Guide to Making a Body Scrub

Creating your own body scrub allows you to customize the texture and ingredients. Here's a breakdown of your questions and some guidance:

Sugar Percentage

Using sugar as an exfoliant is common. While 70% sugar provides strong exfoliation, it can be very abrasive and might make the scrub difficult to bind with oils. A typical oil-based sugar scrub often uses a lower percentage of sugar, balanced with nourishing oils and butters. The ideal percentage depends on the desired scrub intensity and overall formula.

Using Scrub Beads

Yes, you can definitely use cosmetic-grade scrub beads as an alternative or in addition to sugar. There are various types available, offering different textures and exfoliation levels. Examples include natural options like Magnetite Scrub, Luffa Scrub, Camellia (Tea) Seed Scrub, Rice Scrub, and Coffee Scrub.

Beeswax or Oil Amount

Oils (like carrier oils) and butters are crucial for binding the exfoliant particles, providing slip, and moisturizing the skin. Waxes like Natural White Beeswax, Yellow Beeswax, or Emulsifying Beeswax can be added in small amounts (typically 2-40% for Beeswax, 0.5-5% for Emulsifying Beeswax) to thicken the scrub, stabilize the mixture, and prevent oil separation. The exact amount of oil/butter and wax depends on the desired consistency – from a soft paste to a firmer balm.

Adding Herbs

Absolutely! You can incorporate finely ground dried herbs or botanical powders into your scrub for added benefits, color, or gentle exfoliation. Examples of dried herbs suitable for oil-based products include Dried rose petals, Dried Ginger, Dried Honeysuckle Flower, and Dried Orange Peels.

Foamy, Stretchy Texture (like Snail Mucus)

Achieving a foamy and stretchy texture similar to snail mucus in a scrub is different from a standard oil-based scrub. This requires specific ingredients:

• For Foam: You need surfactants (foaming agents) like Cocamidopropyl Betaine, IseFoam™, or Cond-Foam™. The percentage varies depending on the specific surfactant and desired foam level.
• For Stretchy/Viscous Texture: Ingredients that create a gel-like or stretchy consistency are needed. Examples include gelling agents or polymers like Snail Resin (PEG-90M), Snail Resin (PEG-160M Ultra Stretch), Pullulan (High Viscosity), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sepimax Zen, or CreamMaker EG™. Note that actual snail secretion filtrate (Snail Secretion, The Real Snail™) provides skin benefits but does not create the stretchy texture; that comes from ingredients like Snail Resin. The percentage depends on the specific thickener/gelling agent and desired viscosity.

Combining exfoliants with foaming and gelling agents requires careful formulation to ensure stability and performance. It's a more complex process than a simple oil/sugar scrub.

Other Potential Ingredients

Consider adding:

• Emulsifier: If you want the scrub to rinse off easily with water, an emulsifier like Emulsifying Beeswax, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, or CreamMaker EG™ is necessary to help oil and water mix.
• Preservative: If your scrub will come into contact with water (either in the formula or during use), a broad-spectrum preservative is essential to prevent microbial growth and ensure safety.
• Antioxidant: Vitamin E can help prevent oils from going rancid.
• Fragrance/Essential Oils: For scent (use skin-safe options at appropriate low percentages).
• Colorants: Cosmetic-grade colorants if desired.

Formulating cosmetics involves understanding ingredient functions and interactions. Starting with simpler recipes is advisable before attempting more complex textures.