Formulation Fix its: Grainy Butters and Balms

Ever worked with grainy shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter or other plant butter? This video explains why it happens, and more importantly - how to fix it! Ever created a balm to find little grainy balls form too? We cover the reasons why and how to fix that as well! A great formulation fix-it when you're working with balms and butters!
Learn to formulate with Institute of Personal Care Science, the world's leading Institute for Internationally recognised training in Cosmetic Science, Cosmetic Formulation, Brand Management and Regulatory Affairs. Flexible study, on-line, any time, anywhere! Find out more: www.personalcarescience.com.au or contact us: [e-mail]

[@justinejustice_league1857]

Currently trying to solve this problem now, it's so embarrassing because it looks like something is growing in a petri dish 😅 but I have to explain that it's just the butters. I was afraid rapid cooling would cause cracking. I'll try this method. Wish me luck

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Learn how to formulate with active ingredients, including how to stabilise them in your formulas and check quality/stability with our Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/CertificateinAdvancedCosmeticScience-478/ or Diploma of Personal Care Formulation: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/DiplomaofPersonalCareFormulation-479/

[@celesteelijah2515]

Thank you, I didn't know that about the manufactured batch.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Thanks for watching!

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Please email us for full formulation, method and supplier details for all our formulas FREE: [e-mail] Happy formulating!

[@valentynanaboka9731]

Thank you for a great explanation. My balm looks nice and smooth for some time and only after using it for a month or so, it starts developing crystals. I can't figure out what causing it. The solution you propose in your video seems to work for products that are grainy at the time of making a bath. what do I do if my formula develops crystals after some time? It doesn't happen right away.

[@sydsthemom]

How would you recommend to cool large batches rapidly without it getting too hard to whip up nicely?

[@burcakbuyuktogrul8282]

Thank you for the useful tip. I've had a similar problem this week and I'd like to learn one more thing about it. After we fix the grainy look and start manufacturing, do you think the end product with shea butter and several base oils in it should be cooled immeadiately as well? To avoid it to get grainy again, I mean.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Yes cool it fast to avoid the graininess happening again

[@ylaw9829]

Thanks for the video. We monitor the heating temperature and put the product in the fridge (actually freezer) immediately after pouring. The products stay good until a few months later when it is either shipped or brought outside. Is there a way to better manage this? Especially if it is given out as a gift, we cant be expecting the person to reheat and cool it like we do. Also, noted that you have recommended using Softisan that is derived from vegetables. Can I know is it 100% natural?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

For the softisan - please contact the supplier directly for statements of origin. Reduce your shea - if used at more than 10% it can cause real problems. Hope this helps. For more specific advice I'd need to review your formula properly, you can purchase a formula review here: personalcarescience.com.au/Advice/cosmeticformulation,brandadvice-797/

[@jrccandleco7939]

GREAT VIDEO!!! I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE A CLASS WITH YOU!

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Learn how to formulate with active ingredients, including how to stabilise them in your formulas and check quality/stability with our Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/CertificateinAdvancedCosmeticScience-478/ or Diploma of Personal Care Formulation: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/DiplomaofPersonalCareFormulation-479/

[@JanayM112]

If i have more than 1 butter should I heat and cool them separately ? Since the melting points are different?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

No - they should be melted together to get a homogenous mixture.

[@l.g.7540]

Hi, I am confused. You said to fix grainy butter to melt it to its highest melting point then cool it rapidly. But then, I thought you said melt it gently, just at the melting point and cool it rapidly. When cooling it rapidly, your are putting it in the refrigerator? Or whisking it to cool? Great video. Thank you.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

HI LG, you can heat fast or slow - you only need to heat just above melting point in any case. The cooling is the crucial part - it must be rapid. You can use a cool room (we did that) or a cool water/ice bath. In larger batches a cool water bath may not be possible, so the cool room is more practical especially when product is poured off into jars. Hope this helps :)

[@Hillyrom]

Hi I make lip balms, but my issue is that one of my formulas is whipped, so if I cool it then when I blend it it has chunks in it, how can I fix this issue? Should I start whipping while the mixture has just melted?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

We have a video on Whipped Creams and Butters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX3WmHSXq9lgkKc, if this doesn't answer your questions, for specific help with your formula, please send us full details and purchase consulting time here: personalcarescience.com.au/Advice/cosmeticformulation,brandadvice-797/

[@amandah2866]

This explains why the whipped body butter I brought has become grainy. I suspect it melted in the heat of WA and then cooled slowly as it came over here to me in Victoria. Are essential oils heat sensitive? I want to know if I can save my butter.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Learn how to formulate with active ingredients & essential oils, including how to stabilise them in your formulas and check quality/stability with our Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/CertificateinAdvancedCosmeticScience-478/ or Diploma of Personal Care Formulation: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/DiplomaofPersonalCareFormulation-479/

[@fatou1feuze]

Funny thing is raw natural Shea butter never does this, but refined Shea butter does it. Do you know why.?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Because its already been treated. Learn how to formulate with active ingredients, including how to stabilise them in your formulas and check quality/stability with our Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/CertificateinAdvancedCosmeticScience-478/ or Diploma of Personal Care Formulation: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/DiplomaofPersonalCareFormulation-479/

[@lunaloca5643]

I have a not temperature control warehouse for my raw materials and i have this problem with low-melting butters. I wonder if I can melt and freeze to store to void temperature fluctuations and ensure good condition before manufacturing

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

You would be best speaking with the supplier about this specific to the material, I would suggest freezing may also cause issues.

[@marjanijudge1764]

This is so helpful

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Thank you for watching.

[@naturallynourished9426]

THANK YOU!! I have followed this method and most times it works. But I can still get a grainy end product after the balm has sat on the shelf for several months. Any advice would be great. Also I usually melt the butters in batches to a smooth consitency when it has come grainy from the supplier and then I use the amount I need later in the formulas. Could this be the issue? LASTLY... sorry! I cool the balms in a fridge, where the temp is much cooler than 22c is this ok? Thanks in advance!

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

I would suggest ordering from another supplier where it arrives smooth - getting better quality and then storing it well is better than having to fix it later. If on the shelf for several months and it occurs then please check your storage location/conditions as it must be heating just enough to cause this to happen again. Cooling the balms even faster is even better! Hope this helps.

[@nnekauzoronyehalu]

Do you cool immediately in the freezer or just leave it out like you?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

We’re happy to provide the full formula, ingredient, supplier, input and method details, please email us: [e-mail] and we can send you a link to access ALL our free formulas and reports. Happy formulating!

[@godsizekeiron]

When I've made my beard balm will transfer to a freezer be as effective?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Please contact us via this service for formulation reviews and advice: personalcarescience.com.au/Advice/cosmeticformulation,brandadvice-797/

[@brigittehp1589]

@@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401 A simple yes or no instead of advertising would have been appreciated!

[@dawannakiller1350]

I found a video showing how to do exactly why you said, so it’s a YES folks. You can put it in the freezer.

[@shifawumuhammed8842]

What if it is already formulated emulsified body butter, it very thick, not smooth, not absorbing and leave residue on the skin! how do you fix?

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Learn all about this and more with our Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/CertificateinAdvancedCosmeticScience-478/ or Diploma of Personal Care Formulation: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/DiplomaofPersonalCareFormulation-479/

[@patriciahargraves4834]

i am getting a crusty or grainy effect develop over a period of time as they sit on a shelf. Would reducing the shea butter help or just store it in refrigerator? I live in Southern California and it typically is only hot enough to change consistency during the summer months.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

It sounds like your climate is impacting the product over time - you can use less shea butter, or use some Softisan 378 - that helps stop that also. Hope this helps, happy formulating!

[@LittleLadyk2002]

Is vitamin e oil heat sensitive, how about coconut oil, cocoa butter or beeswax? What's considered heat sensitive? For Lip balm, should I cool in refridgerator after pour? Or Freezer. Mine turned grainy 2 weeks after making. It was perfect before that. It's winter here so not in the hundreds like in summer but Heater is on and fluctuates a little between 68-73 degrees. I used shea, cocoa butter, beeswax, vit e oil and liquid coconut oil. I already poured them. Small 12 tube batch but on an extreme budget. I poured then let them just set up in room temperature. I think I messed up. So upsetting. I am not sure what is heat sensitive? Can I save it by digging ingredients back out of the tubes, reheating, repouring then refrigerating them? K do not even know if I can do that. I am not sure if the butter was grainy prior to starting as I did not know to check. Any help is much appreciated.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Don’t heat vitamin E if you can help it - while it will tolerate the heat, you will lose its antioxidant protection when heating. This is why more is needed in balms, because you must heat it over a prolonged time, so a larger amount gets used to ensure there is still enough for antioxidant protection over time. Coconut oil and cocoa butter will oxidise over time, so need antioxidant protection. Lip balm should be cooled fast in a cool room, like shown in this video. Please study our Beginners program to get your foundation learning right and avoid future mistakes: personalcarescience.com.au/CosmeticScience/BeginnersCosmeticScienceWorkshops-469/ You can also start with our FREE Masterclass to get you started: personalcarescience.com.au/Workshops/CosmeticFormulationFundamentalsMasterclass-7441/

[@presious4665]

Hello. I made natural deodorants twice including shea butter and coconut oil..They looked great but in week l notice the deodorants are full of grains all over, what could be the cause? Each time l make them its a hot mess, it can't be saved cause its already put in the deodorant bottles and they looked fine at first. Awaiting you reply. Thanks

[@presious4665]

The shea butter did not look grainy before i used it.

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Hi Angel its exactly as in this video - the cooling process is too slow. This happens even if the shea is fine before you use it. You can also use some Softisan 378 which helps stop/reduce this from happening if you can't hasten the cooling process. Hope this helps!

[@presious4665]

@@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401 Thank you for your response and tip, should i use the Softisan instead of the shea butter?❤

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

That could be used 'with' or instead of - both would work :)

[@jennajolysa4787]

@@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401 May I know what is the percentage to use in the body butter to avoid grainy issue please?

[@LTTDeb]

Why do you keep rotating the plate with the grainy butter on it. It is most annoying, making it difficult to focus on the how and why it happened and how to fix the issue. Ugh

[@areejps]

i did not understand what it means that fixing a batch is not desirable ? please

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

Hi Areej, you ideally want the batch to go right first time - if you have to fix a batch the end product may not be the same quality as if it were right first go, or may have a shorter shelf life than expected. But, fixing a batch is better than throwing it out - but just check quality carefully and monitor its shelf life over time, it may degrade quicker than normal. Happy formulating!

[@areejps]

yes i understand now thank you ..

[@sharmilelliott2414]

Will it then stay smooth after being “fixed” or after making a batch from a “fixed” raw material butter? Is there any way to prevent graininess from occurring later on from temperature fluctuations while in the consumer’s use? For how long do we need to shock-cool it? Is the fridge or freezer a better choice? If my balm starts to crystallize within a couple days of making it, can I save it by shock cooling it at that point or is it too late already and have to remelt the whole batch? Thank you so much! I’ve really been struggling with this issue for a long time!

[@theinstituteofpersonalcare6401]

You would have to remelt it and then cool it fast - also check the quality of the materials you are using from the start. Also consider reducing the amount of low melting point butters you have in your formula to solve this. You may also enjoy our Can I use another oil, butter or wax workshop: personalcarescience.com.au/Workshops/Oilsbuttersandwaxesworkshop-5209/