Shikakai Powder
Shikakai Powder is a herbal ingredient derived from Acacia Concinna fruit, naturally rich in saponins. It acts as a gentle plant-based cleanser that helps remove excess oils and impurities, leaving the skin and scalp feeling clean and refreshed. Commonly used in powder masks, herbal shampoos, and natural scalp treatments.
INCI: Acacia Concinna Fruit Powder; common name: Shikakai Powder
A chelating agent that binds metal ions in the formula, improving stability, product quality, and performance over time.
Shikakai powder contains organic acids (a mildly acidic extract) that provide gentle cleansing and help reduce surface oiliness. It disperses well in dry blends and can be boiled/soaked in Aqua or glycols to create a gentle, plant-based cleansing phase suitable for gels and liquid washes. Use in moderation to manage its natural color/odor.
Benefits:
● Gentle, plant-derived cleansing (saponin activity)
● Helps reduce oiliness and surface residues
● Low-residue, comfortable after-rinse feel
● Supports foam/creaminess when combined with other surfactants
● Biodegradable and plant-sourced
●
Works as a
powder or as an aqueous/glycolic extract
How to use:
● Powder formats (masks/cleansing grains/scalp powder): blend dry with clays; wet at use with Aqua or a hydrosol until a smooth paste forms.
● Aqueous extract (boil/soak): boil the powder in Aqua for 10–20 minutes, cool, fine-filter, then preserve; use as the cleansing phase in gels or liquid washes.
● Surfactant systems: combine the extract with mild amphoteric/anionic surfactants to improve foam/viscosity; adjust salt/polymer as needed.
●
Safety: patch
test for sensitive skin.
Recommended usage levels in skincare:
● Powder cleansers/cleansing grains/face masks: 5–30%
● Scalp powder/shampoo: 5–25%
● Aqueous/glycolic extract in gels/toners: 2–10% (as final extract percentage; depends on strength)
●
Liquid
facial/body washes (using the extract): 2–8% (as extract percentage within the
aqueous phase)
Solubility:
● Insoluble as a raw powder in oils and Aqua; dispersible as a powder
●
Saponins are
extractable in hot Aqua (also in glycols or a light hydroalcoholic mixture);
filter to remove particulates
Applications:
● Facial cleansers and clay/powder masks
● Scalp-cleansing powders and shampoos
● Mild gel and liquid facial/body washes based on botanical extract
● Cleansing gels and makeup-remover bases (with auxiliary surfactants)
●
Scrubs
seeking gentle cleansing support
Storage:
Keep tightly closed, protected from
light and moisture, at a moderate temperature (below 25 °C).