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Beer has become an up and coming ingredient in herbal skin care formulas because of its skin-loving benefits. Try this unique ingredient in some in your own recipes today.

Botanical Extracts pack in the essence of plants in liquid form. Use to increase label appeal while also adding these beneficial plant properties to your cosmetics. Many Botanical Extracts consist of the plant extract with water and glycerin. These are water-soluble and can be used for lotion, shower gel, shampoo and shaving cream. There are also Botanical Extracts that consist of the plant extract with oil, making these oil-soluble. The oil-soluble botanicals can be used in cosmetics such as massage oil or solid lotion bars. Plants are thought to have beneficial properties and many are packed with vitamins and other rich qualities that will allure customers to your products. Read more to learn how to use them!

When September arrives, the air starts to get a crisp feel to it, apple stands abound and leaves start to change color and fall from the trees. We used Fragrance Formulator fragrances to create some blends that would remind us of this wonderful time of the year. These fragrances are specifically formulated to blend well together. Each blend is composed of ten parts and each part represents 10% of the total fragrance. Try these blends in your next recipe or use them as inspiration to create your own customized fragrance blends!

Preservatives are essential in any water-based cosmetic formulation. They prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold, keeping products safe and effective for long-term use. But for many small-batch makers and clean beauty enthusiasts, the desire to avoid synthetic ingredients leads to an important question: Are there natural preservatives that actually work?Yes, natural preservatives do exist, and with careful formulation, they can be effective in extending shelf life while aligning with consumer demand for natural and organic skincare. Whenever a cosmetic product contains water, think lotions, creams, toners, and serums, it becomes susceptible to microbial contamination. This not only shortens shelf life but also poses serious safety risks. Natural preservatives serve the same purpose as synthetic ones, but are derived from plant-based, mineral, or nature-identical sources.Without a proper preservation system, even homemade products can spoil in a matter of days. No. Traditional preservatives like parabens and formaldehyde-releasing agents are effective but synthetic. Natural preservatives, on the other hand, aim to maintain efficacy while minimizing synthetic content. These can include compounds like sorbic acid, benzyl alcohol, and dehydroacetic acid, all considered “nature-identical” by regulatory bodies.Some essential oils also offer antimicrobial properties, though they’re rarely sufficient on their own in water-rich formulas. Here are some widely used natural or naturally derived preservatives commonly found in artisan and small-batch formulations:1. Leucidal Liquid (Radish Root Ferment Filtrate)A probiotic-based preservative derived from fermented radish roots. It’s effective against bacteria but often needs a complementary preservative for full-spectrum protection.2. Geogard ECT (Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin & Sorbic Acid)This broad-spectrum preservative is ECOCERT-approved and suitable for most emulsions and rinse-off products. It combines several naturally derived components for stronger preservation.3. Potassium Sorbate & Sodium BenzoateCommonly found in food and personal care products, these inhibit mold and yeast growth and are effective at low pH levels.4. Gluconolactone & Sodium BenzoateThis duo is ideal for skin-friendly formulations and gentle enough for leave-on products. It’s often used in formulations for sensitive skin.5. Essential Oils (Tea Tree, Rosemary, Lavender)While not full-spectrum preservatives, essential oils like these offer mild antimicrobial support. They can enhance an existing preservation system but should not be relied on alone.6. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)Often mistaken for a preservative, vitamin E is actually an antioxidant. It helps prevent oils in a formulation from oxidizing but offers no protection against microbes.7. Citric AcidUsed primarily to adjust pH, citric acid can support a preservative system by maintaining an environment less favorable to microbial growth. While lemon juice is acidic, it's not a reliable preservative in cosmetics. Its pH varies, and it lacks consistent antimicrobial efficacy. In fact, it may destabilize formulas or irritate skin if not used carefully. There’s no single “best” preservative, choosing the right one depends on your formula’s pH, water content, and intended shelf life. However, Geogard ECT and Leucidal Liquid are popular choices for their wide acceptance in natural formulation circles and ECOCERT certifications. For example, if you're making a lotion with a water phase, using Geogard ECT at the correct percentage provides both consumer reassurance and product safety. To maximize the performance of natural preservatives: Follow recommended usage rates: More isn’t always better, some preservatives are only effective at specific concentrations. Control your pH: Many natural preservatives function only within narrow pH ranges. Use clean tools and containers: Sanitation is critical in small-batch making. Test your formula: If selling your products, microbial testing is a must. At Wholesale Supplies Plus, we provide cosmetic makers with ingredients that align with natural formulation goals. Browse our offerings like: Leucidal Liquid – for probiotic preservation Geogard ECT – for broad-spectrum ECOCERT-approved protection Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate – for sensitive skin formulations All our ingredients include specification sheets and formulation guidance to help you create safe, effective natural cosmetics.

The peach (Prunus persica) is a drupe. It belongs to the genus Prunus which includes the cherry and plum, in the family Rosaceae. The outermost layer of the peach is called the exocarp or skin. Red pigmentation in the skin (blush) is packed with anthocyanins that are rich antioxidants. The fleshy part is the mesocarp. Inside the middle of the fruit is the pit. Technically, this is referred to as the stony endocarp. Within the stony endocarp is the seed. Fruits bearing stony endocarps inside them are typically called "stone" fruits. The peach is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.

In this episode of 'Soaping in Slippers', Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus and Allison Vought of AliMar make a face mask. This 3C's face mask is packed with Caffeine, Carob and Carrot. We learn how to make this face mask and educational tips along the way!

Travel can help you broaden your horizons, forget about life and business stress and catch up on some much needed “me time.” But disconnecting from a business you own isn’t always simple. In fact, one study of small business owners conducted by OnDeck Capital revealed that though 57% will take a vacation this year, 67% of them will check on work at least once a day during their trip. 

Create unique soap creations with Crafter's Choice Loaf Column Silicone Soap Molds. These molds create long vertical loaves of soap, which allows soap makers to easily place and embed different shapes and designs. We enjoy using the smaller column molds and mini column molds in conjunction with the loaf molds. In this video, we show tricks and tips for using loaf column molds. Watch this video to learn how to properly use loaf column silicone soap molds!

Pretty soon, trees will be ablaze with the bright colors of fall. Not long after that, the first snowflakes will float down and holiday planning will be up and running. As seasons change, so too does your product line, and it never hurts to take a look ahead and forecast what fragrances your customers will go nuts for this holiday season. We’re always here to help our maker community, so we’ve rounded up the hottest trends we’re seeing in the fragrance industry for Fall and Winter 2022.

This video demonstrates how easy it is to make a 1 1/2" tulip shaped soap using the Crafter's Choice Tulip 1 1/2" Column Silicone Soap Mold. The tulip looks great embedded in a large loaf with the Crafter's Choice Squiggle Column Silicone Soap Mold. Perfect for spring, Mother's Day, and Valentine's Day.

Mother's Day offers a huge selling opportunity for soapers and handmade artisans. People spend a lot of money buying Mother’s Day gifts each year and handmade bath and body products are among some of the most popular items consumers plan to buy. We want to help you have the most successful Mother’s Day season yet, so here are some facts, figures, tips and tricks to sell your products for Mother’s Day.

See how micas, oxides, and natural colorants perform in cold process and melt and pour, with tips and fixes for morphing color.