Lotion In Aluminum Bottle? The 48 Correct Answer

It’s a fairly common phenomenon to be confused as to which is the natural lotion preservative to buy. This dilemma arises due to the existence of different types of natural preservatives for lotions that exist in the market. To solve your riddle, we have prepared a comprehensive guide on how to choose the best natural lotion preservative on the market.

Are you looking for the most reliable and efficient natural lotion preservative on the market? If the answer to the question is yes, then you are in luck because your luck has put you in the best possible place. We’re here to save you time and relieve you of the stress of sorting through a plethora of reviews.

Our recommended 10 best natural preservatives for lotions in 2022

Best recommendations and buying guide for your natural lotion preservative

Before you buy your favorite natural lotion preservative, there are a few factors you should consider. These factors will ultimately help you decide which natural lotion preservative best suits your needs.

Do an online research on all the available natural lotion preservatives on the market. This is useful for both online and retail/in-person purchases. When shopping on an online marketplace, try to find the most trusted online store. Usually, the online stores that have the most followers of the masses are the best.

These stores not only offer reliable products, but also provide buyers with a wide range of diversified products. Look for the different types of natural lotion preservatives available at the online store and find a selection.

Read people’s reviews on the online sites to understand the detailed and nuanced pros and cons of this particular natural lotion preservative. You can also understand if a particular natural lotion preservative meets your needs by reading other people’s reviews.

Evaluating products online before purchasing the desired products in retail is also a widespread phenomenon.

As you do the crucial research on the natural lotion preservative available on the market, you may ask yourself a few questions that will help you in your decision:

Are natural preservatives in lotions worth it?

What are the various pros and cons that come with buying a natural lotion preservative?

What do you need to think about to buy the most efficient natural lotion preservative at the best price?

What are some of the natural lotion brand preservatives available in the market today? What’s in the future?

Is enough information available about what you want?

Why should I own one or many natural lotion preservatives when the quality may not be the very best?

Other benefits of buying natural lotion preservatives from online marketplaces

Aside from some of the benefits mentioned above, there are certain other benefits that can be attributed to online stores:

Promotions

There are many promotional prices and discounts in online stores. In fact, online stores have more promotions than retail stores. Since these stores work with several dealers at the same time, a customer can avail a specific product at the best possible price.

reliability

Online marketplaces have come a long way since the beginning of the millennium. They have become a huge source of income for many important people in the world.

This seismic growth of the industry is due to the reliability and trustworthiness codes that online markets follow. As a result, consumers can almost guarantee that they will get the right products at the right time and at the right price.

Nuanced Market

There is rigidity in the items that can be sold in online stores. There is a wide variety and nuanced markets to help consumers find what they are looking for.

Sometimes you even come across something you didn’t know about before. The availability of alternative products is central to ensure online store dominance.

Here’s how to make sure you’re choosing the right natural preservative for lotions

If you are an early or new user, you may find it difficult to find the right natural lotion preservative. You may not be aware of certain facets of the natural lotion preservative that you may have thought of. But we are here to help you with that! The following recommendations might be helpful in your hunt:

Price

Everyone has a budget and wants to make purchases that fit their budget. To make sure you get the best deal, surf as many markets as you can to see the price differences.

This will help you get an idea of ​​the status of the market. Set your price range based on what you know.

brand

In the natural lotion preservatives industry, brand loyalty is very high. As a result, consumers tend to choose the brand they have been associated with the longest. Well-known brands guarantee reliability.

Otherwise, the masses would not have bought products from well-known brands. Different brands have different characteristics. Choose a brand whose characteristics you feel most comfortable with.

Different brands have different visual characteristics. This also leads to people choosing different products.

customer consensus

If you are an inexperienced user, try to consult with active users of natural lotion preservatives. They can give you practical knowledge that they have acquired through the application. Sometimes you can get information out of people that you can’t find in mainstream media – it can be either good or bad information about the product.

User ratings are often very influential in people deciding which brand of natural lotion preservatives to buy. You could end up having the final say in the purchase decision.

functionality

It is imperative that you understand the functionality of your natural lotion preservative before making your purchase. Admittedly, a lot of knowledge about the product is learned through use and experience. Since there are different types, try to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Finally

There’s only so much we can tell you about buying your new best natural lotion preservative. However, we are confident that if you follow the recommendations given here, you will find something that best suits your needs.

Good luck with your new purchase!

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How to preserve natural skin care products

So you’ve decided to go all-natural in your beauty routine, and you’re ready to switch up your skincare routine. That’s great! Your health will improve in ways you never thought possible. But what about preservatives? Natural preservatives in skin care are an absolute must!

A natural and healthy lifestyle involves a great deal of fighting against things you cannot see. When it comes to DIY skincare, you need a preservative when using a water-based ingredient. I’m going to show you what a preservative is, natural options and how to use them. Let’s start!

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This post contains affiliate links. Learn more here.

Aren’t preservatives bad for you?

Depending on the preservative yes, it can be. But other preservatives can also be used in your DIY lotion. We have many non-toxic options out there that can prevent bacteria from growing in our DIY products. And most companies are jumping on the natural preservative bandwagon! But we still have a long way to go.

A very popular preservative to stay away from is parabens. I could write a whole post about why they are the devil of skincare. Parabens have been linked to hormone imbalances, infertility, and birth defects, among other things. Because parabens are quickly absorbed by the skin and have a very similar effect to estrogen. (source) Basically, any product that contains parabens is a hormone treatment you don’t need!

Parabens are typically disguised as a big word with “paraben” at the end. There are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben and isobutylparaben. (source) If you see a product with any of these ingredients, walk the other way! Fortunately, parabens are among the most popular ingredients for companies to remove from their ingredient lists. That’s why so many labels say “paraben-free” these days.

Common natural preservatives in skin care products

A fairly common rule of thumb in the natural living community is that you shouldn’t buy a product that you can’t pronounce everything on the ingredient list. This is a great rule, but it’s not realistic for every situation. There are many “safe” ingredients that can be made in the lab and are used in many clean products.

Some of these safe preservatives are:

phenoxyethanol

ethylhexylglycerol

propylene glycol

benzyl alcohol

potassium sorbate

dehydroacetic acid

If you see these preservatives in an ingredients list, don’t panic! I’ve seen most of them before. In fact, they’re in most of my favorite beauty products that I like to buy rather than make. And that’s good! These ingredients tell me they will not form bacteria or mold over time. Almost all are made in a lab and tested for sensitivity and toxicity. (Source)

Why you need preservatives in DIY skincare

It’s about creating an environment where mold and bacteria can thrive. And one of the biggest things that allows microbes to grow is water. It is one of the most important requirements for maintaining life!

Therefore, it is imperative that all water-based skin care products contain some kind of preservative. Water-based ingredients typically include:

Aloe vera gel

hydrolates

glycerin

Treasure

Floral water or herbal teas (duh)

When any of these ingredients are present in a product, it needs a preservative. Otherwise, the water-based ingredient will make the product a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. And you will spread large amounts of this stuff on your skin, which can lead to illness or infection.

However, not all cosmetic products are water-based! Products like lip balms and my DIY Vapor Rub do not contain any water-based ingredients. The word for these types of products is anhydrous. Here’s your vocabulary lesson for the day! Some products may even be semi-anhydrous due to the possibility of water contamination. A sugar scrub is a perfect example. If you apply it with wet hands in the shower, some water will inevitably get into the glass and allow bacteria to grow. So most sugar scrubs would also need a preservative.

It’s very common for DIY lotion recipes to contain aloe vera, so a preservative should always be present. Preservatives get a bit of a bad rap because there are more toxic versions than natural versions. But if you want to avoid contracting some of your homemade lotion, you need a preservative!

The dangers of not using preservatives

I admit that I only recently discovered the need for a preservative. And by recently I mean a few weeks before this post was made. I want to bring you well-researched information here at Essential Moves to Wellness, and I’ve invested a lot more time into what actually goes into proper DIY skincare.

When I found out the truth about natural preservatives, I was ashamed! My Homemade Non-Greasy Lotion Recipe is one of my most popular posts! And I’ve been missing one of the most important ingredients for literally years. But I’ve since cleaned up this post, and it’s perfectly safe to make now. And as if that wasn’t enough, I noticed this wax in my last jar of lotion:

EEEWWWWWW!

Let’s just say I threw that lotion away real quick! While it may not seem like a problem to have some bacteria in your lotion before it starts making fluffy stuff, there are dangers to be aware of. As with expired food, you run the risk of exposing yourself to infection or illness. Especially if you accidentally get the stuff in your eyes or mouth! This can be incredibly dangerous for people with a compromised immune system. You’re trying to get healthier, not catch the plague!

These things are NOT a natural preservative!

Some sources will say that vegetable glycerin and certain essential oils are considered preservatives, which unfortunately is not true. While there are antibacterial essential oils out there, like tea tree essential oil, they are actually antioxidants. That means they actually kill germs and slow down a product’s aging process, but that only goes so far. You need something a lot heavier if you want your product to last a few months.

Some popular fake preservatives include:

Vegetable glycerin

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil

Vitamin E Oil

As for the vegetable glycerin, it doesn’t work very well as a preservative as more than half of the content of your product has to be glycerin to be effective. And that doesn’t make a very good product, does it? True, it would stop bacterial growth to some degree, but there are better options out there!

The best natural preservatives for DIY skincare

To me, the best natural preservatives are made from something in nature and processed into something better. Of course with intact natural properties. These preservatives were derived from nature to extend the life of our homemade products without endangering our health. I have my top three recommendations below that have good accessibility and effectiveness.

My personal favorite preservative that I use in my homemade lotion recipe. It prevents bacterial and mold growth better than most preservatives out there. It is made from probiotic organisms called Lactobacillus, which are the small organisms responsible for fermenting foods like kimchi and sauerkraut or any other type of cabbage. (Source)

I know it sounds crazy that you put little microorganisms in your lotion to prevent mold and bacteria. But these little buggers make the lotion more acidic, which stunts the growth of all the bad stuff we don’t want to deal with. Unfortunately no, they don’t eat the mold and bacteria. It’s also one of the most accessible preservatives as you can easily find it on Amazon.

Phytocide Aspen Bark Extract Powder

As you can guess from the name, Aspen Bark Extract comes from the bark of the American aspen tree. The bark is full of salicylates, which act as the tree’s immune system. It kept invading parasites out of the tree’s inner layers of bark, and people even used the bark for medicinal purposes before modern medicine. These antimicrobial properties also keep your lotions and creams fresher for longer. (Source)

preservative ECO

This preservative made the list because it’s ideal for fragrance-free recipes. It is made up of a total of four preservatives that make it the super preservative that it is. These ingredients are benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid, glycerin and sorbic acid. All of these ingredients are perfect for use in home and beauty products. (Source) They work well on their own as a preservative, but the four of them together make a great natural preservative.

What is an emulsifier and do I need one?

If you’ve read through the external information I referenced in the preservatives I recommend, you may have noticed the word “emulsifier.” What the hell is that? An emulsifier is a special type of binder that helps water and oil mix evenly. And there is a lot of water and oil in lotions and creams!

In the past I’ve had my readers use beeswax pellets to tie everything together. And of course you still can! The problem with beeswax is that it all separates over time, so you’ll have to mix it all back together once or twice before it’s all gone. I had to do it myself a few times. An emulsifier is a stronger binding agent so your lotions and creams don’t separate. You can buy my favorite emulsifier below.

There are different types of emulsifiers, but for the sake of simplicity, in this post I recommend emulsifying wax pellets for your lotions and creams. It’s almost exactly the same as beeswax pellets; The only difference is that it just works better. Emulsifying wax is made from vegetable oils and treated with a safe alcohol so it can easily bind oil and water together.

How to use natural preservatives in DIY skincare

Now that we have a preservative and a good emulsifier, it’s time for some tips on how to use it properly! I know it sounds a bit complicated, but it’s just about doing a few things a little differently than before. You still end up with a fabulous chemical-free lotion!

Before I educated on preservatives and emulsifiers, I just had you toss all the ingredients in a double boiler and let them cool a bit before whipping the lotion up with a mixture. Now things need to be cooked in two separate steps: the water-based ingredients and the oil-based ingredients. Don’t use any preservative yet! It’s best to use two glass mason jars containing the two types of ingredients in a large saucepan partially filled with water.

Once everything is melted, slowly pour your water ingredients into your oil ingredients and whisk together. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and keep an eye on the temperature. When your mixture reaches a certain temperature, add your preservative and stir. Let the mixture cool and whip it up with a hand mixer. And that’s it! You should have a luxurious, natural and safe to use lotion. Check out my DIY lotion recipe to see what I mean.

When you add your preservative depends on which one you use! Every preservative is different, so be sure to read the supplier’s directions. For example, Leucidal Liquid SF is safe to add below 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Adding it before the mixture cools to this temperature will mess up the consistency of the lotion. How much you use also depends on the preservative. Please make sure you read the instructions carefully before adding them to your mix!

Final thoughts on natural preservatives in skin care

I know this was a long and complicated post, but now you have the knowledge on how to make skincare like the pros! Seriously, you could now make a lotion that would rival even the best natural skincare companies. And you don’t have to worry about it smelling funny or having fluffy things growing on it in a few months.

While preservatives aren’t viewed in the best light these days, there are many safe preservatives found in nature that you can use in your homemade skincare routine. And you don’t have to worry about using a preservative in everything you make. Just use preservatives in products with water-based ingredients.

I’m happy to say that my new and improved lotion is now working like a dream! My skin is hydrated and healthy and I have peace of mind knowing I’m not spreading bacteria all over my face. Remember that to make good lotions and creams you always need a natural preservative and emulsifier. This way your product has a longer shelf life and the ingredients don’t separate over time.

Have you ever worked with natural preservatives? Let me know in the comments below!

Related to natural preservatives in skin care:

List of natural preservatives

What happens if you don’t moisturize your body? from JUARA skin care

Sometimes applying a layer of lotion can feel like sweet relief. Other times, when you just want to lay your head on the pillow at the end of a long day, it might seem like an extra step. We know the feeling – actually both feelings.

Since the skin is your body’s largest organ and its first line of defense, using a lotion can help restore balance and improve overall health.

While your skin naturally produces moisture, adding some body lotion can make it more hydrated and supple. If you’re using a moisturizer from a top skincare line, you might even notice how extra indulgent self-care can feel. You deserve this moment as much as you need this moisture.

But what exactly do body lotions do? And what happens if we don’t use them?

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of body lotion, we’re here to help. We take a look at the role of moisturizers in skincare and share some of our favorites below.

See Related: What’s the Best Moisturizing Body Wash?

What body lotion can do for dry skin

When you suffer from dry skin, it generally means that you are dealing with an underproduction of sebum. Hot summers or harsh winters can exacerbate these problems due to low humidity. Without adding moisturizing ingredients to the skin’s surface, you can be left with red, tight, itchy skin.

It seems easy, and it turns out it is. When you’re moisturizing dry skin, you’re doing it a favor by replenishing what’s been lost or was originally missing.

Whenever the environment is less humid, you will feel the difference. It cannot draw the normal amount of moisture from the air into the epidermis. Without that water vapor, the skin loses a little va-voom.

In winter, the air tends to be less humid. Dry air is sometimes defined as the point where relative humidity falls below 40%.

If you are constantly exposed to low humidity environments, your lips will become chapped and you may become dry and feel tight all over. So before you settle in by the fire, you might want to spend a little time with some lotion.

Patients with more serious side effects, such as skin peeling or excessive redness, may have an underlying medical condition that requires the expertise of a dermatologist. Don’t hesitate to consult a professional if you suffer from chronic conditions.

For most people, lotion can be a lifeline when it’s cold and dry outside. One of our favorite solutions for dehydrated skin that has seen better days is JUARA Candlenut Body Cream.

JUARA Candlenut Body Cream

This award-winning, best-selling moisturizer has rave reviews for a reason. It probably doesn’t hurt that when you twist off the top, you’re greeted with a heady tropical aroma that includes notes of freesia, rose, blooming white jasmine, and even hints of coconut. The best thing about this body cream, however, is how it transforms sallow and lifeless skin into the silky smooth skin of a radiant goddess.

It may sound like an exaggeration, but our Candlenut Body Cream will actually make you feel like heaven.

With a whipped texture that makes you feel like you’re floating on a cloud, this fast-absorbing moisturizer leaves skin smoother and plumper. It brings much-needed moisture. Your thirsty, exhausted skin will thank you.

This cream contains omega-rich candlenut oil, avocado oil and carrot seed oil. That means it’s packed with fatty acids that help fill in cracks and crevices between cells. This makes the skin less flaky and full of life.

Antioxidant-enriched Vitamin E and Illipe Butter provide additional skin support and help build a protective barrier against unwanted environmental toxins and stress.

It’s no wonder that beauty tipsters often say it on their lips. Candlenut Body Creme was the Pop Sugar Beauty Awards Hall of Fame winner for Conscious Beauty Buys.

Lotion likely helps fight early signs of aging

If you don’t use moisturizer on your body or face, you are likely to see more signs of premature aging.

What happens when the skin becomes dry is that it actually experiences a low level of inflammation. This ongoing inflammation can lead to collagen breakdown.

This is bad news for the beauty. “Dehydrated skin shows all the lines,” says Dr. Whitney Bowe, board certified dermatologist. And while you might not do much harm by skipping or skimping on skin cream, Dr. Bowe notes that this increases the likelihood of dryness and irritation, which can also lead to flaking and itching.

All of this naturally makes the skin look both older and more tired and worn.

When your environment is dry and compounding the problem, hydration is even more important. Also, if you’re concerned about collagen loss and its impact on fine lines and wrinkles, certain creams can help.

Collagen, as you may recall, is a protein that—along with elastin—provides structure and support to much of your body tissue. Since collagen production decreases with age, it is all the more important to support its synthesis and prevent its breakdown. In other words, pay attention to how skincare habits affect these key proteins.

Hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-enriched vitamins and essential fatty acids are key partners when it comes to combating unwanted collagen loss.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a powerful humectant, a type of moisturizer that draws water to the top layers of the epidermis. There are different forms of HA such as sodium hyaluronate, the sodium salt form extracted from hyaluronic acid. It has a lower molecular weight than hyaluronic acid, which allows it to penetrate the top layer of skin and improve hydration of the layers below.

Vitamins like vitamin C are excellent sources of antioxidants that help protect skin from free radical damage. This is the type of damage caused by excessive sun exposure and other environmental factors that upset the skin’s natural balance.

Oils with essential fatty acids help build healthy cell membranes. They support the health and function of the skin barrier, which in turn ensures a more youthful appearance.

Now you might be wondering if you can even find all of the above properties in one moisturizer. Well, at JUARA we have a specific product in mind.

JUARA Sweet Black Tea & Rice Moisturizing Cream

All three of the above elements – a form of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and essential fatty acids – are present in JUARA’s Sweet Black Tea & Rice Moisturizer. It’s sort of the holy grail of hydration.

If your skin feels dry and fatigued, or you’re seeing more wrinkles than you’d like, consider this nutrient-dense beauty booster that you can use day or night.

It contains sodium hyaluronate, the properties of which have been alluded to above.

The formula also contains turmeric, which is rich in antioxidants – like our wonder anti-bagging cream – tea ferment and five berry flavors to counteract the effects of sun exposure and other toxins. Instead of wreaking havoc on skin cells, these rogue free radicals are quickly dealt with as the antioxidants protect your skin from further damage.

Avocado Oil, Candlenut Oil and Illipe Seed Butter are powerful moisturizing ingredients that provide fatty acids and help skin feel smoother.

This moisturizing cream from JUARA firms your face and feels great. It works best if you have a normal to dry skin type.

Bonus: Which Night Cream Is Best For Glowing Skin?

Applying the right face lotion can reduce acne breakouts

Most people have at some point assumed that applying face creams to acne-prone skin is a no-go. However, breakouts don’t go away when your skin is dry. Dryness can make acne worse.

What you want to achieve is balance. Sometimes oil-free moisturizers work for those who want to avoid a greasy texture.

If you have oily skin, you should try JUARA Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Oil-Free Moisturizer. It’s a refreshing cream-gel that helps control oil and minimize the appearance of pores. It’s also fragrance-free, which can be a bonus for those with sensitive skin.

The shedding of dead skin cells is smoother with moisturized skin

The skin renewal cycle, also known as cell turnover, involves shedding dead cells to allow younger cells to move to the top. The end result is fresh, new skin that contributes to a healthy complexion.

It is one of our body’s healthy and natural renewal processes and supports the health of the skin barrier. Nevertheless, this cycle sometimes slows down and could use our help. Certain problems can also cause dirt and debris to mix with cells and clog pores.

We can give Mother Nature a helping hand.

It is important to wash, tone and moisturize your skin. However, we occasionally forget about that other crucial step in maintaining glowing skin: exfoliation. Whether it’s chemical or physical peeling, our skin can sometimes benefit from a little nudge.

If you can help keep the top surface layer clear, you should see a change in your complexion from matte to dewy. However, be careful not to overdo it with too much scrubbing as irritation may occur. (Although if you use our enzyme peel then scrub it away!)

Moisturizing is also a must. Moisturizer prevents water loss in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of our skin. When cells are shedding at a healthy rate and the underlying layers aren’t adequately hydrated, you may be struggling with dandruff.

With regular cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing, you can support the cycles that keep you at your optimal level of beauty.

And as if it needs to be said again, never neglect the neck. It’s often one of the first areas to show sun damage and can make you look unnecessarily older if you forget to factor it into your skincare routines and rituals.

Luckily, we have a nice skincare suggestion for a nail polish you’ll want to go all over.

Candlenut body polish

JUARA Candlenut Body Polish combines walnut scrubs and nourishing Illipe butter for a double whammy that perfects your complexion.

As discussed above, we often need to help brush away the dry flakes that sit on top and wick moisture into the layers below. This polish takes care of both of those things.

While the walnut scrub gently removes surface buildup, coconut oil, avocado oil, illipe butter and other softening and soothing ingredients moisturise. Humectants and emollients heal and soften so your whole body starts to have that natural glow.

Because this formula contains no soap or surfactants, it washes off clean, leaving no residue. That’s one of the unique things about this particular product. You can apply it like a normal peeling on spots or in the shower.

All you have to do is gently massage the dry areas until the cream is sufficiently absorbed. Then you can brush off any leftover grains or rinse lightly with water.

A reminder of skin protection and sensitive skin

If you’re wondering what can happen when people don’t use lotions, it’s important to think about what else is in some of these products.

Many moisturizers contain SPF. So if people don’t hydrate, they may also avoid sunscreen. This, of course, can lead to sun damage. There would likely be more unwanted wrinkles, blemishes, bags, and fine lines in the long run.

Missing out on this moisturizing step could also open you up to increased sensitivity.

As?

Well, if your skin isn’t getting the hydration it needs and you’re using more harsh products like salicylic acid and retinoids, you could end up with peeling and general sensitivity.

When it comes to looking your best, a moisturizer makes a world of difference. If you use makeup, you’ve probably seen how it looks better when applied to a smooth, hydrated surface.

If you put makeup on a dry or cracked canvas, so to speak, it’s not a pretty picture. Apply a moisturizer and maybe a primer before applying foundation and other makeup.

But back to the body for a moment so we can share one of our best beautification formulas.

Candlenut Glow body oil

Why would a moisturizer be alkaline when it can stimulate all your senses?

This oil will leave you so satisfied with the way you look and feel that you won’t dare skip the moisturizing step again. In fact, we’re always going to have some of those who just don’t make it, and that’s okay. Just remember that luxury awaits you when you’re ready to take a moment for yourself.

JUARA Candlenut Glow Body Oil feels indulgent and extra and all that, but it also represents basic body care at its finest. When you treat yourself to this ultra-luxurious drying oil, you’re giving yourself the gift of serious skin renewal and rejuvenation.

It has the antioxidants and nutrients your body needs to be beautiful. It even gives your hair a sensual shine. And with the signature JUARA Candlenut fragrance, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation in a faraway tropical place.

Well, maybe the question isn’t what happens to your body when you don’t use lotion, but why on earth wouldn’t you want to treat yourself? If you’re busy, here’s a video with DIY tips:

Read Next: Which Essential Oils Are Good For Your Skin?

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Juara Skincare fuses ancient rituals with western skincare science to create the ultimate beauty experience. Our goal is to transport you from the everyday to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating fragrances, and powerful, skin-enhancing formulas. All of our products are nutrient rich and botanically based. We are proud to be certified Cruelty Free. Get the latest skincare tips and information about Juara products by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Is your soap dispenser pump not working? Soap dispensers are pretty reliable devices. You press the finger pump, soap pours out of the spout, and the pump automatically retracts for the next cycle. But sometimes things get messed up in the pump. When a pump doesn’t work, it’s usually because it’s clogged or the spring has broken. Internal seals can fail in a well-used pump, but they are not interchangeable.

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Photo credit: Birgit Korber / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages View more photos

video of the day

How does it work?

The finger pump on a soap dispenser and on most soap, shampoo, or lotion bottles is a surprisingly stylish device. The spring-loaded plunger, which you press down with your finger, forces air into the soap reservoir. This creates a vacuum in the reservoir and when the piston retracts, soap is sucked in. The next squeeze forces some of that soap into a small tube that leads to the spout, while the rest flows back to the reservoir, creating the necessary vacuum in the reservoir to suck in fresh soap.

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Soap dispenser pump not working

The two most common problems with hand pumps are the pump not retracting or not dispensing soap. Is the soap dispenser pump blocked? If the pump doesn’t retract, the pump may be blocked, making it appear to be stuck. Many soap dispensers lock when you push the pump all the way down and rotate it 90 degrees. You can unlock the pump by rotating it back to its working position. Or the spring is broken. The spring fits into the pump reservoir. To access it, you must be able to unscrew the container from the cap. This is possible with bathroom dispensers, but not with every plastic bottle dispenser.

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The pump seems to work, but you don’t get any soap. It could be because you’re out of soap. Sometimes you can zip through the soap faster than expected and not realize you’re outside. Another possible problem is that the donor tube is too short or kinked. Donor tubes are made of plastic and are easily damaged. Too often they don’t reach the bottom of the soap container. In some cases, the donor tube is clogged. Soap can solidify in the tube, effectively blocking it. To restore pump operation, you must remove this blockage.

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Clean the pump

Are you ready to tackle your bathroom or kitchen soap dispenser repair? Unscrew the cap from the soap container and remove the dispenser pump assembly. Wipe the dispenser tubing with a paper towel, then submerge the entire assembly, including the pump and tubing, in warm water. Leave it for 5 minutes. The water will dissolve curdled soap. If the pump didn’t dispense soap, this procedure may fix the problem. If the spring is broken, this procedure will clean the pump and make disassembly easier.

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Pump repair procedures

If your soap dispenser still doesn’t work, you may need to do something more. Unscrew the pump reservoir from the spout if you can. Inexpensive pumps that come on shampoo and soap bottles are often fused rather than divergent. Disconnect the container from the spout and remove the spring. Replace the spring with an identical one.

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You can also replace the donor tube if it is too short or kinked. You can usually pull it off the reservoir tube. You should be able to find replacements in the plastic tubing section of a hardware store. Reassemble the pump and clean it by pumping hot water through it. Screw it back onto the soap container once you are sure all clogs are free.

If none of these procedures fix your pump, it is likely because the internal seals are damaged. If so, don’t try to fix it. Even if you could, it’s easier and more reliable to just get a new pump.

Starting with the simplest problems first can make your soap dispenser repair quick and easy. With a little effort, you can save your soap dispenser and get it working again.

So I saw /u/MosYEETo the tip to cut open your lotion container to get the rest out (thanks for sharing your tip!). Maybe a bit extreme, but it works.

There is an alternative. Most moisturizers are water-based. After the time it takes to empty larger containers, the bottom portion can often become very thick, preventing pumping out. Look at the ingredients on the back, if you see water as one of the ingredients (hopefully the first five or so…) a bit of hot water will solve the problem.

Application: Run tap water until it gets hot. Depending on how much is left, start with about a tablespoon of hot water. Close the container and swirl it around in the container. You should feel the water slosh around a bit, then it will slow down and you should feel all the lotion slosh around.

Now try pumping the container again (remember that the thick lotion is in the tube until the freshly hydrated lotion comes through). If it’s not diluted enough, add a little more water and repeat the process. You should end up with lotion flowing again so you can effortlessly (ok, slight exaggeration) pump the rest of your lotion out of the container and get your fill.

Small note: if you have really hard water and notice that your lotion is a little different afterwards, you should use distilled or purified drinking water. It shouldn’t be a problem, but there are a lot of lotions out there, so there’s no knowing how hard water will affect all of them.

If you’re making something that contains water, you need a broad-spectrum preservative. Imagine a pot of soup sitting on your kitchen counter; How long would it have to sit there before you no longer want to eat it or serve it to company? That’s the kind of timeline we’re looking for for bacteria settling into your aqueous concoctions.

There are many broad spectrum preservatives readily available from DIY suppliers. Here are a few:

Germanl® Plus (powder or liquid)

Optiphen™

Optiphen™ Plus

Phenonip®

Leucidal® Liquid (not really broad spectrum, but not an antioxidant either)

NeoDefend™

NataPres™

Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate

These things are often sold under the “preservatives” section, but they aren’t preservatives—just antioxidants. They’re usually a lot less scary/sounding more natural, but they won’t do the job at all.

sodium lactate

grapefruit seed extract

antioxidant rosemary

vitamin E

I encourage you to do your own research and decide for yourself which preservative is best for you. I also encourage you to read all about the supplier’s preservative to see if it works for you. Effective pH range and solubility are important things to consider. I’ve put together a table of information on various preservatives here, complete with sources for you to read and learn more about.

With all of this in mind, for a relatively foolproof preservation, I usually use Liquid Germall Plus. It is water soluble, effective in small amounts and has a broad effective pH range (3-8). It’s not easily accidentally disabled. You are unlikely to need to test or adjust the pH. It has a usage rate of 0.1-0.5%, although I would recommend skipping the 0.5% for things for home use as our kitchens are far from sterile.

The two active ingredients (diazolidinyl urea [and] iodopropynyl butylcarbamate) are a bit scary when you research them, but Liquid Germall Plus is 60% propylene glycol, which means only 40% of your preservative is the scarier stuff, meaning at 0.5% consumption rate, only 0.2% of your formula will be “scary” ingredients. The tiny inclusion of these creepy ingredients protects the rest of your formula from other creepy things like fungus and mold. In a 100g lotion, that equates to 0.2g, which is hardly anything, especially when spread over many uses.

See my resource page for a list of links to places to buy ingredients including preservatives.

How much do I have to use?

Each preservative has a different recommended usage rate, which you can obtain from your supplier.

I made a handy preservative calculator that you can use here. Or for the math:

Let’s say your preservative should be used at 1%; If your recipe has 100g of ingredients, that’s about 1g of preservative. This is not 100% accurate as 1% of 101g (original recipe + weight of preservative) is just over 1g, but with the small batches we work with the accuracy of the scale we have at home is d think it’s close enough.

Find out how much your prescription weighs. Either add up the weights of all the ingredients or weigh the finished product. Find out the recommended consumption rate of the specific preservative you are using. Your supplier will provide this to you. Choose the higher end of the range as we do not manufacture in sterile laboratories. Multiply the weight of your product by the usage rate percentage and divide that number by 100. So if your concoction weighs 50g and the usage rate is 2.5%, that would be 50 × 2.5 = 125. 125 ÷ 100 = 1 ,25. This means that you should add 1.25 g of preservative to your preparation.

Posted in: Preservatives

Glycerin is an unsung hero in hair and skin care products. It is present in most cosmetic products but is rarely mentioned as a main ingredient. Vegetable glycerin could truly be considered a fundamental ingredient in the building of hair and skin care products and is the non-synthetic version of standard glycerin.

Powerful moisturizing properties draw moisture into the skin and hair, creating a barrier that helps retain moisture. Therefore, hair and skin care products containing glycerin are designed to moisturize and smooth to keep our hair and skin looking their best.

What is glycerin?

Glycerin is an organic compound found in vegetable oils. It is a thick, odorless, syrupy liquid with a sweet taste that easily dissolves in water. A complex extraction method known as hydrolysis is used to produce glycerin. It can be made from natural products like vegetable oil or synthetically – much of it is made from palm oil.

Our vegetable glycerin is sourced from a palm oil company with the highest sustainability rating in the industry, using local farmers who work their land, carefully processing the raw fruit and seeds, and capturing and recycling the methane gas produced.

Although there is no chemical difference between vegetable and synthetic glycerin, Essential Wholesale & Labs only uses and sells vegetable glycerin and USDA certified organic vegetable glycerin.

Does glycerin dry out?

Glycerin is known as a humectant, meaning it has the ability to draw moisture from the air into your hair and skin. But it can also work differently. If you live in a very dry climate with less than 70% humidity, the hair can actually dry out. Due to its powerful moisturizing properties, glycerin pulls moisture from the most abundant source, so in a dry climate it can pull moisture out of your hair and cause dryness. While it can have this effect on hair, it doesn’t exactly apply to skin. For more information on the difference between humectants, emollients and occlusive agents, visit this blog.

There are many factors that prevent glycerin from drying out the skin, unfortunately due to FDA regulations we can’t discuss the exact science here, but good scientific, peer-reviewed reports on glycerin and its effects on skin do detail the science explain why glycerin is so beneficial for the skin.

Use of vegetable glycerin in skin care

As we’ve discussed, glycerin, as a humectant, helps to absorb moisture. It’s also an emollient that helps soothe and protect the skin, much like your skin’s natural sebum does. It’s often found in lotions, creams, toners, shampoos, conditioners, and more. Check out some examples here. Due to its soothing properties, glycerin is suitable for use on sensitive skin – both oily and mature skin can benefit.

Vegetable glycerin is water and alcohol soluble and should therefore be used in the water phase of formulas. It can also replace alcohol in herbal and botanical tinctures. Although it can be used as a preservative at 50% or more, it makes any product very sticky at that level. It is typically used at 2-5% in emulsions, but depending on the formula, higher levels can cause stickiness.

It is formed by adding alkalis to fats and oils.

Recipe for Mega Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum with Vegetable Glycerin

Antioxidants are by far the best for helping skin look radiant and youthful. We’ve taken the antioxidant-oxidant Alpha Lipoic Acid and combined it with the skin-loving and antioxidant benefits of Vitamin C and ultra-hydrating Vegetable Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid to create a mega-antioxidant Vitamin C Serum!

Difficulty level: medium

Yield: Approximately 1 pound

Approximate cost of ingredients per ounce: $6.28

equipment you need

mixing bowl

hand blender

stovetop

scale

ingredients

0.0102 LBS 1% Hyaluronic Acid Powder

0.1227 LBS 12.27% Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) (Vitamin C)

0.0389 LBS 3.88% Alpha Lipoic Acid

0.8180 LBS 81% Orange Blossom Distillate

0.0080 LBS 0.80% Vegetable Glycerin

0.0102 pounds of 1.023% phenoxyethanol

Recommended Packing: 1 ounce airless pump or treatment pump

Suggested retail price: $40-$60

directions

Blend Orange Blossom Distillate and Glycerin to 140F (60C)

Slowly add MAP while blending with your hand blender. Mix until completely dissolved.

Slowly sprinkle in hyaluronic acid while blending with your hand blender. Be sure to sprinkle slowly to avoid clumping.

Once fully mixed, add phenoxyethanol to preserve it.

Apply to skin after cleansing and toning. Follow with a moisturizer.

Please note that this recipe has not been tested for preservative effectiveness. If you use this recipe for market sale, it is up to you to ensure the safety of the product. We strongly recommend third-party challenge tests. If you require additional assistance, please contact us at [email protected] or 866-252-9639.

Preservatives, especially for food, have been around for many thousands of years. For almost all of recorded history, mankind has sought strategies to keep food safe and palatable for extended periods of time. Some of the earliest food preservatives were salt, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Modern food preservatives include such chemical compounds as benzoates, nitrates, sulphites and sorbic acid.

The common goal of all food preservation efforts (and also those for cosmetics and some pharmaceuticals) is to create an environment unwelcome to microorganisms such as molds, yeasts and bacteria. According to Shadi Riazi, PhD, Senior Food Technologist at PLT Health Solutions, another purpose of preservation is to preserve “the natural properties of food.” Shaheen Majeed, director of marketing at Sabinsa, adds that preservatives “must be safe, stable and not affect the taste and palatability of food”.

Natural preservatives are increasingly meeting these myriad preservation needs as consumer demand for minimally processed and clean label products increases. “Any safe and non-synthetic compound derived from natural sources — animal, plant, microbial — with the ability to extend food shelf life and retard spoilage can be considered a natural food preservative,” Riazi says.

Some of the most popular and effective natural preservatives available are rosemary extract, neem oil, citrus oils, citric acid, grape seed extract, and buffered vinegar.

Majeed from Sabinsa points to a strong demand for natural preservatives in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals as well as in food. “Most cosmetic products contain good water content, fatty acids and carbohydrates, making them a rich medium for the growth of bacteria, fungi and various microbes. This creates a need for preservatives to prevent spoilage of the cosmetic product and skin infections [in the consumer].” Majeed points to a number of preservatives for cosmetics and cosmeceuticals that are natural in origin and “not synthetically manufactured”, including essential oils and plant extracts such as rosemary, cinnamon, coleus and tea tree.

CLICK THROUGH THE IMAGES ABOVE TO VIEW THE SLIDES Photo © iStockphoto.com/Tolimir