Cosmetic Formulation: Mixing Process and Heat

Hello! It's great that you're interested in making your own cosmetics. Based on the information from the replies:

1. Order of adding ingredients: If the ingredients are in the same phase (e.g., all in the water phase), the order in which you add them generally does not matter.
2. Mixing time and temperature: If an ingredient is heat-resistant, it can withstand the temperature. Otherwise, suppliers or manufacturers should provide information on the maximum temperature and duration it can tolerate. Ingredients that are not heat-tolerant should be added in the final step or you should avoid formulations that require heat.
3. Heating requirement: Whether heating is required depends on the specific ingredients in your formula. If none of the ingredients need heat to dissolve, it's recommended to avoid heating, as heat can cause many ingredients to degrade faster. However, some ingredients, like Shea Butter, do require gentle heating (e.g., around 50°C) to melt before they can be incorporated into the formula.

It's always a good idea to read through introductory guides and ingredient information carefully when starting out!