Adding Ingredients to Lotion

You want to add fragrance and makeup powders to a 500ml ready-made lotion base.

Adding Fragrance

You can add fragrance to your lotion base. A typical usage rate for fragrance in lotions and liquid soaps is 0.5% to 2% of the total weight.

Since your lotion is 500ml, which is approximately 500 grams (assuming the density is close to water), you can calculate the amount in grams or milliliters:

• For 0.5% fragrance: 0.005 * 500 grams = 2.5 grams or ml
• For 1% fragrance: 0.01 * 500 grams = 5 grams or ml
• For 2% fragrance: 0.02 * 500 grams = 10 grams or ml

It's best to start with a lower amount (like 2.5g or 5g for 500ml) and mix it in thoroughly. If the scent is not strong enough, you can add a little more, up to the maximum recommended rate of 2%.

Adding Makeup Powders for Glow and Color

You are interested in adding powders like Bismuth Oxychloride (MakeGlow™), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite (Methicone Coated), Beige Iron Oxides EasyMix, and White Iron Oxides EasyMix to your "Physical BB Body Lotion SPF 30 PA+++" base to achieve a dewy, glowing look.

• Adhesion: The "Physical BB Body Lotion" base contains ingredients like Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, and Dimethicone which can help these powders adhere to the skin. Additionally, the Synthetic Fluorphlogopite sold by the company is coated (Methicone or Silane), which improves its adherence. Bismuth Oxychloride (MakeGlow™) itself has excellent adhesion properties. So, yes, these powders should adhere to the skin when mixed into this lotion base.
• Ratio and Color: Determining the exact amount of each powder (Bismuth Oxychloride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Beige Iron Oxides, White Iron Oxides) needed to achieve a natural-looking glow that matches your yellow-toned skin requires testing. Since the lotion base is already a pinkish-white BB lotion containing Titanium Dioxide, adding more white or light-reflecting powders could make your skin look too white or "chalky". You will need to add the colored iron oxides (Beige and White) to adjust the shade to match your skin tone while incorporating the glowing powders (Bismuth Oxychloride and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite).
  • Recommendation: Start by mixing very small amounts of the powders into a small portion of the lotion base. Test this mixture on your skin (e.g., on your arm) in natural light to see the color and glow effect. Gradually add more of the powders, adjusting the ratio of glow powders to color pigments until you achieve the desired look. It is impossible to provide a specific grams/ml amount without this testing process, as it is highly dependent on your personal preference and skin tone.

Comparison of Powders

You asked if using SoftGlow™ (Alumina) and WhiteMatte™ (Boron Nitride) would yield similar results to Bismuth Oxychloride (MakeGlow™) and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite.

These powders have different properties:

• Bismuth Oxychloride (MakeGlow™): Provides a distinct "Dewy-Glow Effect" and has excellent skin adhesion. It gives a lustrous, shiny finish. However, it may not be suitable for sensitive or very oily skin.
• Synthetic Fluorphlogopite: A synthetic mica that offers high whiteness, brightness, and significant shine (sparkling) compared to natural mica. Coated versions provide a soft, smooth texture, better adhesion, water resistance, and light reflection (helping to conceal wrinkles).
• SoftGlow™ (Alumina): Spherical Alumina powder primarily used to make the skin feel soft and smooth. It contributes to texture but is not typically used for significant glow or coverage.
• WhiteMatte™ (Boron Nitride): Boron Nitride powders come in different grades (WhiteMatte for opacity/soft-focus, WhiteShine for shine/soft-focus, Translucent for shine/translucence). They offer good whiteness and light reflection, helping to camouflage wrinkles (soft-focus). They provide a soft, smooth feel and good adhesion.

Conclusion: While both sets of powders can modify the look and feel of the skin, Bismuth Oxychloride and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite are specifically known for providing a strong shine and glow effect, which seems to be your primary goal for a "dewy, glowing" look. Alumina focuses on softness, and while Boron Nitride can offer shine and soft-focus, the combination of Bismuth Oxychloride and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is more directly associated with the "dewy-glow" appearance you described.

Mixing Tools

For mixing small batches of lotion and powders, using a plastic bowl and a stainless steel spoon is generally acceptable and commonly used for home formulations. Ensure they are clean and dry before use.

Shelf Life After Adding Ingredients

Adding ingredients to a ready-made lotion base can potentially affect its shelf life. The original lotion base contains preservatives to ensure its stability and safety for its intended shelf life. When you open the container and add other ingredients, you introduce the risk of microbial contamination. The added ingredients themselves might also interact with the preservative system or degrade over time.

• Recommendation: While the original lotion might have a long shelf life, once you modify it by adding other ingredients, it is best to use the customized lotion within a shorter timeframe, ideally within a few months, to ensure its freshness and safety. Store it in a clean, airtight container away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. If you notice any changes in color, smell, or texture, discontinue use.

Making Lotion from Scratch for Dry, Dewy, Glowing Skin

Making lotion from scratch that is specifically designed for dry skin and provides a dewy, glowing finish is possible but requires more knowledge and equipment than simply adding ingredients to a pre-made base.

• Complexity: Creating an emulsion (like lotion) involves carefully combining water-based and oil-based ingredients using emulsifiers, often requiring heating and mixing with specific tools to create a stable product. Adding powders for color and glow requires ensuring they are properly dispersed and remain stable within the emulsion.
• Water-in-Oil Emulsions: As the staff mentioned, a Water-in-Oil (W/O) emulsion base is often preferred for makeup products or those containing powders that need to adhere well to the skin, as they provide better film-forming and water-resistance properties compared to Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsions (like your current lotion base).
• Key Ingredients for Dry Skin and Dewy Glow: To formulate a lotion for dry skin that gives a dewy glow, you would typically include:
  • Emollients and Oils: Ingredients like natural oils (e.g., Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Caprylic/capric triglyceride) and silicones (e.g., Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane) to moisturize and create a smooth feel.
  • Humectants: Ingredients like Glycerin or Propanediol to draw moisture into the skin.
  • Occlusives: Ingredients like Petrolatum or waxes (e.g., Tribehenin) to form a barrier on the skin and prevent moisture loss.
  • Glow/Shine Powders: Bismuth Oxychloride (MakeGlow™) and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite for the dewy, light-reflecting effect.
  • Color Pigments: Iron Oxides (Beige, White, Red, Yellow, Black) to adjust the color to match your skin tone.
  • Emulsifiers: To combine the oil and water phases (e.g., Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone - often found in W/O formulas).
  • Stabilizers/Thickeners: Ingredients like Xanthan Gum or Carbomer to create the desired texture and stability.
  • Preservatives: Essential for preventing microbial growth and ensuring product safety (e.g., Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Methylisothiazolinone, Mild Preserved Eco).
  • Optional: Ingredients like Vitamin E or Ceramide for skin conditioning benefits.
• Equipment: Making lotion from scratch usually requires a digital scale for accurate measurement, beakers or heat-resistant containers, a hot plate or double boiler to heat ingredients, and a mixer (like a stick blender or homogenizer) to create a stable emulsion.
• Starting Point: The example formula provided by the staff using Silky Serum Base Plus is a good illustration of the types of ingredients and steps involved in creating a base suitable for incorporating powders for a makeup-like effect. However, this is a more advanced process than simply mixing into a finished product.

If you are new to making cosmetics and do not have equipment or experience, starting with modifying a ready-made base (like adding fragrance) is simpler. Achieving a specific dewy, glowing look by adding powders is possible with your current BB lotion base, but requires careful testing to get the color and effect right. If you want to create a custom lotion from scratch with specific properties for dry skin and a strong dewy glow, it would involve learning basic cosmetic formulation techniques and acquiring the necessary ingredients and equipment.