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How Lotion Is Manufactured?

The lotion is a standard cosmetic product mainly used to moisturize and smooth the skin. Generally speaking, the production process of emulsion includes the following steps:

Packaging Material Disinfection

05Packaging

In the production process of the emulsion, the disinfection of packaging materials is essential, which can avoid microbial contamination such as bacteria, mold, and viruses in the packaging process and ensure the safety and stability of the product. Materials commonly used for emulsion packaging include glass bottles, plastic bottles, tubes, etc.

Glass bottle: high-temperature sterilization or chemical disinfection can be used. High-temperature sterilization requires the glass bottle to be sterilized in high-temperature steam. Chemical disinfection methods can use alcohol or ozone to disinfect.

Plastic bottles: Ozone disinfection, high-temperature sterilization, or chemical disinfection can be used. Ultraviolet disinfection can use ultraviolet light to irradiate plastic bottles. Still, it should be noted that the effect of ultraviolet disinfection is affected by the blocking of the bottle. The disinfection methods of high-temperature sterilization and chemical disinfection are similar to glass bottles.

Tube: Can use ozone and other methods to disinfect.

Note: No matter which disinfection method is used, it should be carried out in a clean environment to avoid contamination of packaging materials by bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants. At the same time, the corresponding disinfection operation specifications and safety measures must be followed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of disinfection. Finally, pay attention to cleaning the residue of disinfectant to avoid affecting the product.

Raw Material Preparation

The emulsion is a stable mixture, usually composed of water and oil phases. Its raw material preparation includes the following aspects:

Water phase base material: Water is one of the main components of the emulsion, which can account for 60%-80% of the entire formula. Other aqueous base materials include glycerin, propylene glycol, etc.

Oil phase base material: The oil phase base material is another vital emulsion component, accounting for 10%-20% of the entire formula. Commonly used oil phase base materials include vegetable oil, silicone oil, lanolin, etc.

Emulsifier: Emulsifier is the key to mixing the water and oil phases. The commonly used emulsifiers include non-ionic, anionic, cationic, etc. Different types of emulsifiers correspond to different ratios of water and oil phases.

Thickener: Thickener is used to adjust the viscosity and consistency of the emulsion, which can make the emulsion easier to spread and absorb. Commonly used thickeners include hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyacrylamide, etc.

Preservatives: Preservatives protect the lotion from bacterial and microbial contamination. Commonly used preservatives include phenoxy acetic acid, parabens, etc.

Other additives: According to needs, other ingredients can be added to the lotion, such as fragrance, pigment, humectant, antioxidant, etc.

Note: The primary raw materials that must be prepared in emulsion production must be compounded and mixed according to a specific formula ratio to prepare emulsion products with good quality and stability.

Mixed Emulsification

01Packaging Material Disinfection

The mixed emulsification of emulsion refers to the process of mixing the water phase and the oil phase according to a specific formula ratio and emulsifying with an emulsifier. The following are the mixing and emulsifying steps of the emulsion:

Prepare the water and oil phases: prepare the base materials for the water and oil phases according to the formula ratio, and heat them to about 50°C, respectively.

Add emulsifier: Add the emulsifier into the water phase or oil phase and stir well.

Adding the oil phase: Slowly add the oil to the water phase while constantly stirring to mix the two phases evenly.

Mixing and stirring: Continue to stir the mixed materials to achieve better mixing and emulsification effects.

Add thickener and other additives: During the mixing process, gradually add thickener, preservatives, and other additives as needed, and keep stirring evenly.

Adjust the emulsion quality: During the mixing process, the quality and stability of the emulsion can be adjusted by adjusting the temperature, stirring speed, and time.

Quality inspection: After the mixing and emulsification are completed, the emulsion needs to be inspected, including tests on appearance, consistency, viscosity, PH value, anti-corrosion performance, etc., to ensure the quality of the emulsion meets the requirements.

Note: In the mixed emulsification process of the emulsion, the selection and usage amount significantly influence the emulsification effect and quality, and need to be selected and adjusted according to the specific situation.

Standing & Testing

02Emulsification

The standing and testing of the emulsion is an essential step after the preparation of the emulsion, which can evaluate the stability and quality of the emulsion. The following are the standing and testing steps of the emulsion:

Stand still: Pour the prepared emulsion into a transparent container.Place it at room temperature for more than 24 hours.

Observe the stability and phase separation of the emulsion.

Test: Test the emulsion after standing, including the following aspects:

Appearance: Observe whether phase separation, precipitation, or foreign matter exists in the emulsion.
Viscosity: Measure the viscosity of an emulsion using a viscometer or viscometer to assess its fluidity and consistency.
Stability: Shake or centrifuge the standing emulsion to observe the stability and phase separation of the emulsion.
PH: Use a pH meter to measure the pH of the emulsion to ensure it meets the requirements.
Microbiological testing: microbiological testing is carried out to detect whether the emulsion is contaminated by microorganisms such as bacteria and mold.
Note: The standing and testing steps of the emulsion, in which the appearance, viscosity, and stability are the leading indicators for evaluating the quality of the emulsion, and the pH value and microbial detection can ensure the safety and sanitation of the emulsion. Suppose there is a problem with the emulsion. It can be adjusted and improved according to the specific situation to ensure the emulsion quality meets the requirements.

Filling & Packaging

03Canning Packaging

The canning and packaging of emulsion is the last step in the emulsion production. It is also a vital link to ensure the quality of the emulsion. The following are the canning and packaging steps of the lotion:

Canning: Pour the prepared emulsion into the can, determine the capacity of the can according to the recipe requirements, and be careful not to overfill or overcompress.

Packing: Put the sealed lotion cans into the outer packing box, and choose appropriate packaging containers, such as glass bottles, plastic bottles, tubes, etc.

Labels: Add labels on the outer packaging, including product names, specifications, production dates, shelf life, instructions for use, ingredients, and other information, so that consumers can use and identify them.

Quality inspection: Carry out a quality inspection on canned and packaged lotions, including inspections on appearance, packaging integrity, product identification, etc.

Storage: Store the packaged lotion in a cool and dry place, avoiding adverse environments such as moisture, high temperature, or direct sunlight.

Note: The packaging quality directly affects the emulsion’s preservation quality, so extra attention is required. When producing emulsions, hygienic standards should be followed, and appropriate materials and equipment should be used to ensure that the quality of the emulsion meets the requirements.

Finished Products Inspection

The testing of emulsion products usually includes the following aspects:

Appearance inspection: check the color, transparency, uniformity, bubbles, precipitation, etc., of the emulsion to ensure that the appearance of the emulsion meets the requirements.

PH value determination: The PH value of the emulsion should be within an appropriate range, generally between 5.5-7.0. The PH value will affect the stability and safety of the product.

Viscosity measurement: Viscosity can reflect the fluidity and consistency of the emulsion, and testing the viscosity of the emulsion helps understand its applicability and use experience.

Stability test: The emulsion should have a specific stability, and it has been tested under different conditions, such as high temperature, low temperature, freeze-thaw, centrifuge, etc., to test its stability.

Microbiological testing: emulsions are susceptible to microbial contamination during production and storage, so microbiological testing is required to ensure product safety and hygiene.

Packaging inspection: check whether the packaging of the product is intact and whether the sealing is good to ensure that the product will not be polluted and affected by the outside world during transportation and storage.

Note: The above are the main aspects of the finished product inspection of the emulsion, and different emulsions may have some special inspection items.

Summary

The manufacturing process of the emulsion needs to follow strict production specifications and quality standards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the product. During the manufacturing process, multiple inspections and quality controls are also required for raw materials, intermediate products, and finished products to ensure that the emulsion quality complies with relevant national and industry standards.

Create Value To Customers

We are always thinking about the question what is the key value of our daily work, creating value to customers seems our top priority. Our business is to provide you with quality products that will assist you in customizing your vision of your product line and image. In doing so this supports a bottom line that will create higher profit margins while maintaining a minimized product inventory.