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Home | Essential Oils | Best Natural Emulsifiers

Best Natural Emulsifiers

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Emulsifiers are commonly used in homemade lotions, body butters, and other water-based recipes. Great for getting those ingredients that don’t mix; to mix!

Natural emulsifiers on wooden board.

I am a big DIYer and love to make projects with essential oils and other natural products to help get toxins out of my home.

Quite a few skin care and hair care recipes call for water and oil. Most of these recipes require an emulsifier to integrate the ingredients that would not normally mix.

Without an emulsifier, you may need to shake homemade products before each use.

What are emulsifiers?

Emulsifiers are used to mix ingredients that normally wouldn’t mix. Especially helpful when mixing oil and water.

Body butter and lotions made with large molecule fats and small molecule oils can be made smooth with a natural emulsifier.

Emulsifiers can break apart an oil or fat into smaller particles and then disperse those particles throughout the water or other liquid being used in the recipe.

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What are the best natural emulsifiers?

Wax is probably used most often as a natural emulsifier, and it is a great choice when making a homemade skin care product.

Beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, and rice bran wax can all be used as wax emulsifiers. When looking for a natural option, make sure that you are using a non-GMO wax that is vegetable-derived and made with natural ingredients.

beeswax

Beeswax is extremely beneficial for the body because it keeps the skin hydrated. In addition, it will create a protective barrier on the skin, trapping in moisture. Beeswax can also be used to gently exfoliate the skin.

I love adding beeswax to my homemade face creams and lip balms. Not only does it create the perfect texture, but it adds extra benefits for the skin.

candelilla wax

Candelilla wax can be used as a natural emulsifier in homemade creams, lotions, and balms. This wax is a great vegan substitute for beeswax as it is plant-based.

Candelilla wax is rich in nutrients and absorbs well into the skin. It is known to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and stretch marks.

carnauba wax

Carnauba wax is a great natural emulsifier. It has a high melting point making it perfect for thickening homemade balms, deodorants, and body butters.

Carnauba wax is hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin.

rice bran wax

Rice bran wax is great as a natural emulsifier. However, this type of wax may not work for all of your recipes. It can mix oils with creams and butters but not with water. It will help to thicken, bind, and gel. It is often used in skin care and hair care products.

Rice bran wax can be used to improve skin tone, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, and promote hydration.

more natural emulsifiers to try

Apple cider vinegar and wax emulsifiers sitting on white marble table with blue and white tea towel.

Emulsifiers can come from animal or plant tissues. Emulsifier waxes may be some of the most popular options, but there are a few other substances that you can use.

Points to consider: Make sure the emulsifier you choose will work with the ingredients in the product you are making and at the correct dosages. Different emulsifiers work better at higher percentage dosages and some work better with lower dosages.

Here is a list of other emulsifiers you can try:

  • Honey
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Aloe vera
  • Castile soap
  • Gelatin
  • Salt
  • Baking soda

What emulsifiers are best for essential oils?

Adding essential oils to amber colored glass dropper bottle.

We all know oil and water do not mix. The same goes for essential oils. Adding an emulsifier will eliminate the need to shake your oil and water-based products every time before each use.

There are several natural options to help your essential oils mix with the water, which is very easy to do.

essential oil emulsifiers

  • Cetearyl alcohol
  • Witch hazel
  • Baking soda
  • Aloe vera gel
  • Castile soap
  • Gelatin
  • Honey

how do emulsifiers work with essential oils

Mix the essential oils with the emulsifier of choice and then add them into the water. Some essential oils will need more emulsifiers than others, but as a rule, I always start with a 1:1 ratio.

Not all essential oil recipes will need an emulsifier, just ones that are water-based. Essential oils mix great with fats like cocoa butter, coconut oil, and carrier oils.

When making a homemade cream, sunscreen, or chapstick with fat, you will not need an emulsifier. Water-based recipes such as room sprays that contain oil, will need some sort of emulsifier.

Are emulsifiers safe?

Soap emulsifier made from wax on wooden board.

Emulsifiers get a bad rep in the food industry as they can cause inflammation and ruin the gut liner. Most processed foods contain emulsifiers.

Emulsifiers found in cosmetics and skin care products can be safe as long as you are using a natural option. Some conventional products can contain emulsifiers that are toxic to the skin; this is why I prefer to make my own.

Common cosmetic emulsifiers include:

  • polysorbates
  • laureth-4
  • potassium cetyl sulfate.

in summary

  • Oil and water-based recipes need an emulsifier for the ingredients to mix.
  • Wax is a natural emulsifier.
  • Essential oil recipes may need emulsifiers.
  • Emulsifiers found in conventional cosmetics and processed foods may not be safe to use.

Check Out a Few of My Other Favorite Posts

  • Argan Oil – benefits and uses
  • Jamaican Black Castor Oil – why you need it
  • Jojoba oil – why it’s one of my favorite carrier oils
  • Essential Oil Dilution Charts
  • Photosensitive Oils
  • Castile Soap Benefits & Uses

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Comments

  1. Praj says

    March 28, 2021 at 5:47 AM

    A Good read! Thanks for the helpful information

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 28, 2021 at 8:05 PM

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  2. Viktoria says

    April 4, 2021 at 2:58 PM

    I do not understand how if an emulsifier is connected oil with water you call bees wax an emulsifier. It won’t work as such

    Reply
    • Jan says

      June 26, 2021 at 8:01 PM

      I have the same question. Bees wax is hydrophobic.

      Reply
  3. azra says

    June 30, 2021 at 8:07 PM

    Kindly Help me with what amount weight wise of e-wax in production of 200 grams of diy home made skin care soaps from avacadoes pulp

    Reply
  4. Snita says

    November 6, 2021 at 9:04 PM

    Thank you for great information

    Reply
  5. Sherelle says

    November 20, 2021 at 9:43 AM

    Hello thank you for this information I found it most interesting. I have 2 questions. Do you recommend a natural emulsifier apart from the waxes, to use for my creams. I have vf + mf Emulsifier ànd Olivem 1000 are not hydrating enough
    Thank you

    Reply
  6. Jane says

    January 11, 2022 at 5:28 AM

    Enjoyed your article. Very informative and written in simple and easy to understand language. Currently into DIY and that’s how I came across your site.

    Reply
  7. CG Fagerhaughb says

    January 18, 2022 at 3:26 PM

    what is your emulsifier ?

    Reply
  8. Aldora says

    January 29, 2022 at 9:11 AM

    I researching for the best natural emulsifier for making body shimmer …Recommendations?

    Reply
  9. Louise says

    February 28, 2022 at 12:50 AM

    Very beautiful content

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 7, 2022 at 8:27 PM

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  10. Emm says

    May 12, 2022 at 7:28 PM

    Which emulsifier is best for a more oil(carrier oil) to water base(hydrosol) moisturizer?

    Reply

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