Physical stability of coconut oil lotions formulated using hydrophile-lipophile balance system of various emulsifier pairs.

The aim of this study was to prepare coconut oil lotions using a hydrophile-lipophile balance system to calculate the proportion of each nonionic surfactant used. The effects of emulsifier pairs in the formulations on physical properties (i.e., appearance, emulsion type, pH, flow type, viscosity) were investigated. The physical stability of the lotions was determined at ambient temperature (approximatley 30 degrees C) after the lotions were kept for 30 as well as 60 days and in accelerated conditions (6 freeze-thaw cycles). It was found that the formulations most tolerant to such harsh conditions were F1 and F2, o/w lotions containing 40% w/w coconut oil, 50% w/w water and 10% w/w of the mixed emulsifier of a low hydrophile-lipophile balance surfactant (sorbitan monostearate) and a high hydrophile-lipophile balance surfactant (either polyoxyethylene [20] sorbitan monooleate or polyethylene [20] sorbitan monolaurate).