Combining Repair Activator and Ceramide Complex in a Cream/Lotion Formula

Question

I want to combine the main active ingredients from two products I currently use: Repair Activator (which is in a water-based product) and Ceramide Complex (which is in an oil-based product). I would like to create a single homemade cream or lotion formulation that includes the following key ingredients:

Repair Activator™ (Bifida Ferment Lysate)
Ceramide Complex (including Ceramide 1, 3, 6 II, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine)
Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5)
Pep-Coll (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5)
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane (Olive)
Bisabolol
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Cholesterol
Phytosphingosine
Fractionated Coconut Oil
LipidSoft™ F (Ethyl Linoleate)
Yeast Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin

Is it possible to combine these ingredients, which come from different base types (water and oil), into a single stable cream or lotion formulation? What is the general process for formulating such a product?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Yes, it is possible to combine the key active ingredients from both products, namely Repair Activator (Bifida Ferment Lysate) and Ceramide Complex, into a single formulation. Since one original product is water-based and the other is oil-based, you would need to create an emulsion, such as a cream or lotion. An emulsion system can effectively incorporate both water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients in a stable form.

To formulate this, you would typically create a cream or lotion base consisting of:

Water Phase: Contains water and water-soluble ingredients like Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Glycerin/Glycereth-26, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Yeast Extract, Pep-Coll (or other chosen peptides).
Oil Phase: Contains oils, emollients, and oil-soluble ingredients like Ceramide Complex, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Fractionated Coconut Oil, LipidSoft F, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol/Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin.
Emulsifier: Essential for blending the water and oil phases into a stable mixture.
Thickener/Rheology Modifier: To adjust the viscosity.
Preservative: To prevent microbial growth.
Other Ingredients: Such as pH adjusters, chelating agents (e.g., Disodium EDTA).

The general process involves dissolving water-soluble ingredients in the water phase and oil-soluble ingredients in the oil phase, then combining the two phases with an emulsifier and mixing appropriately to form a stable cream. Preservatives and other sensitive ingredients are typically added after the emulsion is formed and cooled.

We recommend studying the basics of cream/lotion formulation, as previously suggested by the staff, to understand the principles and steps involved before attempting to create your own formula.

Key available ingredients you are interested in include:

Repair Activator™ (Bifida Ferment Lysate) - ID 259
Ceramide Complex - ID 46 (often includes Ceramide 1, 3, 6 II, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine)
Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5) - ID 111 (can substitute Pantethine)
Pep-Coll (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5) - ID 50 (can substitute Tripeptide-32)
Sodium Hyaluronate - ID 105
Squalane (Olive) - ID 128
Bisabolol - ID 78
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - ID 135
Cholesterol - ID 638
Phytosphingosine - ID 46 (often included in Ceramide Complex)
Fractionated Coconut Oil - ID 169
LipidSoft™ F (Ethyl Linoleate) - ID 1203 (can substitute Linoleic Acid)
Yeast Extract - ID 1108
Hydrogenated Lecithin - ID 1169

You can select from these and other basic formulation ingredients (like emulsifiers, thickeners, preservatives) to create a cream or lotion formula featuring Repair Activator and Ceramide Complex as key actives.