Make your own cosmetics | distilled water

What you should know about water

Whether cream or gel: water is an important component in many cosmetic formulations.

Tap water

contains minerals (e.g., calcium and magnesium ions), limescale, and microorganisms (e.g., bacteria in the smallest amounts).

These can

  • lead to unwanted chemical reactions (which in turn affects the shelf life of your product),
  • cause changes in odor and discoloration, and
  • influence the efficacy of active ingredients.

Boiled water

  • is largely sterile,
  • still contains minerals.

Distilled water

  • is obtained from water vapor, i.e., water that is evaporated and then condensed again,
  • contains no minerals at all,
  • is largely germ-free.

That is why we recommend using distilled water for cosmetics to achieve the best results with your products. But be careful: Not every distilled water from the store is germ-free; they are often only demineralized! Please also keep in mind that germs can get in as soon as a bottle is opened, so you should use it quickly or boil it again before use for safety.

The use of so-called "chelating agents" is also very useful for binding metal ions in water and thus neutralizing them.