Want to create a beautiful, natural foaming cleanser that is easy to make? This gorgeous formulation includes organic rose hydrosol and naturally derived ingredients. It has a wonderful aroma and gently cleanses the skin.
What is a foaming cleanser?
A foaming cleanser is a fluffy mousse-like cleanser that will help you gently remove excess oil from your skin and unclog pores. This type of cleanser usually provides a deeper clean and is formulated using surfactants, this helps create the foaming lather.
There are many naturally derived and sustainable surfactants that are suitable for natural skincare. These types of surfactants are often created from the reaction of a fatty alcohol and glucose often derived from potato, corn and sugar cane.
We love using the surfactant Decyl Glucoside (also known as Polyglucoside). It's a naturally derived surfactant is gentle, mild, and suitable for natural skincare.
When creating this cleanser, you will need very specific packaging. You will need a foaming pump. This is what produces the mousse-like foam.
Here's an easy and natural recipe for creating a beautiful natural foaming cleanser that smells like roses.
What you will need to formulate this foaming cleanser:
Ingredients
- Rose Hydrosol
- Glycerine
- Naturafoam
- Gentle Foam
- Nat Preserve
- Distilled Water
Equipment
- Beakers or glass jug/container
- Stirring Rod
- pH strips
- Scales
- Foaming pump bottle
Rose Facial Cleanser Formulation -
This formulation is for 100g of product to fill 2 x 60ml foaming bottles
| Stage | Ingredient | Percentage | Weight |
| A | Rose Hydrosol | 66% | 66 grams |
| A | Distilled Water | 20% | 20 grams |
| A | Glycerine | 5% | 5 grams |
| A | Nat Preserve | 1% | 1 gram |
| B | Naturafoam | 3% | 3 grams |
| B | Gentle Foam | 5% | 5 grams |
| Total | 100% | 100g |
Formulation method:
- Place the preservative and glycerine into a beaker or small glass jug. Mix until they are combined (phase A)
- Add the distilled water and rose hydrosol to the beaker and using the double boiler method, slowly stir over a low heat until the preservative is completely dissolved (phase A)
- Take off the heat
- In a second beaker, add the Polyglucoside and Cocamidopropyl Betaine (phase B).
- Pour phase A beaker into phase B beaker and very gently combine. You don't want to stir too vigorously as your mixture might bubble too much
- Test the pH level and adjust if necessary. You want this to be at a pH of around 5. To test the pH, take out a tiny amount of cleanser and mix with distilled water to create a little mixture that you can dip the pH strips in. Use ratio 1:10. (1 = cleanser 10 = water)
- When you're happy with the pH level, carefully pour into the foaming pump bottle
FAQs
Can I substitute ingredients?
Yes you can and here's some ideas.
Hydrosol - You can change the aroma by swapping the type of hydrosol. There are many options such as Lemon Myrtle, Sandalwood and Lavender. If you don't want to use hydrosol, you can just use distilled water instead.
Preservative - If you don't want to use Nat Preserve, you can try other preservatives that are suitable for natural skincare. You can try using Preservative Eco, however I find this preservative has a nutty aroma. Just ensure your preservative is water soluble.
Can I add essential oils?
Yes you can. However you will need to reformulate and adjust the percentages in the formulation. You will need to ensure the essential oil is skin-safe and use the appropriate levels to adhere to dermal limits. As this formulation is water-based, you will need to solubilise the essential oils with the surfactants during phase B.
The pH level is too high or low
To lower the pH, create a citric acid solution with 10% citric acid and 90% distilled water. Put a couple of drops of this solution in your cleanser. Test the pH again.
To increase the pH, create a bicarbonate of soda solution with 10% bicarb and 90% distilled water. Put a couple of drops of this solution in your cleanser. Test the pH again.
Do I need to add a preservative?
Yes. This formulation contains water, and if no preservative is added, it will soon become a microbial playground in a matter of days. You don't want to cleanse your face and rub mould and bacteria into your skin - unpreserved products that contain water are dangerous, especially near your eyes.
Do I need to use foaming pump?
Yes. The foaming pump is a unique style bottle that creates the foaming mousse. If you don't use a foaming pump, it will look like slightly bubbly water or toner. It will be too runny.
Happy making!
xx
