If you like making soaps and other skin care products or prefer natural beauty products, you probably know that vegetable glycerin is very versatile. Having excellent cleansing, toning and moisturizing properties, it can be used to make soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, shampoos, face masks and so on. Although it is readily available on the market, you can try making it at home, especially if you are looking for a plant-based variant that is free from animal fats. By mixing oils and caustic soda, it is possible to trigger a chemical reaction that allows you to obtain vegetable glycerin, without the need for special knowledge on the subject. The important thing is to have a cake thermometer. However, remember that caustic soda must be handled with care.
Ingrediants
- 200 g of coconut oil
- 250 ml of olive oil
- 30 g of caustic soda
- 250 ml of water
- 150 g of salt
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Mixing Oils and Caustic Soda
Step 1. Pour 200g of coconut oil and 250ml of olive oil into a large saucepan
Mix them lightly, remembering that they will only blend well once they are heated.
Coconut or olive oil can be substituted for palm, soybean, or jojoba oil
Step 2. Put the pot on the stove
Let the oils heat over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the coconut oil has begun to melt.
To protect yourself from high temperatures and caustic soda (which you'll add in the next step), be sure to wear goggles, a pair of rubber gloves, and a face mask. It is also recommended to use pants and long-sleeved shirts
Step 3. Once the oils are heated, pour 30g of caustic soda into a 250ml container filled with water (make sure to use a heat-resistant glass container)
It is important to add caustic soda to the water, and not vice versa, otherwise the sodium hydroxide will expand and come out of the container.
- Caustic soda can be purchased online or from the hardware store.
- When working with caustic soda, it is important to properly ventilate the room. Open the windows and / or turn on a fan.
Step 4. Pour the caustic soda mixture over the oils with extreme care
Mix well to make sure you get a smooth blend.
- Be careful when pouring the mixture to prevent it from coming into contact with your skin.
- If it gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with cold water and take off any clothes it splashed on. The skin should be rinsed for 15 minutes. Then see a doctor.
Part 2 of 3: Thicken the Blend
Step 1. Add caustic soda to the oils, attach a hooked cake thermometer to the rim of the pot
Continue to heat the mixture on maximum until it reaches a temperature of 52 ° C. It should take about 20 minutes.
- Reaching the right temperature is very important when preparing vegetable glycerin, so you need to use a thermometer to check it.
- Stir regularly to make sure you get an even blend.
Step 2. Once the thermometer has reached 52 ° C, turn the heat down to a medium or medium-low temperature
Wait for the temperature of the mixture to drop to 38 ° C.
Step 3. Once you reach a temperature of 38 ° C, continue stirring the mixture for another 10-15 minutes on the stove
It should become thick. To understand if it has thickened sufficiently, pass a spoon on the surface: the trail should remain visible for a few seconds.
Do not overcook it, or it may become too thick to mix properly
Part 3 of 3: Complete the Glycerin Preparation
Step 1. Once you have reached the right consistency, remove the pan from the heat and add 150 g of salt, then mix well until it is evenly incorporated
Make sure the mixture is hot when you add the salt
Step 2. Once the salt is added, let the mixture cool completely:
it should take 20-30 minutes. As it cools, the soap and glycerin will gradually separate to form different layers.
The soap will solidify creating a thick layer on top of the mixture, while the glycerin will maintain a liquid consistency and settle to the bottom
Step 3. Once the mixture has completely cooled, pour the top layer of soap into another container
However, it may be easier to gently remove it with a spoon.
- If you want to use soap, pour it into a special mold and place it in the freezer for 24 hours. Then, allow the loaves to air dry and cure for at least 2-3 weeks.
- If you don't want to make soap, you can throw this layer away.
Step 4. Once the soap is removed from the surface of the mixture, pour the liquid vegetable glycerin into a glass bottle
Close it tightly and put it in the fridge.
Vegetable glycerin can be kept in the fridge for at least 3-4 weeks. When it goes bad, it becomes cloudy and may even give off an unpleasant odor
Advice
Vegetable glycerin can be used to make a variety of beauty and skin care products, such as body lotions, shampoos, and moisturizers
Warnings
- Caustic soda can burn the skin. Before handling it you must take preventive measures by wearing goggles, rubber gloves, face mask, pants and long-sleeved shirts.
- You should always work in a well-ventilated place to make sure the fumes do not cause damage. Open the windows and turn on a fan to proceed safely.
- If caustic soda gets on your skin or in your eyes, take off the clothes it splashed on and wash the affected area for at least 15 minutes. Then, see a doctor immediately.
