Homemade Propylene Glycol Polymer Crystals

Polymer crystals are necessary for humidor attachments to maintain the correct humidity for cigars. Correct humidity is needed to absorb excess moisture and reduce mold. To achieve the optimum 70 percent humidity, an equal ratio of propylene glycol and distilled water is needed. Propylene glycol can also be added subsequently, if ever humidity increases again.

Ingredients and Materials Needed:

• Propylene glycol USP
• Double-distilled water
• Airtight container
• Pipettes
• Glass stirrer
• Spectrometer

Procedure:

Maintain a constant room temperature throughout the preparation to avoid the crystals from melting. Pour 20 ml. of propylene glycol in an airtight container. Add an equal amount of double-distilled water using a pipette. Stir the mixture slowly for a minute using a glass stirrer. Allow the suspension to stand for 10 minutes without stirring. Add an excess of 10 percent propylene glycol slowly using a clean pipette. Try to achieve a ratio of 60-100 percent propylene glycol to 50 percent distilled water. This is to ensure formation of glass-like solid crystals and to allow the glycol to increase in viscosity.

Measure the concentration of crystals in the aqueous solution using the refractive index technique and a laboratory refractor or spectrometer to measure the speed of light in a given distance. A solution containing a large portion of crystalline structures will slow down the passage of light, hence producing lower refractive values. Create equal-sized crystals by adding an excess of propylene glycol and simultaneously checking the spectroscopy, to soak up as much water as possible.

Skin Brightening Cream

Bring back your skin’s healthy glow with this brightening cream recipe that was adapted from an original formula of Centerchem. The most active ingredient in this formulation is Chromabright MFF, which lightens the skin while fights photoaging. It also contains emollients like propylene glycol USP and Hispagel 200 to retain moisture to your face. Squalane, a natural moisturizer usually found in human sebum, is a hydrocarbon derived from plant sources. Promulgen D and triethanolamine are excellent emulsifiers while Euxyl PE 9010 is an effective preservative. The addition of caprylic/capric triglyceride makes the cream less greasy when applied.

Ingredients:                                              Weight:

Phase A

Promulgen™ D                                           1.50%

(cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth-20)

Glyceryl stearate                                        1.25%

PEG-100 stearate                                       1%

Squalane                                                  4%

Caprylic/capric triglyceride                           3%

Polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate                         0.50%

Phase B

Carbomer                                                  0.15%

Phase C

Deionized water                                         65.95%

Phase D

Propylene glycol USP                                   6%

Hispagel® 200                                           10%
(glycerin and glyceryl polyacrylate)

Euxyl® PE 9010                                          0.50%

(phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin)


Phase E

Triethanolamine                                          0.15%

Deionized water                                          1%

Phase F

Chromabright™ MFF                                     5%

(Dimethylmethoxy chromanyl palmitate)

Procedure:

Mix all ingredients of phase A and heat to 75°C. In another clean bowl, mix carbomer with water. Stir
until smooth. Heat to 75°C. Add all phase C ingredients to the carbomer mixture and stir. Then add
phase A mixture and stir moderately for ten minutes. Cool. When mixture drops to 50°C, add phase E
ingredients and mix until smooth. When temperature drops further to 35°C, add Chromabright MFF and
mix well. Pour in a sterilized container.

Reference:

http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/category/antiaging/27526139.html?
utm_source=Most+Read&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Most+Read

Hand and Body Cream Recipe

Harness nature’s bounty with this unique hand and body cream recipe. It contains extracts from four remarkable plants that deeply nourish the skin while protecting it against harmful elements. Aloe vera is a wonder herb from the tropics that soothes and heals wounds. Cucumber, aside from its popularity as a salad fruit, gives a cool and refreshing sensation to the skin. Ginkgo and red clover, on the other hand, both contain antioxidants that protect skin against oxidative damage by trapping free radicals.

Ingredients:                         Weight (%)                    1 cup/240 ml.

Distilled water                      75%                           12 tsp./180 ml.

Guar gum                            0.1%                         1 ¼ tsp./3.6 gm.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic    0.1%                       1/32 tbsp./0.2 gm. 

acid (EDTA)

Propylene glycol USP               5%                            2 ½ tsp./12 ml.

Shea butter                           2%                          1 ½ tsp./ 4.8 gm.

Sorbitan stearate                   4%                               3 tsp./9.6 gm.

Glycerin                             1.5%                               ¾ tsp./3.6 ml.

PEG-40 stearate                 0.5%                              1.4 tsp./1.2 ml.

Glycol stearate                     2%                                 1 tsp./4.8 ml.

Dimethicone                         4%                                 2 tsp./9.6 ml.

Almond oil                           3%                                 1 ½ tsp./7 ml.

Vitamin A                          0.5%                                 ¼ tsp./1.2 ml.

Aloe vera gel                        1%                                 ½ tsp./2.4 ml.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) 0.5%                                 ¼ tsp./1.2 ml. 

extract

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)         0.5%                                 ¼ tsp./1.2 ml.

extract

Red clover                          0.5%                                 ¼ tsp./1.2 ml.
(Trifolium pratense) extract

Method:
In a sterilized beaker, combine water and guar gum. Then, add EDTA and propylene glycol while stirring. Heat mixture to 80˚C (176˚F). Next, add shea butter, sorbitan stearate, glycerin, PEG-40 stearate, glycol stearate, dimethicone, and vitamin A. Stir the ingredients well until mixture is homogenous. Remove cream from heat and cool to 30˚C (86˚F). Add aloe vera and the three plant extracts. Mix cream until smooth before pouring into sterilized jars.

Source:Somerset Cosmetic Company - http://www.makingcosmetics.com/.