Face – IT'S ALL IN MY HANDS

Smooth Away Face Cream

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No Foam Face Wash

Lab Note: My “No-Foam” Gentle Face Wash

Hello Hello! :D This recipe is very special to me. For two years, I struggled with a constant, annoying form of acne. I was doing everything “right” according to the commercials—scrubbing like crazy, using alcoholic toners, and applying aggressive creams. Nothing worked!

Then, I finally decided to give my skin a break. I stopped the aggression and started treating my skin with respect. This face wash was a huge part of that. It doesn’t make a big foam, and it doesn’t leave your skin feeling “squeaky” (which usually just means “stripped!“), but it cleans perfectly.

The “Why” behind the formula:

I wanted a very delicate ASM of only 6.5%. Most shampoos are 15%, so you can see how much gentler this is! I also used a “Trio” of surfactants to keep it balanced:

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: My primary surfactant. It’s so much softer than SLES!
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Added specifically to make the first one even milder.
Lauryl Glucoside: A non-ionic touch to keep everything stable.

The Formula:

Phase A:

Water to 100
Glycerin 3
Xanthan Gum 0.5 (I add this because Sarcosinate loves to become as liquid as water! This gives it a little “body” so it doesn’t slip through your fingers.)
Preservative (Water-soluble!)

Phase B:

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate – 10
Lauryl Glucoside – 2 (It’s a dense paste, so microwave it for a few seconds first! :D)
Lavender EO – 2 drops
Sage EO – 2 drops (I love these for acne-prone skin because they are so soothing.)

Phase C:

Cocamidopropyl Betaine – 6
Lactic Acid (To reach pH 5—this is the secret to making it dense!)

Notes from the Beaker:

Mixing with Love: I mixed everything very slowly with a spoon. If you mix too fast, you get a beaker full of bubbles and you’ll have to wait ages for them to go away!
The pH Secret: This is the most important part! You must lower the pH to 5 using Lactic or Citric acid. One drop at a time! When you hit pH 5, the Sarcosinate suddenly becomes dense and “creamy.” If you go lower than 5, it might go liquid again, so be careful! 😉
The Order: I add the Betaine (Phase C) at the very end. Sometimes adding it too early makes the whole thing “melt” into a liquid mess.
A Touch of Color: I added one tiny drop of blue food coloring just to make it look pretty and fun in my bathroom.

Final Verdict: This face wash doesn’t “shout,” but it works. It leaves my skin calm, hydrated, and happy. If you are tired of aggressive products, give this a try! ENJOY! 🙂

“Hydrating Elixir” Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

Hello Hello! 😀 Today I share one of my last experiments in the home “lsab”. Where I live, we had days over 40°C, and I just wanted something that felt icy and refreshing. I decided to formulate a serum that behaves perfectly when stored in the fridge—though I always remind myself: even if it’s cold, THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM PRESERVATIVES! 😀

This is an “upgraded” version of my basic Hyaluronic Acid gel. I wanted to include two salts that I usually can’t put in my lotions because my favorite polymeric emulsifiers are such picky divas when it comes to salts! But in a simple water-based serum, they are absolute stars.

The Formula I Used:

Water: to 100%
Sodium Hyaluronate (high molecular weight): 1%
Sodium Hyaluronate (low molecular weight): 0.5%
Sodium Lactate: 2%
Sodium PCA: 1%
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): 2.5%
D-Panthenol: 0.5%
Phenonip: 0.5%
Fragrance oil (Rock Candy): 0.2%

Notes from my Beaker:

The Hyaluronic “Fuss”: I measured out the water and poured the high molecular weight HA on top. Usually, I try to be patient and let it hydrate naturally, but I was in a rush! I used a stick blender which made it cloudy at first, but after a few days, it turned perfectly transparent. I did the same with the low molecular weight version right after.
The Humectant Boost: I added the Sodium Lactate and Sodium PCA next. Since these are naturally found in our skin (NMF), they make the serum feel so high-performing.
The Niacinamide Caution: I love using Vitamin B3 in the summer, but it’s so sensitive to pH. I measured mine and it was around 7.5, so I used a couple of drops of lactic acid to bring it down to pH 6.5. It’s essential to keep it in that neutral range!
A Touch of Pink: I added one drop of pink food colorant just to pamper myself. It wasn’t a necessity, but it looks so pretty in the bottle!
The Scent: I used a “Rock Candy” fragrance (the Rock Star dupe) and I absolutely LOVE it.

Final Verdict: I was a bit worried that with so many hygroscopic ingredients, it would feel sticky in the 40°C heat, but it’s not at all! I think the Niacinamide really helps with that. I only apply one drop and my skin feels unbelievably smooth. It’s the perfect “fridge treat” for the face. ENJOY! 🙂

I have added one drop of pink food colorant cause I like to pamper myself with colors. Was it a necessity? Nope.
The Fragrance Oil used in this Serum was Rock Candy from Sensory Perfection (the L**h dupe for “Rock Star”) and I LOVE IT! 🙂

Pearl Sensation – Face Wash Recipe

Lab Note: My “Pearl Sensation” Luxury Face Wash

Hello Hello! 😀 Today I’m obsessed with a texture. I wanted to create a face wash that felt like something you’d find in a high-end spa—something with that beautiful, silky, pearlescent glow that catches the light in the bottle.

I’ve made many face washes, but for this one, the challenge was to keep it super gentle for the skin while getting that “wow” visual effect. yeheee! 😀

The “Pearl” Strategy:

To get that shimmering look, I used a Pearlizing Agent (usually a mix of Glycol Distearate). But here’s what I noticed: if you use too much, it can make the wash feel “waxy.” I had to find the perfect balance so it stayed liquid and easy to rinse, but still looked like liquid silk.

The Formula for my Experiment:

Phase A:

Water to 100
Glycerin 3
Xanthan Gum (Transparent Version) – 0.4 (I used the transparent one so it wouldn’t cloud the “pearl” shimmer!)

Phase B (The Gentle Cleansing Trio):

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate – 10 (My favorite for a soft, skin-friendly clean.)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine – 8
Coco-Glucoside – 2
Pearlizing Wax (Euperlan PK 771) – 3 (This is where the “Sensation” comes from!)

Phase C (The Finishing Touches):

Hydrolyzed Silk Proteins – 1 (To match the name! 😉 )
Preservative (According to the type I have)
Lactic Acid (To bring the pH to 5.5)
Fragrance (I used a very soft “Baby Powder” and “Cotton” scent—it feels so clean!)

Notes from my Beaker:

The Visual Magic: I noticed that the “pearl” effect doesn’t show up immediately. When the mixture is hot or just freshly stirred, it looks a bit “blah.” But as it cools and the surfactants settle, the shimmering “waves” start to appear. It’s so satisfying to watch!
No Bubbles Please: Just like my other washes, I stirred this very slowly. If I incorporate too much air, the bubbles get trapped in the pearlescent “silk” and it looks messy. Patience is key! 😀
The pH Density: I found that when I hit pH 5.5, the Sarcosinate and the Pearlizing agent work together to get the perfect density. It’s not too liquid, not too thick—it’s just right for a pump bottle.
Gentleness Check: Even with the “fancy” look, I kept the ASM (Active Surfactant Matter) low. My skin didn’t feel tight or “squeaky” afterward, just very soft.

Final Verdict: This is definitely the prettiest thing on my bathroom shelf right now. It’s gentle, it’s shimmering, and it makes washing my face feel like a little luxury every morning. ENJOY! 😀

Spring Hydrating and Multivit – Face Cream

My “Multivit” Spring Hydrating Cream

Hello Hello! 😀 Today I’m so happy to share my recipe for a “skin-awakening” cream. I made this specifically for the transition into Spring. During winter, my skin always ends up looking a bit dull and “tired,” so I wanted something light, super hydrating, and packed with vitamins to bring back that healthy glow! yeheee!

The Vitamin Cocktail:

I didn’t want a heavy, occlusive cream; I wanted a “water-bomb” effect. I used a combination of Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) for healing, Vitamin E for protection, and a touch of Vitamin C (the stable version!) to brighten things up. It’s like a fresh smoothie for the face!