Normally I use my ayurvedic powders as a face or hair mask, but despite having heard about infusions (also oil infusion) sometimes I don't make my mind as I'm never she about what is the best method for each herb...
Hi María - I agree - it's hard to figure out the best way to use these powders. I plan on trying every different way I can think of to see what works best, what method is easiest to work with and which uses make the best 'formulating sense'. :)
Hi Lise (sorry for the typo on the comment above, my phone's corrector sometimes drive me crazy). At the moment I've tried amla, shikakai, aritha (soapnuts powder), cassia (neutral henna) and orange peel powder. I love them in my hair and face, but I prefer hair. For masks they're great, and also washing with a mix of shikakai and aritha, this leaves my hair so smoooooooooth. However, if you have oily hair, they may not be strong enough for a good wash. For people that like to wash hair everyday, this could be a great idea for a no-poo washing.
Hi María - Oooh this is exciting! I just got my first order of orange peel powder and am so anxious to try it. Thanks for sharing your experiences here - it's quite inspiring!
For a Christmas inspiration you can use orange peel powder with a hint of cinnamon and clove, to use as a soft face scrub. Mixed with clay, is soft enough to use it every day. Also as face mask for oily skin, just gorgeous :)
HI Kathy! My initial reaction is 'anything's possible' but of course you may want to take a look at the solubility of the properties you want to extract. Many plants have both oil and water soluble components. that said, Amla will probably not give you much in an oil infusion as it will in a water-based infusion. I have made successful macerations (oil infusions) with some ingredients that are otherwise mostly used for water infusion. Sometimes, it's just the color or scent I am looking for in an infusion, so it all really depends on what you want to use the infusion for. :)
Can I substitute in a recipe an oil for a powder? If my recipe calls for 1 teaspoons of Amla powder or Fenugreek power can I use Amla Oil or Fenugreek oil instead. If yeas about how much would I use? Thank you in advance for you response.
Hi Valuemama - it depends on which kind of product you are making and what the other ingredients in the formula are, so I cant answer this without knowing a bit more.
Anonymous said…
Hi Lise. I love your blog - so informative. I've recently launched a small business and am interesting in formulating products with ayurvedic and traditional herbal infusions, oils and powders. Do you know where I can get cosmetic grade ingredients that have the documentation needed for CPSRs and also safety assessors that can assess the products. I have had rejections for including onion seed oil, guava oil and other "food" ingredients although these were actually cosmetic grade. Any tips would be welcome
Hi Anon-- Not knowing where you are located on the planet makes this a bit difficult to answer - both as to your regulatory question and as to suppliers and where you can find an assessor. Could you give me your country of location?
Hi Lisa, I recently bought two of your ebooks, Emulsions and The Art of making Glycerites and I love them! Thank you ☺️ Reading this post today I would like to ask for your opinion, please. I got some tepezcohuite powder, I used the percentages for a “dried material “ in the ebook and I made a glycerite! And I added to an emulsion. I loved the pinkysh colour on it and the idea that my emulsion could have some of the properties of such powder. Do you think that what I made is ok (Making the glycerite)? Or should I better make an “infusion “ or perhaps a “macerate” with the powder? I am confuse about what would be better if any ? I am in the UK and I really want to use the tepezcohuite in my creams. Thank you very much.
Hey there Xochiti! Thanks for buying my books! From what I understand about tepezchiote (mimosa tenuiflora) the main actives are water-soluble, so an infusion or a glycerite is where I would start. You might even consider doing both and combining them in your cream. It sounds like an awesome ingredient and I'd love to hear how it turns out for you. :)
Hi, am confused as to what one can do with this liquid infusions on Ayurvedic herbs as am only used to the oil infused Ayurvedic herbs. Please can you kindly enlighten me on how and what to use this liquid infusions for? Thank you 🙏
Comments
At the moment I've tried amla, shikakai, aritha (soapnuts powder), cassia (neutral henna) and orange peel powder.
I love them in my hair and face, but I prefer hair. For masks they're great, and also washing with a mix of shikakai and aritha, this leaves my hair so smoooooooooth. However, if you have oily hair, they may not be strong enough for a good wash. For people that like to wash hair everyday, this could be a great idea for a no-poo washing.
Also as face mask for oily skin, just gorgeous :)
I recently bought two of your ebooks, Emulsions and The Art of making Glycerites and I love them! Thank you ☺️
Reading this post today I would like to ask for your opinion, please. I got some tepezcohuite powder, I used the percentages for a “dried material “ in the ebook and I made a glycerite! And I added to an emulsion. I loved the pinkysh colour on it and the idea that my emulsion could have some of the properties of such powder.
Do you think that what I made is ok (Making the glycerite)? Or should I better make an “infusion “ or perhaps a “macerate” with the powder? I am confuse about what would be better if any ? I am in the UK and I really want to use the tepezcohuite in my creams.
Thank you very much.