What Are Emulsions? (And what makes a "GOOD" One?)
- Serum Maker
- May 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Fancy word: Creams;)
But let me expand somewhat…We’ve all made an oil-based salad dressing and know, you can shake it and stir it but leave it for two minutes and – it separates.
That’s oil and water doing their own thing. In skincare, though, we don’t want that kind of drama. We want balance. That’s where emulsions come in.
In this post, you'll learn:
What emulsions are and why they matter
Where they show up in your skincare (hint: everywhere)
How to make one that’s smooth, stable, and skin-loving
Emulsions Are the Peacekeepers of Skincare
At their core, emulsions are stable blends of oil and water. Without them, your lotion would be a gloopy mess. Emulsifiers (the glue in the relationship) help these two opposites combine and stay combined. Think of them as couple’s therapy for ingredients.
Not all emulsifiers are created equal. Some feel heavy and waxy. Others leave your product light and silky. Choose based on texture and skin type.
Emulsions Are Everywhere
Face creams, lotions, sunscreens, even some cleansers. Yep, all emulsions. If a product feels creamy and doesn’t separate, chances are it’s emulsified. Even your favorite “gel-cream” hybrid is often a fancy emulsion dressed in lightweight marketing.
Want to spot an emulsion on a label? Look for ingredients like glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, or polysorbate 60. These are common emulsifiers that keep everything blended.
DIY Emulsions: Not as Scary as You Think
Let’s be real: making an emulsion sounds intimidating at first. But it’s basically just heating, blending, and cooling~ like making pudding, but for your face. Once you nail the technique, the doors open to endless possibilities: day creams, rich night butters, lightweight body lotions… you name it.
"Once you make your first emulsion, you’ll never look at store-bought the same,” says, me ~ Serum Maker;)
The Shelf Life Secret: Emulsions Done Right Stay Fresh
People worry about DIY products going bad~and fair enough. But here’s the truth: commercial emulsions sit in warehouses for months, sometimes years. When you make your own, you’re using it fresh. With the right preservative and packaging, your emulsion can last 3–6 months easily.
Properly preserved DIY emulsions (with ingredients like Optiphen or Liquid Germall Plus) have been tested to maintain stability for 90+ days at room temp.
Store in opaque, airless pump bottles to extend shelf life and protect against contamination.
They can act as the "Vehicle" to deliver ACTIVE Ingredients
Emulsions are funcional. They deliver hydration from the water phase and nourishment from the oil phase, making your skin feel soft and happy. They are absolutely necessary in my world of dry skin. Why not make them luxurious ~ and powerful??
Include rich oils like Jojoba and Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E
Add all those good actives that tighten! (Retinoids)
Include the stuff that plumps! (Hyaluronic Acid)
And, add the super-hydrators that can penetrate the skin barrier! (Tripeptides)
That's what I want in my emulsion!!
If you're interested in learning how to make your own emulsions, take the Essentials course to learn how easy and affordable it is to make your own creams (and add the active ingredients for your needs!) You don't need to know a thing about formulating. I break it down and will get you up to speed quickly on what you need to know to make your own creams at home. You can order the ingredients today and make it tomorrow.
Here are Emulsions I use and recommend in the Serum Maker Neck Cream and Eye Cream:
Emulsifying Wax | Binds oils to water-based ingredients for lotions, creams | Natural Farms 16 oz |
Sunflower Lecithin | Natural emulsifier, helps mix oil and water while hydrating the skin. | Soapeauty 8 oz / 226g |
Xanthan Gum | Thickener (creates gel texture) | Great Buy 1 lb |
See full list of Serum Maker's Recommended Ingredients
So, let's recap! What’s an emulsion?
A stable blend of water and oil (with a little help from science)
The base for most creams and lotions
Something you can absolutely make at home like a pro (and add active ingredients!;)
Comments