Shower Oil Formulation for Dry Skin

Subject: Advice on Shower Oil Formulation

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out regarding your shower oil formulation for very dry skin. Your proposed formula is a good starting point and is definitely feasible for creating a moisturizing shower oil.

Here's a breakdown of your formula and some points to consider:

• Suitability for Dry Skin: The high percentage of Jojoba Oil (38%) and Olive Oil (38%), totaling 76% oils, is excellent for targeting very dry skin. These oils are known for their emollient and moisturizing properties, which will help leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated after showering.
• Oil Soap™ (MIPA Laureth Sulfate) 20%: This ingredient acts as a surfactant and emulsifier. Its role is to help the oils mix with water during rinsing, allowing the product to wash off while leaving a moisturizing layer behind. 20% is a reasonable concentration for this type of product.
• Vitamin E Acetate 1%: A great addition for its antioxidant properties, helping to protect the oils from oxidation and offering some skin conditioning benefits.
• Fragrance (Envy Me) 3%: This provides the desired scent.

Regarding your desired characteristics:

• Moisturizing: The high oil content will certainly provide a moisturizing effect.
• Fragrance: The inclusion of 3% fragrance will give the product a noticeable scent.
• Clear Appearance: Achieving a consistently clear appearance depends on the specific grades of ingredients and the stability of the emulsion formed by the surfactant and oils. While possible, it might require careful mixing and potentially optimization of the surfactant system or ratio to ensure long-term clarity and prevent separation, especially with temperature changes.

Suggestions for Improvement/Considerations:

1. Stability and Clarity: The ratio of Oil Soap™ to the total oil phase (20% surfactant to 76% oils) is critical for stability and clarity. You might need to experiment with this ratio or consider adding a co-emulsifier to improve the long-term stability and ensure the product remains clear and doesn't separate over time or under different temperatures.
2. Rinse-off Feel: While the surfactant helps, the high oil load might leave a more noticeable oily residue on the skin after rinsing compared to traditional body washes. This is often desired for very dry skin, but if you prefer a cleaner rinse, you might need to adjust the surfactant system.
3. Fragrance Concentration: 3% fragrance is quite high for a rinse-off product. While it provides a strong scent, it could potentially cause irritation for individuals with sensitive skin. You might consider reducing the fragrance concentration to 0.5% - 1.5%, which is often sufficient for rinse-off products, while still providing a pleasant aroma.
4. Preservation: Although this is a high-oil formula, consider the potential for water contamination during use. While Vitamin E Acetate acts as an antioxidant for the oils, a broad-spectrum preservative might be necessary if water contamination is a significant concern, although this is less common in anhydrous or high-oil systems.

Overall, your formula is a solid foundation. I recommend making a small test batch to check for stability, clarity, rinse-off feel, and fragrance strength. You can then adjust the formula based on your observations.

I hope this helps!