Have you been thinking about creating your own soaps and lotions at home that are safe, gentle, and cruelty-free? With the right ingredients and a little direction, this isn’t as difficult as it might seem. In fact, crafting beneficial and luscious personal care products at home is not only relatively simple, it’s also quite fun as well.

If you have questioned whether or not a certain surfactant, emulsifier, oil, or other ingredient was vegan, this is the guide for you. Popular agents and compounds such as BTMS 50, decyl glucoside, and stearic acid may sound unnatural or harmful, when in fact they are perfectly vegan and suited for use in your all-natural and gentle formulations.

There has been growing consumer awareness regarding the integrity of the ingredients featured in everyday products such as shampoos and soaps. Between concern over the environment and the overall well-being of animals, the bar for quality is being set higher and higher, and that is a good thing. Cheap chemicals are not exactly good for our skin and hair, nor are they good for the environment.

Products that utilize wholesome plant-based ingredients and safely formulated chemical compounds are typically better for our body, better for the environment, and don’t require the exploitation of animals. This leads to a better quality product overall, one that you can feel great about using every day, and that will actually positively impact your life.

Even when it comes to products as simple as the soap you use in the shower every day, it’s important to know what went into crafting that soap, and whether or not the ingredients that went into it are actually worth putting on your body. Will that soap leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed, or will it dry your skin out because of the presence of chemical irritants?

One of the best reasons for crafting your own soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products is that you have much greater control over what you are putting on your body. You can hand-select the ingredients you use from a reliable source and feel confident that the substances you are using to moisturize and cleanse your skin are actually doing the job, and won’t negatively impact the environment in the process.

We’ve put together this helpful resource for anyone interested in crafting their own soaps and other personal care products, who might be in the dark when it comes to the origin and properties of certain popular ingredients. Sure, it’s easy enough to tell where lavender essential oil comes from, or what baking soda is, but when it comes to common emulsifying agents and other important components, it can get a little confusing. We’re here to clear up any misconceptions and help you make the best possible decisions when purchasing ingredients for your at-home formulations!

Helpful Guide to Vegan and All-Natural Ingredients

While this list is in no way meant to be comprehensive, it’s a great starting point if you want to learn a little more about some of our popular ingredients as well as commonly used compounds that are not only effective at what they do but are safe and most importantly, vegan as well.

Even if you aren’t particularly interested in crafting vegan-specific products, it’s important to be aware of the ingredients you use and strive to craft your formulas using the safest and most versatile ingredients possible. One of the reasons why these kinds of ingredients are skyrocketing in usage is because they can be used to meet the needs of a broader range of consumers.

Greater knowledge of the ingredients and components you utilize in your formulas will also enable you to craft more effective products in general. You may have noticed how many soaps, lotions, shampoos, and other products have shifted to using plant-based ingredients in recent years. This is because, on the whole, these substances are full of beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that make them especially ideal for use in body and hair care. Combined with carefully formulated chemical emulsifiers that are safe and are naturally-derived, you have everything you need for a product that is both gentle and effective.

As an added bonus, the following ingredients are biodegradable and safe for the environment, which is an issue more consumers are concerned about as well. It’s not enough to craft a product that can tackle dry skin or improve your complexion. It’s more important than ever to be able to formulate a product that uses ingredients that won’t damage water systems or poison the air.

BTMS 50

What exactly is BTMS 50 and why would you need it in your formulations? Well, this chemical compound, Behentrimonium Methosulfate 50%, is what is known as a cationic conditioner and also an emulsifier, which means that it is used to help two substances mix together that ordinarily would not. Although this substance may sound as though it is some kind of industrial chemical, it is actually a safe and vegetable-based ingredient derived from rapeseed oil.

You may be wondering what in the world you would use this substance for, but in truth, it is actually quite versatile and can be utilized as a beneficial emulsifier that works wonders in hair conditioners and similar products. Whenever you have a need to aid the mixing of certain stubborn ingredients, such as oils and water-based substances, you might find that BTMS 50 is the perfect ingredient for the job.

In some cases, you may prefer to utilize BTMS 25, which is Behentrimonium Methosulfate 25%, a similar but milder substance derived in the same manner. Both are useful as a detangling agent and are excellent for products that need a boost in their conditioning potential. What’s important to note is that not only are these substances effective, they are generally considered safe for all skin types, even sensitive skin, which is one of the reasons why they are increasing in usage.

Shea Butter

You may already be familiar with the beneficial moisturizing properties of shea butter. This creamy all-natural butter seems to be popping up everywhere, as more and more people discover how useful it is for relieving dry skin and improving skin texture as well. The fact that it can be incorporated into a wide range of different personal care products is helpful too.

The primary takeaway you should have when it comes to this natural butter is that it is 100% vegan and safe to use in soaps, lotions, and other products that you would like to market as cruelty-free and safe. Shea butter is derived from the shea nut, through wholly natural processes. Usually, the kernels of the shea nut are removed from the seed, ground up into a fine powder, and then boiled. The butter then separates.

What makes this ingredient truly remarkable is that it is naturally rich in nutrients and has beneficial moisturizing and enriching properties without any further adjustments or enhancements. This means that while it is perfectly suited for use in your formulas, you can also utilize it alone as well in order to get the desired effect.

Decyl Glucoside

Surfactants are an important part of soap and lotion making for several reasons. They may help with foaming and emulsifying, and in the case of decyl glucoside, can even be used as a mild cleaning agent or detergent.

This ingredient is a natural fatty polyglycoside derived from cornstarch and is considered 100% green, biodegradable, and vegan. It is also noted for how safe it is for all skin types. Given how effective it is as a surfactant, and how versatile it is, it’s no wonder why decyl glucoside is now favored as one of the standard surfactants for a variety of products. This is one ingredient you definitely want on hand if you are crafting your own vegan shampoos and body washes.

Coconut Oil

It may be obvious to some, but coconut oil and coconut butter are both all-natural and fully biodegradable ingredients that possess excellent moisturizing capabilities. Coconut oil is worth mentioning here because it is simply an extremely versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from shampoo to lotion, and everything in between. You can even use it in cooking. All-natural high-quality coconut oil should be a staple in your home if you are interested in making your own vegan personal care products!

Stearic Acid

What is stearic acid and why would you need it in your formulas? Not unlike BTMS 50, stearic acid is used as an emulsifier. However, this ingredient is also used as a thickener and can be commonly found in soaps, lotions, creams, and even candles. It also works well for use in all-natural deodorants.

The high-quality stearic acid found in our store here at MakeYourOwn.buzz is plant-derived and fully biodegradable and vegan. If you need an effective thickening agent that has beneficial cleansing and protective properties for skin, you can’t go wrong here. It’s important to know the source of your ingredients, however, because stearic acid is found throughout nature and can be derived from animal sources. The best, premium-grade stearic acid found in our store comes from purely vegetable-based sources.

Pink Himalayan Salt

Why is Himalayan salt on this list? Because if you are interested in crafting an all-natural vegan face scrub or similar product, this is the kind of ingredient that can come in handy. Noted for its attractive color and potential health benefits, pink salt is now widely used for a variety of purposes. It can even be utilized in soap-making and even bath bombs. 100% natural and vegan, and perfectly safe for all skin types, all important traits to keep in mind as you put together your formulas.

PalmOil

This beneficial plant-based substance is used in a wide assortment of soaps and other items, an all-purpose replacement for beef tallow when crafting vegan products. However, despite the fact that palm oil is derived from a plant, the African palm tree, it is considered not to be vegan in many circles due to the controversial nature of its harvesting.

Specifically, many proponents of sustainable ecology and those who care about environmental awareness claim that palm oil production is responsible for widespread habitat loss and destruction of forests, to the point where it has driven some animals close to extinction. Obviously, this goes against certain vegan codes of ethics that designate products that exploit animals to be non-vegan, even if they are plant-based.

However, the usefulness and versatility of palm oil have pushed demand to the point where it has been worth investigating sustainable means of production for this product. Specifically, the palm oil that we carry here in our store has been produced through completely sustainable means, 100% sourced through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. This organization goes to great lengths to ensure that the palm oil from member suppliers is produced in such a fashion that it does not impact the local environment. For vegans and others who care deeply about the state of the Earth, including the welfare of animals, this is important.

In terms of crafting personal care products using palm oil, it’s up to you to make your best judgment in regard to the quality of the ingredients you utilize in your formulas. Palm oil is popular for a reason, as it is nourishing and works extremely well as a component in various soaps and shampoos.

Where to Find More High-Quality and All-Natural Ingredients

Interested in crafting your own beneficial skincare and hair care products? You can find all of the previously mentioned ingredients, as well as hundreds of others, right here inour store. Whether you are searching for all-natural soap bases or emulsifying agents, lovely fragrances, or even biodegradable glitter, you will be able to find what you are looking for here at MakeYourOwn.buzz. If you have any questions regarding one of our products and whether or not it is suitable for your needs or if it is vegetable-based, feel free to contact us at (888) 583-7738.