Emulsifiers vs Solubilizers
- taralee
- Feb 23, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 12, 2023
When you first hear about emulsifiers and solubilizers they can be a bit confusing. They seem like they do the same thing, yet they are different. Well I will clear up the confusion for you today
As we all know, oil and water just don't mix, but we tend to use both of these ingredients in lots of different skincare products. So in order to get the two to mix together we use emulsifiers and/or solubilizers. Now that we know what makes the two similar, let's talk about what makes the two different.
Emulsifiers
An emulsion is the suspension of one liquid in another liquid. In cosmetics they help oil and water to finely disperse in each other, creating a stable, homogenous, smooth emulsion. Examples of emulsions are lotions, creams, and hair conditioners. Examples of emulsifiers are Emulsifying Wax NF, BTMS 50, & RitaMulse SCG
Solubilizers
When something is soluble it means it is able to dissolve in a liquid. You have probably heard me same an ingredient is "water soluble" which means it is able to be dissolved in water. Or "oil soluble" which means that it is able to be dissolved in oil. Solubilizers make an insoluble liquid soluble. For example, when you are making a body spray you want to combine your fragrance oil/essential oil with a solubilizer first, then mix it in with the distilled water to make the fragrance soluble. That way you don't have to shake it up before you use it every time. This is not the same process as an emulsion because we are only dissolving the liquid into another liquid. Examples of solubilizers are Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Poly Suga Mulse D9, & Symbio Solv Clear Plus
So just a little more information about Emulsifiers. Most Emulsifiers aren't used on their own. They are typically paired with other emulsifiers to create a more stable emulsion or better texture. Examples of my favorite Emulsifiers are Emulsifying Wax NF combined with Cetyl Alcohol. Stearic Acid also goes great with Emulsifying Wax NF, but I prefer the way Cetyl Alcohol feels on the skin. I do advise you to do your own experimenting to see how you like each emulsifier. I also really like the texture of RitaMulse SCG. RitaMulse SCG is actually a combination of multiple emulsifiers, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, & Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate. So keep in mind some suppliers like LotionCrafters.com, MakingCosmetics.com, & FormulatorSampleShop.com sell complete emulsifiers that you don't have to combine with other emulsifiers.
Watch my video over emulsifiers and solubilizers here.
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