Questions for Dr. T

[dakota]

Dr.Todorov,

First I want to say THANK YOU for the best skin care forum in existance. Your info. is unbiased and very helpful. I have seen alot of skin care forums and hands down yours is the best of the best :D

I just received all of your skin care packs and will look forward to reading them.

I have some questions:

1) Can a base cream be as simple as just shea butter? I love what is does for my skin.

2) Is shea butter considered more of a cream or an oil?

3) Does pomegranate extract contain sugar?

4) Please tell me if my current D.I.Y. "serum" is o.k. for me to add maybe 2 more actives? I will continue to tweak it more and more as I read your info. packs.

coconut oil
shea butter
jojoba oil
vitamin e tocopherol ( I plan on switching to mixed tocopherols )
MAP
emu oil
rosehip seed oil

5) How long will this mixture keep if refrigerated in a amber jar and I don't use my fingers to scoop out the serum ( plastic spoon ) so I introduce few germs as possible seeing that I am not using preservatives?

[drtodorov]

Shea butter could work for oil soluble actives such as vitamin A, E or probably Q10. I don't think it alone will work well for water soluble ones.

[dakota]

Thats good because I would like to add COQ10 to the mix. What are your thoughts on #3 #4 #5?

[drtodorov]

#3: It depends on the extraction methods used. You can make an extract w/o sugar.

#4 It depends on many factors. If you alter the formulas, you are on your own as I haven't tested all possible combinations/concentrations.

#5 MAP does not mix well with oils. As for storage - in refrigerator it should be ok for at least couple of weeks, probably more.

[dakota]

Thanks, your answers will help. By the way I mixed MAP in that mixture and it mixed beautifully. I got it from makingcosmetics. It disolves so fast. It is such a fine powder.