Adjusting Homemade Cream for Long-lasting Moisture and Adherence
Question
I previously used a store-bought cream with the following formula and found that it provided excellent moisture and adhered very well to the skin. When applied before bed, my skin still felt moisturized and the cream was still present in the morning.
My homemade cream (formula below) has made my skin stronger and less prone to irritation, but when applied before bed, my skin feels quite dry in the morning and no cream residue remains.
Question: How should I adjust my homemade cream formula to make it heavier, adhere better to the skin, and maintain moisture throughout the night? I would like to use gentle, natural ingredients. Please provide recommendations.
Store-bought cream ingredients:
- Aqua
- Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
- glycerin
- pentylene glycol
- Olus Oil
- Elaeis Guineensis Oil
- Hydrogenated Lecithin
- Squalane
- Betaine
- Palmitamide MEA
- Sarcosine
- Acetamide MEA
- hydroxyethylcellulose
- Carbomer
- Sodium Carbomer
- Xanthan Gum
Homemade cream ingredients:
- Ethoxydiglycol 5.0%
- Satin Mousse (Silky Cream Maker) 1.0%
- Squalane (Olive Oil) 15.0%
- Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) 1.0%
- perfect c 5.0%
- Ceramide Complex (CeraTouch) 10.0%
- Bisabolol (German Chamomile Extract) 1.0%
- Skin Defense 2.0%
- Phyto Glycyrrhetinic Acid 2.0%
- Phynoxy ethanol 0.7%
- Water to 100%
Answer
Based on the ingredient lists you provided, the store-bought cream that you found to be more moisturizing and long-lasting likely achieves its texture and adherence through the use of various thickeners and gelling agents (such as Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, and Xanthan Gum), as well as a different blend of emollients and humectants.
Your homemade cream, while containing excellent moisturizing ingredients like Squalane and Ceramides, lacks these specific thickening agents which help create a more substantial texture that stays on the skin longer.
To adjust your homemade formula to be heavier, adhere better, and provide longer-lasting moisture while keeping it gentle and natural, I recommend considering the addition of:
- Natural Thickeners/Gelling Agents: Ingredients like Xanthan Gum or Hydroxyethylcellulose can significantly increase the viscosity and "body" of your cream, helping it to form a more occlusive layer on the skin that lasts overnight. Start with a low percentage (e.g., 0.2-0.5%) and adjust as needed to achieve your desired texture.
- Humectants: Adding a humectant like Glycerin (even at a low percentage, e.g., 1-3%) can help draw moisture into the skin and improve hydration levels throughout the night.
These additions should help your homemade cream mimic the texture and long-lasting moisturizing feel of the store-bought product. Remember to research proper formulation techniques for incorporating these ingredients into your existing base.
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