Blackcurrant Extract

The Benefits
An emolient that refreshes, nourishes, has a high content of minerals and vitamin C.

For Use
… to make products for the Face and Body.

Application
The Blackcurrant extract, is used for general cosmetic purposes. Cleansers (both gels & creams), Bath gel, shower gel & Bubble bath, Creams/Lotions/Body Butter

Suited Skin Type
Normal+ , Dry+, Mature+, Sensitive, Oily & Problem skin.

Note: + Highly Recommended

Kiwi Extract

The Benefits
A presence of AHA and ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C. Other properties are moisturing, refreshing and purifying of skin lipid.

For Use
… to make products for the Face and Body.

Application
Kiwi extract, is used for general cosmetic purposes. Cleansers (both gels & creams), Bath gel & Bubble bath, Face masks (both clay or cream base), Bath salts & salt scrubs

Suited Skin Type
Normal+ , Dry, Mature, Sensitive, Oily+ & Problem+ skin.

Note: + Highly Recommended

Birch Extract (Herbal)

The Benefits
Is an astringent, a tonic, improves elasticity soothes the irritation of dry skin and is purifying.

For Use
… to make products for the Face, Body and Hair.

Application
Below are listed a number of products you can customise make yourself using Birch Extract.

- Liquid and Bar Soaps
- Bath Gel
- Shower Gel
- Bubble Bath
- Gel Cleaners & Cream Cleaners
- Clay Masks & Cream Masks for Face and Body
- Mud wraps
- Shampoo & Conditioners

Suited Skin Type
Normal+ , Dry, Mature+ , Sensitive, Oily & Problem skin.

Note: + Highly Recommended

Apricot Extract (Fruit)

The Benefits
Has a moisturising effect, an emollient, a tonic and promotes elasticity of the skin.

For Use
… to make products for the Face, Body and Hair.

Application
Below are listed a number of products you can customise make yourself using Apricot Extract.
- General purpose (suits most cosmetic application)
- Bath Gel
- Shower Gel
- Bubble Bath
- Gel Cleaners & Cream Cleaners
- Clay Masks & Cream Masks
- Creams, Lotions & Butters (face & body)
- Shampoo & Conditioners

Suited Skin Type
Normal+ , Dry, Mature+ , Sensitive+, Oily & Problem skin.

Note: + Highly Recommended

Apple Extract (Fruit)

I'm finding that extracts are providing somewhat of an interest for me at the moment. It's nice to know what properties each individual extract. And even better if you can find them all in one single place ...

I hope to provide you all with some interesting information around Extracts, what type of products can be made from different extracts, some places online to find them, and some sample concoxions :).

The Benefits
Nourishes, Moisturises, soothes the irritation of dry skin and is known for it’s property of cleansing oily skin.

For Use
… to make products for the Face, Body and Hair.

Application
Below are listed a number of products you can customise make yourself using Apple Extract.

- General purpose (suits most cosmetic application)
- Bath Gel
- Shower Gel
- Bubble Bath
- Gel Cleaners & Cream Cleaners
- Clay Masks & Cream Masks
- Creams, Lotions & Butters (face & body)
- Shampoo & Conditioners

Suited Skin Type
Normal, Dry, Mature+, Sensitive, Oily+ or Problem+
Note: + Highly Recommended

What are Herbal or Fruit Extracts?

An extract is a substance that is made by the extraction of part of a raw material, often with the use of a solvent such as water or ethanol.  I guess you could say tea would be a simple form of extract, that some people ingest as a beverage, and as we all know there are a number of different varieties of teas out there.

This is one way of purging benefits out of your household tea for the sake of your costmetic experimentation, but for now I will stick with trying to flesh the concept of extracts and get down the nit and grit of homemade concoxions later.

I digress, ... Extracts may be sold as tinctures or in powder form. There are so many extracts available from spices and nuts to herbs, fruit and flowers. Most of us are aware of well known true extract like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, lemon, orange, peppermint, rose, vanilla and wintergreen.

A majority of extracts are manufactured and supplied in a ratio 1:2 in a hydro-glyceric medium, which is just another way of saying glycerol and water.

There are exceptions to this rule, the several of which are:

 - Wheat Amino Acid, which uses water.

 - Witchhazel, which contains a Alcoholic % (you have to confirm this with  your manufacturer/supplier)

 - Sandalwood Extract, uses glycerol medium

Both herb and fruit extracts contain vitamins and minerals which are an excellent addition to all your cosmetic formulations. All fruit extracts are made up with a hydro glyceric component, are are purely for cosmetic use only.

How much do I use?

As a rule of thumb for your cosmetic formulations:

Fruit Extracts

Use a ratio of 2 to 6%.  If you are planning to use more than one type of extract use up to 6% in total.

Herbal Extracts

Use a ratio of 1 to 5%.  If you are planning to use more than one type of extract use up to 5% in total.

NOTE: If you cosmetic concoxion  contains both herbal and fruit extracts, then use a total of 5% ratio (e.g: If your total volume of face cream is 100ml, then your total fruit extract allowance would be 5ml)

What are some of the Extracts I can buy?

Fruit Extracts: Apple, Apricot, Cucumber, Blackcurrant, Kiwi, Papaya, Peach,  Passionflower, Pineapple

 

Herbal Extracts: Birch, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Coffee, Horsetail, Marsh Mallow, Ivy, Green Tea, Spirulina (sea micro/macro- algae), Sandalwood,  Iceland Moss, Calendula, Kelp, Ginseng, Cypress, Bearberry, Comfrey, Bilberry, Rice, Horse chestnut, Nettle, Yarrow, Yucca

Where can I buy extracts?

New Directions Aromatics

Nature Shop

Sydney Essential Oil Co

iherb

Rachel's Pure Fruit Extracts

plthomas

Mountain Rose Herbs

Herb-pharm

Green Kingdom Herbs

About

My name is Jacinta Grant, I live in Sydney, Australia. I first became very interested in the essential oils and their properties in 2003. Over the years since, I have gone one to learning now to make lotions, soaps and other "Bathroom goodies".

I will attempt to provide you to the best of my ability, a blog that will hopefully provide you the information you require on your endevours to researching and making your homemade products.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any article written or any suggestions/requests you might have.