SOLUBILIZER - what is it and how to use it? | Article

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What do you imagine under the name solubiliser? In the article below we will clarify it.

A solubiliser, in other words a solvent, is a very good aid in the case that you need to incorporate essential oils, fragrance oils or preservatives into your water‑based product (these are the most frequent cases of solvent use in natural cosmetics). Without this miracle you simply will not succeed, and fatty little balls of essence will be floating in the water.

It also needs to be emphasized that a solubiliser is neither an emulsifier nor a dispersant, although all three belong to the group of surface‑active substances. None of the mentioned components will create such a clear and transparent appearance of the resulting solution.

SOLUBILISER – WHY USE IT?

You may say to yourself that it is enough to shake the product before use if you see a layer of preservative or essential oil at the bottom, and everything is fine.

However, it is not completely fine. In fact, it is not fine at all. Thanks to a solubiliser all the oily components are evenly dispersed throughout the entire solution and their concentration is completely the same.

But what happens if you do not use a solubiliser?

The oily component in the solution will simply settle or float on the surface. Even if you shake the product before use, the oily components will not disperse evenly in the water. In this way, a disproportionate amount of preservative or essential oil can get into the spray dispenser, which you then apply to your skin, and the result may be an allergic skin reaction.

And what about the preservative?

How does it then stabilise your product if it is not evenly dispersed throughout the entire solution? One aspect is the health risk, and the other the economic risk – natural preservatives and quality essential oils are after all not the cheapest items, and it is therefore worth using all the necessary additives so that your product is high‑quality and in particular meets health and quality criteria.

Note: Intentionally take a look at your purchased natural products to see whether there is no mixture settled at the bottom or floating on the surface. And then at the label to see whether there is a warning: Shake before use.

SOLUBILISER – HOW TO USE IT?

Symbio solv clear plus is gluten‑free and PEG‑free, and since it falls into the group of surfactants, by using it you will also increase the foaming of the final product.

In the case of use in a cleansing foam, you probably will not notice the foaming effect here, but in the case of facial toners, foaming is basically undesirable.

Therefore, certain ratios must be observed during application.
It is usually used in a ratio of 1:3 (that means 3 parts solubiliser to 1 part essential oil) and 1:5 (5 parts solubiliser to 1 part essential oil).

However, the golden rule still remains to use as much as is needed, so we recommend testing it on a smaller amount of your product. It also holds for essential oils that each one is different; after all, it is a natural extract.

In our range we also offer Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, which is primarily a surfactant but is also an excellent solubiliser – since it is a surface‑active substance, it has a pronounced foaming ability, and therefore as a solvent it is recommended to be used only in liquid foaming products, hand washes and body cleansing products.

How about you? Do you use a solvent in your products, or is this a complete novelty for you?

The article was prepared for you by

Martina Oboňová