CO2 extracts and their uses | Article

What are CO2 extracts?

You may be confused by the fact that for CO2 extracts there is a CO2 extract from pomegranate, but also pomegranate oil. Or a rosemary CO2 extract, but also rosemary floral water or an essential oil. A calendula CO2 extract, but also a calendula macerate.

So which one should you use in your products?

The answer is simple – each of the above-mentioned raw materials can be obtained from the plant or its fruits, but by different methods. At the same time, however, it is also true that every plant or fruit, due to its specific consistency, composition and content of substances, is suitable only for a certain type of extraction.

CO2 EXTRACTS - METHOD OF PRODUCTION

They are obtained by high-pressure extraction with carbon dioxide, resulting in one of the purest essences on the market, because the extraction process does not exceed 50 ̊C, which preserves heat-sensitive substances, and it also does not contain undesirable substances such as solvent residues, inorganic salts or heavy metals, because they are not soluble in CO2. Likewise, substances sensitive to oxidation remain untouched. The result is an extract with a significantly higher concentration of active substances, a longer shelf life and a significantly lower usage rate. Finally, the extraction process mentioned is cleaner and therefore more environmentally friendly. Since they are thicker and have a pasty consistency, they are suitable for nourishing skin care or hair care products. It should also be noted that their scent and colour are more intense than those of essential oils.

ESSENTIAL OILS - METHOD OF PRODUCTION

They are most commonly obtained by steam distillation, producing volatile aromatic liquid substances, and almost all of them can therefore be used in the field of aromatherapy, for inhalation, in the sauna or in the bath. You will also appreciate their effects in body and hair care products. There are around 700 types of plants from which essential oils can be “extracted”. An interesting fact is that essential oils are actually a by-product of the production of hydrolats and floral waters. The waters therefore contain all the substances that are contained in essential oils, only in a much smaller proportion, and therefore you can safely use them in higher amounts, whether in toners, cleansing and make-up removing waters, baths, compresses, but also creams and masks.

MACERATES - METHOD OF PRODUCTION

They are obtained by infusing the plant in oil. Through this process, the nourishing substances from the plant are extracted into the oil. You can read more on our blog in the article How to make your own macerate?

Macerates also have a wide range of uses in cosmetic products, as you make use of the nourishing substances of the macerated plant in combination with the substances contained in the oil. You can use them in facial care products, soaps and even hair care products.

OILS - METHOD OF PRODUCTION

They are obtained either by mechanical extraction or chemical extraction using a solvent from the fruit or seeds. Their degree of “nutritional value” depends on the processing method, for example whether the oil remains unrefined, or whether it has undergone a refining and deodorisation process (overall or partial removal of odour). An important component of oils is precisely the different ratios of fatty acids as well as vitamins contained in the extracted fruits, and you can make use of their effects especially in creams, soaps or hair care.

When deciding which raw material you will use, it therefore depends only on you what strength or effect “extracted” from the plant you want to use.

But let us return to CO2 extracts. In layman’s terms, it is the purest thing you can obtain from a plant.

Thanks to their high concentration and effects, their usage rate is much lower than that of essential oils.

CO2 EXTRACTS - METHOD OF USE

CO2 extracts are thick to pasty, highly concentrated, with a pronounced scent, colour and, above all, effect. The general usage level in your product is 1-2 % (even when combining two or more extracts, you must observe the given percentages, as they are truly very effective). It should also be noted that CO2 extracts leave a colour trace. When using essential oils, it is really exceptional for your product to become coloured. They dissolve easily in the product at a temperature of up to 40 ̊C. For this reason, during the winter period it may happen that your extract solidifies. For handling, it is sufficient to immerse the bottle with the extract for a short time in hot water. Such slight warming should not degrade the extract itself. You can use them in water-based as well as oil-based products, but not in purely aqueous products, because CO2 extracts are always with added oil.

In what types of products can you use them?

Given their consistency, we definitely do not recommend them in spray products, because they also contain solid particles. However, they are an excellent choice for body and bath oils, creams, emulsions, ointments, facial toners, balms, massage oils, soaps, or blends of carrier oils and delicate oils. You just need to choose what kind of effect you want to give your product.

CO2 COFFEE

Due to its antioxidant effects, it is excellent for ageing skin (it stimulates microcirculation) and, in addition to the already mentioned forms of use, it is also great in shampoos and other hair care products, because it improves blood circulation to the hair bulb. If you love the smell of freshly ground coffee, do not hesitate to add coffee extract to your products. It is obtained from freshly roasted ground coffee beans, so its scent is authentic and you will certainly not be able to resist it.

CO2 TURMERIC

Known more from the kitchen than from cosmetics, but due to its strong antibacterial effects it quickly found an application in cosmetics as well. It is excellent in massage blends for a sore and tired body, which it pleasantly warms and clears clogged pores, but also for sore joints from excessive strain. Here, however, we draw attention to the strong colouring effects of the extract.

CO2 CHILLI

Another kitchen aid that has also broken through into the world of cosmetics. Just like turmeric, it has been used in massage blends for its strong antibacterial effects. Here, we strongly recommend observing the proportion, because it has a pungent effect just like in the kitchen. However, in the right proportion it has no competition when it comes to helping sore muscles, which it thoroughly stimulates and warms. It has also proved effective for migraine and back pain.

CO2 SCHISANDRA CHINESE

It has soothing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and is therefore, among other things, suitable for sensitive skin, even for children’s skin. In addition, it has a pleasant sweet scent with woody notes, so you can also use it in natural perfumes, or simply to scent your products ;-)

CO2 HOPS

Although it is a strongly fragrant plant, the extract has undergone a deodorisation process, so you do not have to worry about its fragrant effects ;-) Due to its pronounced anticancer and antimicrobial properties, it is also suitable for deodorising products – not only soaps, but also deodorant sticks and shower gels.

CO2 POMEGRANATE

In addition to its pleasant scent, it helps regenerate skin cells and gives the skin a youthful and fresh appearance. You can also use it in hair cosmetics, it is ideal for dry, thinning hair.

CO2 ROSEMARY EXTRACT

Rosemary extract is derived from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis. It is a pure antioxidant additive that retains the typical light rosemary scent, but its use should not affect the final scent of your product.

Rosemary and its healing effects were already known in the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a tincture, then obtained by distillation of rosemary in brandy, it was used by the Hungarian queen and had its own name – Hungary Water.

The queen used it daily to treat gout and restlessness in the legs. Rosemary thus gained the epithet “herb of vitality”.

Today, rosemary extract is used for its antioxidant properties mainly to protect the body and skin from damage by free radicals and, thanks to its antibacterial (a broad spectrum of activity against 28 bacteria) and anti-inflammatory properties, it is a supplementary ingredient that increases and maintains the freshness of carrier oils and the essential oils contained in them. At the same time, it prevents their oxidation, which degrades them and causes yellowing. It also has anti-ageing properties and stimulating and neuroprotective properties (it stimulates blood circulation, an excellent means of improving memory).

Rosemary antioxidant has natural and multifunctional antioxidant properties that are even greater than those of mixed tocopherols (i.e. a group of chemical compounds that to a large extent exhibit the beneficial activities of vitamin E). It alleviates skin inflammation and can soothe acne, eczema and psoriasis. It protects cells not only from oxidation and inflammation, but also against pathogens.

The thermal stability of rosemary extract is also excellent – it is able to stabilise and completely dissolve in most vegetable oils even at low temperatures, while remaining stable at temperatures higher than 200 °C.

In addition to stabilising carrier and essential oils, it is able to preserve the shelf life of finished natural products by slowing down the oxidation of fatty oils. It also serves as a preservative because it slows down the growth of microorganisms.

It is also important to recall certain physical properties in the specific application into products:

- in oil-based and water-based products the extract can be used directly

- if the extract is to be used in a product in powder form, it must be mixed with a carrier oil

- attention must also be paid to the pH of the product, because at a pH higher than 8.5 it does not show effective results

The use of CO2 rosemary extract is really very wide. You can add it to soaps, creams, facial waters, massage gels, bath and body oils, emulsions, blends of carrier oils and delicate oils, lip balms, or scrubs.

If you want to give your products antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, simply choose our ANTIMICROBIAL BLEND, which carries the effects of oregano, clove, ajwain, hops, turmeric, liquorice and sage.

In conclusion, we add that our CO2 extracts are so-called total extracts, which are the highest quality variant and at the same time are processed in high-quality organic oils.

The article was written for you by

Martina Oboňová

Do not hesitate to send us any observations and ideas at marketing@handymade.sk.

CO2 extracts and their uses in natural cosmetics