Making Aloe Vera Gel Base and Adding Lactic Acid
Question
I want to make my own Pure Aloe Vera Gel base, similar to the tester product sold by the company, to use as a base for mixing with Essential Oils.
I have purchased the ingredients and intend to make 100g of Pure Aloe Vera Gel.
My questions are:
- What is the correct order for mixing the ingredients?
- I previously purchased the pure tester version without adding other active ingredients. I would like to know what percentage of Lactic Acid is in the pure Pure Aloe Vera Gel tester (please provide a specific percentage). Also, if adding Lactic Acid, what is the recommended usage percentage?
Answer
Making Your Own Aloe Vera Gel Base
You're looking to create your own Aloe Vera Gel base similar to our tester product to mix with essential oils. Our "Pure Aloe Vera Gel" testers, such as the Aloe Vera Gel (Heavy) and Aloe Vera Gel (Lite), are pre-formulated bases designed for this purpose.
Here are the typical components of these base gels:
- Purified Water
- Aloe Vera Extract (equivalent to 30% Aloe Vera)
- Vitamin B5 (Panthenol)
- Pro Polymer (in Heavy) or Pro Polymer Silk (in Lite)
- Allantoin
- Phenoxyethanol (Preservative)
The exact percentages vary slightly between the Heavy and Lite versions, but these are the main ingredients.
Regarding your question about Lactic Acid, the standard "Pure Aloe Vera Gel" base itself does not contain Lactic Acid. The tester you received without additional actives would be this base formulation.
If you wish to add Lactic Acid to your homemade Aloe Vera Gel base (for its peeling or moisturizing benefits), you can do so. For consumer use, the recommended usage rate for Lactic Acid (88%) is typically 1-10%. It is crucial to ensure the final pH of your product is not lower than 3.5 when using it at concentrations up to 10%. Remember that Lactic Acid 88% is not 100% pure, so you need to adjust the amount slightly (1.136g of 88% Lactic Acid is equivalent to 1.00g of 100% Lactic Acid).
General Mixing Instructions for Adding Ingredients to the Base Gel:
- For powdered substances: Add the powder to the base gel at room temperature. Stir for 3-5 minutes, let sit for 15-30 minutes, and stir again until fully dissolved.
- For liquid substances: Add the liquid to the gel and stir for 1-3 minutes until homogeneous.
Remember that when adding other active ingredients, especially essential oils, you should follow recommended usage rates and ensure compatibility with the base gel.
