Butters, Clay, Emollients, Emulsifier, Surfactants and Waxes

Clay powder can be used in face masks, scrubs, and lotions to cleanse the skin, exfoliate, and reduce oil and sweat. Clay can also improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the skin. Different types of clay have different properties and are suited to different skin types

Emollients are products used to soften and smooth skin.  They include lanolin, glycerol stearate, include natural oils, butters, waxes, esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and more.  

Emulsifiers are a compound that stabilizes emulsions and keeps water ingredients and oil ingredients mixed together.  Oil and water do not mix. For example, an oil and vinegar (water) salad dressing separates and needs to be shaken before use unless the dressing contains an emulsifier. This same concept holds true for lotions, creams and hair conditioners.

Surfactants are wetting  agents that lower the surface tension  of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension  between two liquids, making it easy for oil and water to mix.  It has anionic (negatively charged), cationic (positively charged), non-ionic (neutrally charged) and amphoteric (both positive and neutral).  These charges are important; they define what kind of emulsifier we need for a specific product.  Surfactants in this collection are PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, cocomidopropyl betaine