch (<50ml), my mini mixer does get a bit sluggish, so I'm thinking of getting a second mixer for that situation.

Thanks! If I were to buy a glass pump bottle, do you think that would keep water and bacteria out effectively? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Cobalt-Glass-Boston-Bottles/dp/B00DVQVJYG

Hey,

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I have found this recipe below online, but I want to replace the vitamin E oil with soya oil (infused with calendula). My question is, will it work? Also.. the recipe makes 100ml and I would like to make 120ml. How do I go about calculating the recipe accurately to make 120ml?



38g | 1.34oz raw shea butter
2g | 0.07oz vitamin E oil
10g | 0.35oz complete emulsifying wax (not beeswax!)

48g | 1.7oz aloe vera juice (not gel!)
2g | 0.07oz vegetable glycerin

Homemade lotion bars:

• 1 part coconut oil
  
• 1 part shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter (or a mix of all three equal to 1 part)
  
• 1 part beeswax (can add an extra ounce or two if you want a thicker consistency, which leaves less lotion on the skin when used)
  
• optional: Vitamin E oil to preserve. I added 1 tsp vitamin E oil for this recipe made with 1 cup of each ingredient)
  
  Combine in double boiler, add essential oils until incorporated, pour into molds, let harden.
  
  I use silicone flower molds to pour these; you can see what they look like when finished here. I got the molds at Amazon
  here.

Thanks for the reply! I don't know why I didn't think you'd be here, your like my skincare godmother lol. I was thinking about using it in it's original packaging but if something like this is necessary I can switch over to that.

So I've looked into some more DIY threads and I'm assuming you mean percentages, so for that I'm unsure if I need a digital scale. So I measure out the amount of oil cleanser I have now, roughly, using the digital scale. Then using another type of container, like a beaker, I measure out the correct number of Cromollient SCE I need, for example 0.60 ounces if I had about 5.40 ounces of mineral oil, to make the total batch 6 ounces. Am I missing anything?

I buy 6 pks on Amazon for about $16.00.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ED5HD08/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are really easy to use and clean. I make serums for my face and my own liquid foundation and I haven't had a problem with leaking or with the pump.

Has anyone tried using L Ascorbic acid like this that's sold as a supplement? It's so much cheaper than what you find at places like lotion crafter and making cosmetics but I don't know if it's as effective.

Not very thick. It's a thin, runny gel. There are some tutorials out there for stock serum; I'm not sure if they all mention preservatives, but if you're making something to keep in stock be sure to add an appropriate preservative.

For packaging, I like glass bottles with treatment pumps for thin formulas. It's hard to find them cheaply in small quantities though.

I'd think stock serum would be fine applied as-is.

> https://www.amazon.com/Cosmetic-DISSOLVES-INSTANTLY-available-effective/dp/B01H19L74K/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1504641819&sr=8-2&keywords=ultra+fine+vitamin+c+powder

This is the brand I'm using along with their ferulic acid. I used it to make the Acid Queens Vitamin C serum and so far I like it. My husband has commented that my skin is glowing and I feel like I wake up with bright looking skin each morning even on days that I didn't get enough sleep.