Marula Oil

by | Aug 31, 2016

What is it? A yellow liquid carrier oil pressed from the seeds of the Marula tree.
Appearance Pale yellow liquid.
Texture Sooth
Scent A wee bit nutty and sweet.
Absorbency Speed Fast
Solubility Oil
Why do we use it in formulations? Its light consistency makes it a fantastic addition to hair care products, body butters, lotions, and serums as it can lighten other oils, helping to create a lightweight, fast absorbing final product.
Do you need it? You don’t need it, but it’s a great luxury oil to have on hand, and thanks to its long shelf life you don’t have to worry about it spoiling before you get around to using it.
Refined or unrefined? I’ve only ever seen refined for sale, and it’s lovely.
Strengths Fast absorbing, low scent, rich in antioxidants, rich in vitamins E & C.
Weaknesses It can be a bit tricky to find as it’s not very common.
Alternatives & Substitutions Argan oil would make a good alternative.
How to Work with It I love it in hair care products and facial serums where its high antioxidant and vitamin content can really benefit your skin.
Storage & Shelf Life Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, marula oil should last at least two years.
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks Over time the liquid oil can become cloudy and some sediment will sink to the bottom of the bottle. This is easily fixed with a hot water bath, which will re-melt the sediment.
Recommended starter amount 100mL (3.3fl oz) or less
Where to Buy it  Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon.

Some Formulations that Use Marula Oil

Orange Wax

by | Aug 29, 2016

What is it? A liquid wax that’s pressed from orange peels.
Appearance A dark orange liquid.
Texture Smooth and very thin—like water.
Scent Deliciously orangey! It’s wonderfully juicy and awesome.
Absorbency Speed Almost instant, it doesn’t feel oily in the least.
Solubility Oil
Why do we use it in formulations? For a delicious orange scent and its orange colour. Because of its almost instantaneous, water-like absorption speed, it also helps give balms a dry/drier finish.
Do you need it? Not really—you can use a combination of the fastest absorbing carrier oil you have (hazelnut would be a good choice) and orange essential oil in pretty much any recipe that calls for orange wax.
Refined or unrefined? I’ve only ever seen unrefined orange wax.
Strengths Delicious smell and lovely warm colour. It also has a astringent and antibacterial properties.
Weaknesses Orange wax is photo sensitizing, and may stain the skin in higher concentrations.
Alternatives & Substitutions You can use a combination of the fastest absorbing carrier oil you have and orange essential oil in pretty much any recipe that calls for orange wax. Because orange wax is liquid you cannot use it for any of the hardening waxes like beeswax, candelilla, carnauba, bayberry, soy wax, etc. as it has absolutely no hardening properties.
How to Work with It I love it in cleansing balms and body butters, and I’ve also read that it’s nice in candles.
Storage & Shelf Life Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, orange wax should last at least two years.
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks Orange wax is photo sensitizing, so don’t use it in anything you might put on before going out in the sun. Orange wax also has a 75°C (167°F) flash point, which is quite low—don’t heat it over direct heat an be careful with water baths!
Recommended starter amount 30g (1oz)
Where to Buy it  Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon.

Some Formulations that Use Orange Wax