What are Emulsifying Waxes?
Emulsifying waxes are used to bind oil and water together in creams, lotions etc. They are white waxy solids with a low fatty alcohol odor. They help form extremely stable emulsions in either water/oil or oil/water preparations. In the case of Stockton Aloe 1’s Youth-Derm® formulas, it would be an oil/Aloe #1® preparation! We have chosen to use the most natural emulsifying waxes that are free of polysorbates, 100% naturally derived and approved natural by Ecocert.
Ingredients: Glyceryl Stearate (and) Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol.
Glyceryl Stearate is a waxy product made from glycerin and stearic acid. It performs as a lubricant helping to make the skin feel soft and smooth. It forms a barrier on our skin and helps to shield from moisture loss. It also aids in the protection from free radical damage. When used in cosmetic formulations it can help to fill in lines and wrinkles imparting the skin with a more youthful appearance.
Cetearyl Alcohol is a blend of high quality cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol having great versatility for formulators looking for just the right feel.
- Cetyl Alcohol is not really an “alcohol” such as ethyl or rubbing alcohol, which would dry the skin, but is an emulsifying wax made by combining fatty alcohols derived from vegetable sources. Cetyl alcohol may be naturally derived from coconut fatty alcohol or made artificially. It is used in many cosmetics as an emollient, thickening agent, moisturizer, emulsifier, stabilizer, opacifier as well as a carrying agent for other ingredients. Cetyl alcohol is used as an emollient, emulsifier, thickener, and carrying agent for other ingredients.
- Stearyl Alcohol is made from coconut oil and functions as an emulsifier and emollient. It enhances the moisturizing properties of a cream and helps to aid liquids bind to the skin.
Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate is the high Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance emulsifier that also thickens, while the glyceryl stearate is the low Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance emulsifier, so together they create an all-in-one emulsifier. This is a great addition to the highly electrolyte rich 70% Stockton Aloe Vera Gel used in our creams.
A good way to make it simple for us “non-scientists” to understand -An emulsifying agent is a substance which is soluble in both oil and water, thus enabling the two to mix. A “famous” phospholipid is lecithin which is found in egg yolk and soybeans. Egg yolk is mostly water but has a lot of lipids, especially cholesterol, which are needed by the developing chick. Lecithin is used to emulsify the lipids and hold them in the water as an emulsion. Lecithin is the basis of the classic emulsion known as mayonnaise.(5) Otherwise the mayo – would just separate after sitting in the fridge. Yummy – I love to make my own.
The same would go for any cream or lotion – if emulsifying wax isn’t added – the cream would separate and no longer be what we would consider a cream we would want to use on our skin.
Rest assured that Stockton Aloe 1’s – Youth-Derm® formulas will more than meet your expectations.