NourishUs Naturals Blog

In the rush of daily life, finding time for a detailed skincare routine can be challenging. That's where our creamy spray-on/wipe-off facial cleanser steps in. This multitasking marvel adapts to your needs.

When packing for a summer vacation, it’s tempting to grab your tried-and-true products, but as temperatures rise, consider a shift in your travel kit. Adjusting skincare routines for the summer months can help address changes in weather, humidity, and increased sun exposure.

Reinforce your brand’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity by learning tips and strategies on how to create an inclusive line of hair-care products.

From harnessing the power of digital platforms to creating memorable customer experiences, explore real strategies that can elevate your brand’s profitability.

Unlock the secrets to successful haircare product development with our expert guide. Discover important dos and don’ts to create standout products.

Getting Started with DIY Basics This blog is for anyone who wants to give home crafting cosmetics a try. We will go over the necessary materials and equipment you will need to get started for DIY basics, as well as instructions on how to create two delightful formulations: a beautiful facial oil, and a basic lotion. If you are reading this, then you have probably found yourself interested in making your cosmetics. Perhaps you want to learn more about cosmetic chemistry or are even thinking about starting your cosmetic line. Maybe you like the idea of natural homemade recipes or just found yourself down a YouTube rabbit hole of DIY videos and are interested in giving this wonderful hobby a try. No matter what your motivation, we are glad you stopped by! Making your cosmetics can range from easy, to tricky, to downright difficult depending on the formula. Like most hobbies, you can start with basic projects and as you gain more knowledge, experience, materials, and equipment, move on to intermediate and advanced formulas. But first, let’s go over what you will need to get started and be able to do other DIY formulas. Materials & Equipment Before we go over some basic formulas and the ingredients you will need to make these products, we first need to ensure you have everything you need to create! Below is a basic list of materials we consider to be the bare minimum you will need to make both our anhydrous (no water) and our emulsion (contains water) formulas. If the item states it is optional, please be advised that though you can technically complete the project without the item, you’ll get the best results if you use them. We would also like to take a moment to note that we try wherever we can to use sustainable materials and to avoid unnecessary use and the waste of plastic. Though we want to encourage people to explore handcrafted cosmetics, we also want to urge those who participate in this hobby to be mindful of their sustainability efforts and the health of our beautiful planet. Pyrex Measuring Cups or Beakers Optional: you can use any tempered glass container Spray Bottle filled with Isopropyl Alcohol REQUIRED: we like to avoid unnecessary waste by using disposable materials. We recommend you have a spray bottle filled with alcohol to sanitize your equipment before every use. Spatula Optional: A thin icing spatula will make the project and clean up much easier. Prep Bowls (Glass) REQUIRED: We recommend using glass prep bowls to avoid unnecessary waste. Designated Mixing Spoons Optional: Ensure you are correctly sanitizing your mixing tools (we recommend stainless steel spoons or similar mixing tools) between uses. Please avoid the use of disposable and unsustainable plastic spoons. Digital Bench Scale REQUIRED: no way around it, you must have a scale, so you can accurately measure out your ingredients. We recommend a formal bench scale, but you can certainly use a kitchen or jewelry scale as well so long as it can read minuscule amounts of product. Disposable Pipettes REQUIRED: Though there are glass pipettes, we do not recommend using them as they are difficult to sanitize and break easily. We advise that you attach designated plastic pipettes to your ingredient containers with a rubber band and disinfect them after each use to prolong their life and avoid unnecessary waste. Gloves REQUIRED: Gloves protect your hands. And protect your product from unnecessary exposure to bacteria during formulation. Hot Plate or Stove Top REQUIRED: You can use either a hot plate or a water bath to heat your ingredients. Create a water bath using a large deep skillet or saucepan filled with about 1 ½ inches water. Or use a double boiler. We do not recommend using a microwave to melt your ingredients, as microwaving doesn’t heat the ingredients evenly throughout. Funnel Optional, but makes pouring off your project into your chosen packaging much easier. You can also use a reusable piping bag for thicker products such as creams and gels. Packaging of Choice Optional. You can always leave your concoction in the container you made it, or even use a sterilized Tupperware from your kitchen, but we recommend using packaging meant to hold the type of product you are making. Labels Optional: However, we highly recommend you always label your product with the date it was made so you can keep track of its shelf life. Immersion/Stick Blender REQUIRED for emulsions. Temperature Gun Optional. Although very useful when doing emulsions to ensure your oil and water phases have come to the correct temperature. Also valuable for confirming products are cool enough to safely add temperature sensitive ingredients such as preservatives and some antioxidants. pH Strips Optional: However it is best to make sure your skincare products that contain water are at the best potential hydrogen rating for skin or for the ingredients used. An Important Note on Scales We can hear you asking, what is a Bench Scale? Is this different from a normal kitchen scale? Is it expensive? Do I need this, or can I use a kitchen scale and hope for the best? The hard truth is that if you want to get into making cosmetics at home, how you measure your ingredients will affect your ability to follow a formula and having the right weight for each ingredient is essential. This is even more difficult since some ingredients are included at very small amounts, and when crafting at home you’re often making smaller batches. Though you can certainly get away with using a standard kitchen scale for some projects, we cannot stress enough that purchasing a bench scale meant for weighing cosmetic ingredients is of the highest priority especially if you are working with emulsions like lotions and creams. Preservatives are intended to work at precise percentages (some as low as half a percent), and the only way to be confident in their efficacy is to trust your scale. A beginner bench scale will run you around $150.00 but is worth every penny. If this is entirely out of your price range, you may have to purchase two separate kitchen scales: a standard scale for your main project, and a smaller scale that can measure down to about 0.01 grams for ingredients such as antioxidants, preservatives, and essential oils. Formulas & Methodology To make these two simple formulas, you are going to need the following ingredients. We are not providing substitution options for these recipes, but you can reference our Substitution Guide for ideas if necessary. You will notice that our measurements are in grams and ounces, this is because most scales for smaller batches work with these units of measurement. Expert tip: Always measure your ingredients individually for accuracy. Facial Oil (yields about 4 ounces): This divine facial oil is formulated to provide excellent nourishment to the skin. Packed with vitamins A, B, and C as well as beneficial essential fatty acids and antioxidants, this is a beautiful oil for all skin types, but especially suitable for dry skin. Can be used morning or night. Phase 1: Individually measure out the following ingredients and add them to your glass mixing bowl. Rosehip Seed Oil /37.78 gr/1.33 oz Plum Oil /37.78 gr /1.33 oz Pomegranate Oil /34.38 gr/1.21 oz Phase 2: Measure out your antioxidant (for extending shelf life by delaying natural oil rancidity) and add to your blend. Vitamin E Oil /3.45 gr/0.12 The plum oil in this formula smells fantastic, but if you want to add a touch of your favorite essential or fragrance oil, you can do so at this time. Start with the smallest amount and add until you get the scent profile you want. You can always add but never take away. Use a different pipette for each essential or fragrance oil. Pack Off: Using a funnel, pour your blend into your chosen containers. We recommend an airless pump or bottle with a dropper. Add a label if desired but be sure to put the date somewhere on the product so you are aware of shelf life/when it expires. Expert tip: keep a small sample in a labeled glass jar as a ‘retention’ sample so you can see how the product changes over time. Basic Lotion (yields about 8 ounces): This is a basic formula for creating a wonderfully moisturizing lotion. Once you have mastered the methodology for basic emulsions, the customization possibilities are endless. Any emulsion you create will require proper preservation. As stated earlier, we want to ensure you are creating “safe” formulas. Therefore, ANY product that contains water (or may encounter water) MUST be appropriately preserved to protect both the product and the skin from potential bacteria and mold. Water Phase: Individually weigh out the following ingredients and add them to a tempered glass container for your water phase. Deionized Water /163.34 gr/5.76 oz Vegetable Glycerin /8.48 gr/0.30 oz Citric Acid (pH adjuster) /0.36 gr/0.01 oz Oil Phase: Individually weigh out the following ingredients and add them to a separate tempered glass container for your oil phase. Golden Jojoba Oil /21.23 gr/0.75 oz Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate /10.61 gr/0.37 oz Cetyl Alcohol /3.18 gr/0.11 oz Cocoa Butter /2.63 gr/0.09 oz Weigh out Shea Butter /12.75 gr/0.45 oz and set aside. Do not put it into either of the glass containers you are using for the water or oil phases. Methodology Place both glass containers on your hot plate or inside your water bath until the oil phase ingredients have completely melted. Make sure your water phase does not boil. If you have a temp gun, your water phase should be around 120-140F. Your oil phase may require around 160-170F to completely melt the cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol. Once both your oil phase and water phase are thoroughly heated through, remove the oil phase from the heat and add your shea butter and stir it. The residual heat of the oils will melt the shea butter and will also give your oil phase time to cool a slightly and get closer in temperature to your water phase. In a perfect world, both phases would be the same temperature when combined. Remove your water phase and get your immersion blender plugged in, sanitized, and ready. Ensure both containers are on a sturdy surface. Insert your immersion blender into your water phase container and begin mixing on a low setting. Slowly pour your oil phase into your water phase while continuously mixing, increasing the setting to medium/high once all contents are fully blended and your lotion has fully emulsified. Cool Down Phase While your lotion cools, weigh out the following ingredients. Once your lotion is cooled (around 110F or below), you can slowly add your cooldown ingredients. You can use your blender, or just give your product a very good stir using your spoon or spatula to fully incorporate all your cooldown ingredients. Vitamin E Oil (antioxidant)/0.54 gr/0.02 oz Phenoxyethanol (Broad spectrum preservative)/2.13 gr/0.08 oz Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate (Preservative booster)/1.04 gr/0.04 oz Fragrance Optional (technically speaking, the desired amount of fragrance should be worked into the formula. This lotion formula is unscented, but you can certainly add a few drops of your favorite essential or fragrance oil at this point if desired, just be careful not to add too much or your lotion could break). Package Off Now you can use your funnel or piping bag to pack off your lovely lotion into your chosen containers. Add a label if desired, but ensure you mark the date of the product somewhere. That’s it! You just made a wonderful lotion! You can now play around with different oils and kinds of butter to get different consistencies. Play with additives, fragrances, and pigments for unlimited possibilities, or check below for more guides to DIY basics in cosmetics. Having fun? Head over to our YouTube Channel to find more recipes, formulation tips, and ideas from one of our professional formulators! Looking for something else? Head over to our website where you can find all the ingredients you can imagine to grow your collection and continue crafting gorgeous cosmetics at home. If you are looking for more resources or have unanswered questions, head over to our Learning Library for some fun reading. Final Note This formulation is based on our experience and knowledge of cosmetic formulations, but there is no guarantee of its effectiveness as we only create a small prototype to ensure the suitability of all ingredients in the product. We assume no liability for this formula. As with any new product, we highly recommend that our customers have all their products undergo third-party lab testing, at a minimum, to check the preservative's efficacy. This formula is provided as a gift for your creative experience, written and created with a blend of fun and expertise.

In this post, we delve into the benefits and characteristics of various carrier oils, which are essential in enhancing natural and naturally derived products. Our comprehensive chart provides detailed information on a long list of carrier oil, including their color, consistency, odor, absorption rate, and unique attributes. Additionally, you'll find insights into the fatty compositions and suggested substitutions for each oil, helping you make informed choices for your formulations. Whether you're looking to enhance the texture, scent, or effectiveness of your products, this guide will serve as a valuable resource.

What Are Carrier Oils? We hear the term “carrier oil” a lot, but what exactly is a carrier oil? Carrier oil is a term used to describe a base or vegetable oil that is being used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin. They get this name because they essentially ‘carry’ the essential oil. However, this term includes hundreds of different oils (and butters). So in short, you can consider the term “carrier oil” to mean any oil that is not an essential or fragrance oil. Because these oils tend to make up the base of many formulations, they are a lot like the simple stock for a soup. You can add and change as many ingredients as you like to the base, leading to endless possibilities. From Left to Right: Sesame Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil, Carrot Seed Oil Making Carrier Oil Substitutions When working on projects, it is a common occurrence to find a recipe you love, but need to come up with ingredient substitutions for various reasons. Maybe you do not have a certain oil in stock, or perhaps you have a sensitivity or allergy to an oil due to its constituents. Maybe you just want to make the recipe your own and have some fun, but don’t want to change the feel and look of the end product. Or, maybe you want to change the color of an oil blend from a dark green to a bright clear golden. We will cover some basics to finding appropriate ways to find carrier oil substitutions that will not break the recipe you are working from, meaning that the final product should be incredibly similar in most aspects to the original. It should be noted that the following information (and the information on the corresponding PDF guide) are based on the virgin, unrefined versions of any oil(s) mentioned. I will also note that though it may be tempting in some scenarios to simply not replace an eliminated carrier oil, doing so will drastically alter the final product in the majority of cases. When making substitutions, there are many things to consider. Firstly, you must understand what the carrier oil in question is bringing to the formulation in terms of viscosity, absorption rate, dilution, attributes, odor, color, and cost. Then, you need to narrow down which of those factors you want to maintain, and which you are willing and able to change. In terms of finding substitutions that will maintain the look and feel, as well as the intended use and stability of the final product, there are factors that are higher on the priority list than others. The two main factors that I’ll be focusing on for this blog are the viscosity and absorption rate of the oils. The odor, color, attributes, and cost of the final product are interchangeable variables depending on your specific needs and preferences. Here is a quick guide for using carrier oils. Carrier Oil Viscosity Viscosity of an individual carrier oil is based on the state the oil maintains at room temperature. If you are trying to recreate a thick cream that calls for cocoa butter, and you substitute shea butter, the resulting product is not going to have the same consistency and texture as the original formula. What about a lotion that was meant for a pump top closure? If you switch out a free flowing oil for a more viscous oil, you may end up with a consistency thicker than ideal for that packaging choice. Free Flowing (or mobile) Liquid Oil Thin and easy to pour (example: Olive Oil) Slightly Viscous Oil Thicker than free flowing, but still relatively easy to pour (example: Sesame Seed Oil) Viscous Oil Thick and less easy to pour (example: Castor Oil) Soft Semi-Solid Oil Thick, but creamy and not easy to pour (example: Coconut Oil) Soft Solid Soft solid, cannot be poured (example: Shea Butter) Brittle Solid Hard or brittle solid, cannot be poured (example: Cocoa Butter) Top row left to right: Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Castor Oil Bottom row left to right: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter (all at room temperature) Carrier Oil Melting Point The melting point refers to semi solid and solid carriers. Some of these carriers melt faster than others. For example, the above shown coconut oil is going to melt much faster than the more solid cocoa butter. The melting point of a carrier, when applicable, should be taken into consideration when making substitutions. You would not want to substitute coconut oil for cocoa butter in a recipe if you are trying to achieve the same look and feel of the original formula. The cocoa butter is going to offer a more heat resistant and thicker result. Whereas the coconut oil may leave the product susceptible to melting and would lack thickness. Carrier Oil Absorption Rate The absorption rate of an oil is based on how quickly the oil soaks into the skin, and the resulting sensory feel, ranging from very slow to very fast. If you are working from an existing formulation, you can bet that whatever oils chosen to make up that formulation were chosen for good reason. You would not want to switch out a slow absorbing oil in a lip gloss with a fast absorbing oil. This would lead to a lip gloss that does not so much gloss, as dry. What about a lotion formulated for daily use? If you switch out a fast absorbing oil with a slower one, a lotion that was meant to dry down (meaning the product doesn’t transfer onto clothing or objects) quickly might now leave the user unable to touch anything for twenty minutes. Very Slow These oils tend to feel heavy on the skin and leave a thick and oily, but moisturizing barrier that gets absorbed over time. (example: Castor Oil) Slow These oils tend to leave skin with a slight oily residue, but absorb over time. (example: Olive Oil) Average These oils leave a silky feeling on the skin, but are not completely residue free. They absorb at an average speed between slow and fast. (example: Hemp Seed Oil) Fast These light oils are quickly absorbed by the skin while leaving a smooth, silky finish. Skin is left feeling moisturized, but not greasy. (example: Evening Primrose Oil) Very Fast These super light oils are considered ‘drying’ because they are so quickly absorbed by the skin and do not leave a greasy residue. (example: Rosehip Seed Oil) Carrier Oil Dilution (Please note this is not considering levels that the CIR refers to). Many essential oils and absolutes need to be ‘diluted’ before they can be applied to the skin. This amount varies depending not only on the usage rate of the chosen carrier oil(s), but also the usage rate of the desired essential oil, fragrance oil, or absolute. This can get very in depth, but for the sake of this blog I just want to stress the importance of not altering the percentage of oil(s) you are substituting. Meaning that once you have found a suitable substitution oil, you use it at the same percentage value as in the original formula. If a formula lists a carrier oil at 20%, and you have decided to use a comparable substitute, ensure you are maintaining the original 20%. You can use multiple compatible oils to make up that 20%, but the total percentage of carrier oil used should be equal to that of the original formula. Other Important Variables – Attributes, Color, Odor, and Cost As mentioned before, these variables can be interchangeable depending on your personal needs and preferences. These variables are, however, very important to keep in mind when searching for substitutions. Let’s say you have narrowed down your list of possible substitutions based on matching viscosity and absorption rate, and you are left with five options. You can use these remaining factors to help narrow down the options and find the most suitable and ideal oil for your project. Carrier Oil Attributes: The attributes of the oil are incredibly important. Though it may not have an effect on the final product’s viscosity, absorption rate, and overall stability, it certainly is important to keep in mind what the performance of the end product is meant to be. This could range anywhere from the oils oxidative stability and rancidity resistance to its content of fatty acids and vitamins. What is the final product meant to do, and what characteristics must be maintained after substitution? Carrier Oil Odor: Some of the time, the odor of carrier oils will not have a large effect on the final product. Not only are many of them very mild in the aroma department, but once properly incorporated with all the other ingredients and likely essential or fragrance oils, they don’t often make a big difference in the smell of the final product. So when should you consider odor as a variable in deciding what oil is best? If your product is unscented or lightly scented, then you might want to ensure that you are not adding or substituting any pungent oils such as Neem or Broccoli Seed Oil into the formula. Moreover, if the original formula has an intentional aroma (without the use of additional EOs) such as a coconut fragrance from coconut oil, or a cocoa fragrance from cocoa butter, then you may have other considerations to make if trying to substitute those carriers. Carrier Oil Color: Similar to odor, the color of many carrier oils is fairly neutral. This means that you probably won’t run into an issue where one drastically alters the color of your finished product, especially in emulsion. However, there are oils such as Carrot Seed, Pumpkin Seed, Avocado, and Sea Buckthorn Berry that can be very vibrant, and can drastically affect the color of a product (especially oil blends) with even the slightest amount. So if you have a beautiful, clear golden oil blend, and you substitute an existing carrier oil with something like carrot seed oil, your product may quickly go from clear and golden to cloudy and green. Carrier Oil Cost: Make sure that you keep the overall cost of your product in mind when considering substitutions. Ingredients are commodities, and their prices can fluctuate depending on several factors from simple supply and demand to natural disasters, local harvesting, and not to mention quality and sustainability. If you are interested in learning about ingredient quality or sustainability, you can read more about it here. You might find an oil that checks all the boxes, only to find the oil is triple the cost of the one in the original formula. Since carrier oils are often in formulas at much higher percentages than essential oils (not to say that EO’s cannot effect the price of a product at low percentages, because they can, and they do – Jasmine anyone?), it can lead to major changes in the cost of the final product. To wrap things up, it is perfectly common to find yourself in a situation where a substitution is preferred, or even necessary in a formula. When this happens, it is important to find appropriate substitutions that will not break the formula you are working from. The most important boxes to check are that of the oils viscosity and absorption rate. These two factors affect the new products overall look and feel when compared to the original. Once you have compiled a list that meets the viscosity and absorption criteria, you can narrow down your options by considering things like the attributes, odor, color, and cost of the carrier in comparison to the original formula. Do you have a carrier you need a substitution for? Check out our Carrier Oils Chart for great information on color, odor, viscosity, absorption rate, attributes, and of course, substitution options!

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and acts as the barrier between our bodies and the environment. Maintaining healthy skincare routines supports its natural function and overall appearance. Over time, lack of care may lead to skin feeling uncomfortable or to visible signs of imbalance, dryness and/or dullness. That’s why it’s helpful for parents and caregivers to introduce healthy skincare habits early on, using gentle routines that teach children how to care for their skin as they grow. So, what should kids be doing to care for their skin, and at what age? This is a question we hear often so we’ve developed some guidelines for kids and skincare. A skincare timeline: Age 3-5 Every child is different, but generally, kids at this age are walking on their own, developing language skills at an accelerated pace, learning how to put on their own clothes, brush their teeth, and wash their bodies. This is a good age to start teaching your child the importance of washing their hands and face. Kids at this age will sometimes object to water on their face so if your child objects, a soft washcloth is a good way to start. Try making a fun game out of the activity to make it more enjoyable. You could ask your child to copy you as you wash your face, or use the washcloth as a way to play hide and seek as they wash their face. Using a gentle wash such as Clear Herbal Tea Hair & Body Wash is fine for all over washing at this age followed by a delicate, calming layer of Herbal Tea Cream. Age 6-9 Kids at this age are in school and more independent. Parents are no longer their only influence and they are starting to realize they can make their own decisions.This is a perfect age range to start reinforcing good skincare habits. Habits they internalize at this age will likely carry over into their adult lives so consistency is key to making sure skincare is a lifelong habit. This is also a good age to introduce facial skincare routines. Start simple with face washing using a mild facial cleanser such as Gentle Milk Facial Cleanser or Green Tea Facial Cleanser. Follow with a gentle toner to balance skin pH such as Calming Facial Toner or Calming Calendula Spray. Then follow with a lightweight lotion such as our Goat Milk Lotion. Also, our Wild Oats & Honey Facial Cleanser is perfect for kids' body wash, offering soft cleansing for those rough and tumble moments. The honey helps maintain the skin’s natural balance, making it ideal for everyday use. Age 10-13 Tweens! This is both a fun and challenging age for parents and kids, alike. Kids are much more independent at this age and are also starting to feel more peer pressure. They are learning there are consequences both good and bad depending on the choices they make. They are exploring more activities and developing at a rapid rate. This is also the age when bodies begin their march into puberty. With a changing body, skin changes as well. Cleansing the face daily and sticking to a skincare routine becomes even more important at this age. This time, we recommend our Clarifying Facial Cleanser as this charcoal cleanser is delicate yet thorough.Once again follow with a gentle toner to balance skin pH such as Calming Facial Toner or Calming Calendula Spray. And finally, finish with Jojoba Lotion to make sure skin is both hydrated and nourished. Good diet and good skincare at this age will help ensure healthy skin into the teen years. We recommend starting the habit of applying SPF daily (specifically on the face) at this age. Age 14-18 At this age and beyond, skincare is supremely important.Teens often develop chaotic skin so a good diet and good skincare routine are paramount to keep skin looking its best. We recommend starting a night time and morning skincare routine. At night, use Clarifying Facial Cleanser to help gently clean all dirt, make-up and residue from the day off the face. This is also a good age to start using exfoliants on both face and skin but be sure to only use facial exfoliants on the face. Try using AHA Cream Exfoliant 1-3 nights per week. Exfoliants help remove dead skin cells and using them at night is most beneficial. Follow with a Moisturizing Toner to return skin to its normal pH. And finally, finish with our best-selling CoQ10 Hydrating Cream-to-Gel. Also, for body care or a post-shower routine, we recommend trying out our Moisturizing Body Cream which has a long list of hydration essentials like avocado butter and babassu oil. In the morning, use a softer facial cleanser such as Gentle Milk Facial Cleanser, and then once again follow with Moisturizing Toner and CoQ10 Hydrating Cream-to-Gel. Teaching kids good skincare habits will benefit them long after the lessons are over. Everyone wants beautiful skin and starting good skincare early in life will give your kids the best opportunity to have a lifetime of beautiful skin.