In this post I am going be taking a closer look at Emulsifying Wax NF. As the name suggests, it is used to combine ingredients that are not compatible (such as oil and water) into a formula by creating an emulsion. Emulsifying wax nf is frequently used to create thick and solid emulsions in the cosmetic industry.
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Emulsifying Wax NF: Basic Information
INCI Name: Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60
Shelf Life: 2 years
Use Rate: 2-10%
Appearance: Small white beads
Guidelines: Added to the oil phase and needs to be heated.
What does NF mean?
The NF indicates that it follows the specifications for the National Formula. This way you know that Emulsifying Wax NF from one company is comparable to the same ingredient from another company.
What is emulsifying wax?
The really cool thing about emulsifying wax is that it can be used in a wide variety of formulas, because it is so versatile. Emulsifying wax is a non-ionic self-emulsifying wax. Since this is non-ionic it is compatible with anionic, cationic and non-ionic formulas. It is also known to be stable in products with a ph as low as 3 and as high as 13.
How and why we use it?
One of the most common ways it is used is to make lotions. We know that oil and water don’t mix, so we need something to create the emulsion and to help to ensure it won’t separate. Remember the old saying, like attracts like?
Remember the old saying, like attracts like?
Water is polar (one negatively charged end and one positively charged end). It is easy to get water to mix with other polar ingredients (such as glycerin). Oil on the other hand, is non-polar (has no charge), and is easily mixed with other non-polar ingredients (such as other butters).
What the emulsifier does is it brings the two ingredients together. It has a hydrophilic (water loving) head and a lipophilic (oil loving) tail. So basically, the emulsifier grabs on to the water and the oil and holds them together. Bam, that is how you create an emulsion!
It can also be used in scrubs and conditioners.