CO2 EXTRACTS AND THEIR USES

What are CO2 extracts?

You may be confused about CO2 extracts by the fact that there is pomegranate CO2 extract, but also pomegranate oil. Or rosemary CO2 extract, but also rosemary flower water or essential oil. Calendula CO2 extract, but also calendula macerate.

So which one do you use in your products?

The answer is simple - each of the above raw materials can be extracted from the plant or fruit, but by different methods. At the same time, however, each plant or fruit is only suitable for a certain extraction due to its specific consistency, composition and substance content.

CO2 EXTRACTS - METHOD OFPRODUCTION

They are obtained by high-pressure carbon dioxide extraction, which produces one of the purest essences on the market because the extraction process does not exceed 50 ̊C, thus preserving heat-sensitive substances and also does not contain undesirable substances such as solvent residues, inorganic salts or heavy metals, as they are not soluble in CO2. Similarly, substances sensitive to oxidation remain unaffected. This results in an extract that has a significantly higher concentration of active substances, with a longer lifetime and a significantly lower rate of use. Finally, the extraction process is cleaner and therefore more environmentally friendly. As they are thicker and of a paste-like consistency, they are suitable for use in nourishing skin or hair care products. At the same time, it should be noted that their scent and colour are more pronounced than those of essential oils.

ESSENTIAL OILS - METHOD OFPRODUCTION

They are most often obtained by steam distillation, which produces volatile aromatic liquids and almost all of them can be used in aromatherapy, inhalation, sauna or bath. You will also appreciate their effects in body and hair care products. There are around 700 species of plants from which essential oils can be 'extracted'.Interestingly, essential oils are actually a by-product of the production of hydrolates and floral waters. The waters therefore contain all the substances that are found in essential oils, only in much smaller proportions, and can therefore be used in higher quantities, whether in tonics, cleansers, make-up removers, baths, compresses, creams and masks.

MACERATES - METHOD OFPRODUCTION

Obtained by infusing the plant in oil. This process extracts the nutrients from the plant into the oil. You can read more on our blog in the article How to make your own macerate?

Macerates also have a wide application in cosmetic products, as you use the nutrients of the macerated plant in combination with the substances contained in the oil. You can use them in skin care products, soaps to hair products.

OILS - METHOD OFPRODUCTION

They are obtained either by mechanical extraction or chemical extraction using a solvent from the fruit or seeds. Their degree of 'nutritional value' depends on the method of processing, for example whether the oil remains unrefined or has undergone a refining and deodorisation process (total or partial removal of odour/odor). An important component of the oils is the different ratios of fatty acids as well as the vitamins contained in the extracted fruits, and their effects can be used especially in creams, soaps or hair care.

So, when deciding which raw material to use, it is up to you to decide what strength or effect you want to use the "extracted" from the plant.

But let's go back to CO2 extracts. In layman's terms, it's the purest thing you can get out of a plant.

Due to their high concentration and potency, their usage rate is much lower than essential oils.

CO2 EXTRACTS - METHOD OFUSE

Co2 extracts are thick to pasty, highly concentrated with a distinctive smell, colour and most importantly effect. The general rate of use in your product is 1-2% (even when combining two or more extracts, the above percentages should be observed as they are very effective indeed). It should also be noted that CO2 extracts leave a colour trace. When using essential oils, it is very rare that your product becomes coloured. They are easily dissolved in the product at temperatures up to 40 ̊C. For this reason, your extract may harden in the winter time. For handling, it is sufficient to immerse the extract bottle in hot water for a while. The extract itself should not be spoiled by such heating. You can use them in both water and oil based products, but not in pure water products as CO2 extracts are always with added oil.

What products can you use them in?

Due to their consistency, we definitely do not recommend them in spray products as they also contain solid particles. However, they are an excellent choice for body and bath oils, creams, lotions, ointments, lotions, lotions, balms, massage oils, soaps, or blends of carrier oils and fragile oils. Just choose what effect you want to give your product.

CO2 COFFEE

It is excellent for aging skin due to its antioxidant effects (stimulates microcirculation) and in addition to the uses already mentioned, it is also great in shampoos and other hair products because it engorges the hair bulb. If you love the smell of freshly ground coffee, don't hesitate to add coffee extract to your products. Because it is extracted from freshly roasted, ground coffee beans, its scent is authentic and you will not be able to resist it.

CO2 KURKUMA

Known more from the kitchen than from cosmetics, it has quickly found its way into cosmetics due to its strong antibacterial properties. It is excellent in massage mixtures for sore and tired bodies, which it warms up beautifully and clears clogged pores, as well as for aching joints from overexertion. Here, however, we draw attention to the strong colouring effects of the extract.

CO2 CHILLI

Another kitchen gadget that has broken through in the world of cosmetics. Like turmeric, it has found its way into massage blends for its powerful antibacterial effects. Here we strongly recommend to keep the ratio, because the pungent effect has the same effect as in the kitchen. In the right proportion, however, it is unrivalled in helping sore muscles, which it thoroughly congests and warms up. It has also proved useful for migraines and back pain.

CO2 SCHIZANDRA CHINESE

It has soothing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it is suitable for sensitive skin, even children's skin, among other things. Moreover, it has a pleasant sweet scent with woody notes, so you can also use it in natural perfumes or just to scent your products ;-)

CO2 BUTTER

Although it is a strongly scented plant, the extract has undergone a deodorization process, so you don't have to worry about its fragrant effects ;-) Because of its strong anticancer and antimicrobial properties, it is also suitable for deodorizing products - not only soaps, but also deo bars and shower gels.

CO2 POMEGRANATE

In addition to its pleasant scent, it helps regenerate skin cells, giving the skin a youthful and fresh appearance. You can also use it in hair cosmetics, it is ideal for dry, sparse hair.

CO2 ROSEMARY EXTRACT

Rosemary extract comes from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis. It is a pure antioxidant ingredient that retains the typical light rosemary scent, but its use should not affect the final fragrance of your product.

Rosemary and its healing properties have been known since the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a tincture, then obtained by distilling rosemary in brandy, it was used by the Queen of Hungary and had its own name - Hungary Water.

The queen used it daily to treat gout and restlessness in her legs. This gave rosemary the nickname 'herb of vitality'.

Today, rosemary extract is mainly used for its antioxidant properties to protect the body and skin from free radical damage, and thanks to its antibacterial (broad spectrum activity against 28 bacteria) and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an additive that enhances and preserves the freshness of carrier oils and essential oils contained therein. At the same time, it prevents their oxidation, which degrades them and causes yellowing. It also has anti-aging properties and stimulating and neuroprotective properties (stimulates blood circulation, excellent for improving memory).

The antioxidant of rosemary has natural and multifunctional antioxidant properties that are even greater than those of mixed tocopherols (i.e., a group of chemical compounds that largely exhibit the beneficial activities of vitamin E). It reduces skin inflammation and can soothe acne, eczema and psoriasis. It protects cells not only against oxidation and inflammation, but also against pathogens.

The thermal stability of rosemary extract is also excellent - it can stabilise and dissolve completely in most vegetable oils even at low temperatures, but remains stable at temperatures above 200°C.

In addition to stabilizing carrier and essential oils, it can also preserve the shelf life of finished natural products by retarding the oxidation of fatty oils. It also serves as a preservative by retarding the growth of microorganisms.

It is also important to recall certain physical properties when specifically applied to products:

- in oil and water products, the extract can be used directly

- if the extract is to be used in a powdered product, it must be mixed with a carrier oil

- the pH of the product must also be taken into account, as it does not show effective results at a pH higher than 8,5

The use of CO2 rosemary extract is very wide. It can be added to soaps, creams, lotions, massage gels, bath and body oils, emulsions, carrier oil and fragile oil blends, lip balms or scrubs.

To add antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits to your products, simply choose our ANTIMICROBIAL MIX, which carries the benefits of oregano, clove, ajwan, hops, turmeric, licorice, and sage.

In conclusion, our CO2 extracts are so called total extracts, which are the highest quality option and are also processed in high quality organic oils.

Article written for you by

Martina Oboňová

Please do not hesitate to write to us at marketing@handymade.sk with any observations and suggestions.