Coconut Oil, Refined, 20 l

Coconut oil, refined, 20 l

Refined coconut oil from coconut flesh has undergone refining and deodorisation, so it has no coconut scent or flavour. It brings to the formulation only what the manufacturer needs from it: a softening oil component for skin and hair that will not affect the scent of the finished product and leaves room for perfumery or essential oils. The 20 l bucket packaging is intended for manufacturers of soaps, balms and body cosmetics who use oil in larger quantities.

What the oil does in a formulation

• Emollient – fills the space between flaking skin cells, smooths the surface and reduces water loss through evaporation. The skin feels softer and less tight after application.
• Carrier – dissolves oil-soluble active ingredients, fragrance compositions and essential oils, making it a base for massage products, body butters and balms.
• Hair conditioning – the fatty acids in coconut oil penetrate the hair shaft. In hair masks and pre-wash oil treatments, it gives dry, damaged hair elasticity and smoothness.
• Skin barrier support – the film the oil forms on the skin slows down drying out and helps dry or cracked skin retain moisture.

The oil is of food grade quality and contains no food allergens, which is particularly valued by manufacturers of lip balms and products for children.

Use in a formulation

The oil belongs in the oil phase. It does not dissolve in water and mixes freely with vegetable oils, butters and waxes. At room temperature it is solid and white, melting into a clear, slightly yellowish liquid at gentle warming. It is therefore sufficient to heat it briefly in a water bath before weighing. It can be processed at temperatures up to 80 °C, so it withstands the normal heating of the oil phase of an emulsion without any problem.

Dosage ranges from 1 % in light emulsions to 100 % as a neat oil. In creams and body lotions it complements the oil phase as a softening component. In anhydrous products (balms, body butters, solid sticks) it often forms the main portion of the fatty component and determines their consistency: it holds its shape at room temperature and melts on contact with skin. It is suitable for products with pH 4.5 – 8.5 and is compatible with all common surfactant types, alcohol and preservatives.

In cold-process soap, coconut oil is one of the key fats. It gives soap hardness and a rich, dense lather that forms even in hard water. At a high proportion in the recipe it can dry out the skin, so it is usually combined with olive, palm or rapeseed oil or with butters.

Suitable for products such as

• body butters, balms and massage sticks, where it forms the main fatty component,
• lip balms and lip sticks, where the food grade quality is an advantage,
• hair masks, pre-wash treatments and conditioners for dry and damaged hair,
• cold-process and hot-process soaps, shower and bath products,
• oil cleansers and cleansing balms, in which it melts and is then removed together with impurities,
• creams and body lotions for dry skin, products for children and eye-area formulations,
• solid decorative cosmetics (tinted balms, cream eyeshadows).

Good to know

Refined oil has no scent, so it adds no coconut undertone to the product and does not interfere with the perfumery. The fatty acid composition remains the same as in virgin oil; the softening and conditioning properties are not changed by refining.

Anhydrous products made from oil, wax and butters do not need a preservative. Once the formulation contains a water phase, hydrolat or gel, a preservative is necessary, as with any emulsion.

Frequently asked questions