This Week We Focus On Creating the Best Diaper Ointment - Day 5

Today we’ll reveal the final iteration of the diaper ointment. If you have been following along this week, I hope you’ve learned about how to test and tweak your formulas (whatever they may be) to get the product that you want.

Ingredients: High Melt Point Shea Butter, Aloe Butter, Soy Wax, Apricot Kernel Oil, Lanolin, Macadamia Nut Oil (Virgin), Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil, Calendula Oil Extract, Chamomile Extract, and Orchid Extract.

Since the increase in Lanolin in yesterday’s formula made the balm thicker than optimal, it’s dropped to 5% today.

After a trip through our selection of oils and extracts, there are some additions to the lineup: Macadamia Nut Oil, Orchid Extract, and Chamomile Extract. The extracts chosen have historically been used to calm, soothe, and repair irritated skin.

Macadamia Nut Oil has a great fatty acid profile that offers anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties as well as promoting skin barrier formation. Interestingly, it has some similarities with Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil.

MAKE IT:

The list of ingredients has grown. Here’s what you’ll need to make this.

RECIPE:

PERCENTAGES
32% High Melt Point Shea Butter
30% Aloe Butter
10% Soy Wax
8% Apricot Kernel Oil
5% Lanolin
2% Macadamia Nut Oil
1% Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil
8% Calendula Extract
2% Orchid Extract
2% Chamomile Extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

Carefully weigh all ingredients in a microwave-safe container except for the three extracts. Microwave in short bursts (30-45 seconds) until the Soy Wax is completely melted. The mixture will be a brilliant, clear, orange color and extremely hot when completely melted.

You can also use a double boiler to melt the oils just until all have become liquid. Stir the mixture often as it warms, as the stirring will help the solids melt more quickly.

Liquid Oils include Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil, Lanolin, Calendula Extract, Orchid Extract, and Chamomile Extract.

We have lots of options to package this ointment: jars, round tins, and slider tins.

Wait until the mixture cools down below 120 degrees and is just warm to the touch before adding the extracts. Stir and immediately pour into jars or tins. Let set overnight uncapped to become completely firm.

We have a lot of neat options for containers. For the samples I made, I used our 1-ounce Jar and Cap Set. They are a nice size and easy to work with. I love the slider tins, but they are very small, holding 0.15 ounce of product. They are a good choice for sample or trial sizes. The 2-ounce screw top tin is a good choice for packaging this ointment.

NOTES:

This version is a winner! Our trusty product testers (staff members) tried the five different creations, and the vote was unanimous on this formula is the best for a baby’s bottom.

The addition of the Macadamia Nut Oil, Orchid Extract, and Chamomile Extract totally changed the viscosity of the product; it is heavier, yet it remains easy to apply. Even better, it stays on the skin longer (which is perfect for a diaper ointment).

The odor is light and pleasant, and the color is very appealing.

After melting and mixing in the extracts, pour into jars.

This ointment after hardening overnight, feels wonderful.

Even though we made some major changes along the way, all four of these recipes can be used for other things besides baby bottom ointment. The Day 4 version would make a great foot balm. One staff member suggested that the Day 1 formulation could be used as a base for sore muscle rub by adding Menthol Crystals. That’s a good idea, and maybe the smell of menthol would overcome the Neem.

Have you learned as much as I have this week about formulating for a very specific purpose? I hope so!