OS toiletries

Cookie_monster_7

I've bought some value handwash and I'm going to try adding 1/4 moisturising cream to it because I have very dry skin but I don't like paying for expensive handwashes. Has anyone tried this? Does it work?

This also got me thinking about other OS things I could do to make cheap products more luxurious....value shampoo mixed with some good conditioner?

marmiterulesok

I have an very nice organic liquid soap,which is now a mixture of half soap/half water,and works just as well.

I also have some rather pricey body lotions-Mitsouko and Chanel 5 and 19.I usually use them in rotation by adding some to an unperfumed,cheaper body lotion.They last longer and I feel pampered and smell nice.

My main tip,which I learnt here,is to use pump dispensers for shampoo/conditioner and shower gel.I really do use a lot less,as a controlled amount comes out.

Someone mentioned the day about putting an elastic band on the pump dispenser,so that you don't push it down all the way.Great idea,in fact I think I might go off and attend to that now!;)

HTH

Cookie_monster_7

They are fantastic ideas thanks, I'll be doing them all marmiterulesok :T

Gigervamp

marmiterulesok wrote: »

I have an very nice organic liquid soap,which is now a mixture of half soap/half water,and works just as well.

I hate to say this, but by adding water to your soap, you're compromising the preservative system. Cosmetic preservatives are only added at very small amounts (0.5-1.5% usually) and the amount is very carefully formulated for the ingredients used. Adding more water to the formulation will dilute the preservative and make ideal conditions for pathogens to grow.

Austin_Allegro

You could use Aqueous Cream as a handwash. You get a big tub for about £2 and it's good for dry skin.

marmiterulesok

Gigervamp wrote: »

I hate to say this, but by adding water to your soap, you're compromising the preservative system. Cosmetic preservatives are only added at very small amounts (0.5-1.5% usually) and the amount is very carefully formulated for the ingredients used. Adding more water to the formulation will dilute the preservative and make ideal conditions for pathogens to grow.

Yikes!I will stop doing this.Presumably that means that you should never water down any toiletries?


Thanks.

PS the elastic band on the pump dispenser works a treat!

Bronnie

I'm sure if you dilute it in small quantities that will be used up fairly quickly it'll be ok

Gigervamp

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Yikes!I will stop doing this.Presumably that means that you should never water down any toiletries?


Thanks.

PS the elastic band on the pump dispenser works a treat!

Yup, pretty much. When I started making soaps and toiletries (all called cosmetics) and wanted to sell them, I did a lot of research. In that research I learned a lot about preservation issues amongst other things.

I started making cosmetics because I wanted to use *natural* products. I discovered that the word *natural* could be used even if a natural ingredient has been through a lot of chemical processes. I also learnt (among a ton of other things!) that anything containing water is hard to preserve because water is a good breeding ground for pathogens.

When I make anything other than a soap, I make anhydrous products, that is, it doesn't contain water. But I do have a cosmetic preservative if I want to make something like a scrub, which although it's anhydrous, is likely to have water introduced into it by wet hands.

If you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend the Soapdish forum.