@Trudie Mulalu Why on earth am I not getting notifications...i am sorry. It really depends. I tend to add BTMS + a high-HLB non-ionic emulsifier meaning cetearyl alcohol for "structure", but it is certainly not a a must-have.

@Trudie Mulalu No no. Glyceryl stearate is a water in oil emulsifier ( low HLB) so its not good here to start with. And no, not necessary to have the extra emulsifier, but of course it will depend on your formula as a whole.

@Cindy Curtis Thank you:) i hope this can work for you

@Cindy Curtis That's such a great step to be taking. The fact that you're getting proper testing done says a lot about how seriously you're approaching this. I'll be honest with you, I haven't had this type of analysis done myself, so I'm not the best person to guide you on the specifics of what a lab will or won't test for in terms of nutrient profiling or identifying which compounds transferred into your oil. That's quite a specialist area, and the lab itself will be your best resource on that. What I can tell you is this: go in with clear questions and don't be afraid to say "I'm new to this." A good lab will walk you through everything without making you feel silly for asking. That in itself is a good sign. If they rush you or can't explain things clearly, take note. A few things worth asking: 1. What exactly is included in the testing, and what does each test measure? You want to understand what you're paying for before you commit, especially if the scope can expand quickly. 2. Whether they're accredited. Something like ISO 17025 is what gives you confidence that their results are reliable. 3. What sample size do they need, and how should the oil be stored or shipped? You don't want to compromise the results before you even start. 4. What the turnaround time looks like and whether you'll receive a Certificate of Analysis (COA) upon completion. That's the formal document showing what was tested, the methods used, the results, and whether your sample passed or failed. It's the standard deliverable from any reputable lab, and it's what you'd keep on file as part of your product documentation. 5. For the microbial side, you'll want to know they're covering the basics: total aerobic count, yeast and mould, and the standard pathogen panel. That part I'm more familiar with. But for the compositional analysis of a seaweed-infused oil, the lab is genuinely the right place to get those answers. Write your questions down beforehand, take notes during the call, and trust that asking "can you explain that?" is always the right move.

@Isidora Roussou Oh thank you so much. Unfortunately, I still don't have a set date so I am just managing my symptoms best as can. Nightmare! But thank you again:)

Thank you ladies, you are so kind. Fingers crossed

@Yati Nasir superb and why not to the general public? What's stopping you? Or is this not something you want to pursue?

@Cindy Curtis Oh you really should Cindy, your formulas are stunning! Well, you know where I am if you need some nagging. :)

@Cindy Curtis Hi Cindy. Ok. What I said is that you need to calculate how much of the preservative you added to your extract ends up in the final formula. Then you need to ADD THAT to the preservative of the WHOLE formula. The sum needs to be within a safety limit. If you are using different preservatives, this becomes irrelevant, really. The app is not designed for this; the app can only be used for the final formula. The idea is that the challenging ingredient part becomes "less challenging" when you use a preserved form, so the engine kind of disregards it. Put your formula through the app, where it asks about challenging ingredients, click preserved, then add Geogard ECT as your chosen preservative. It should then suggest how much ECT you should use in the final product. All in all, you should be fine, but of course, you will need a challenge test to confirm. 🌼 If unclear, message me, and I will do a demo video.