Montanov 68™ Emulsifier for Cannabis Creams and Lotions

In this post, I’m taking a practical look at how Montanov 68™ emulsifier behaves in real formulations. I’m going to talk about what it is, how it mixes together, what it feels like on your skin, and why it’s a solid option when you’re working with cannabis-infused oils.

Table of Contents

• What is Montanov 68™ Emulsifier?
• INCI Explained
• How Montanov 68™ Emulsifier Works
• Skin Feel and Performance
• Behaviour with Cannabis-Infused Oils
• Best Product Types for Montanov 68™
• Who Montanov 68™ Emulsifier is Best For
• How it Compares to Other Emulsifiers
• 🎧 Listen Instead
• Conclusion

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Montanov 68™ is a plant-based emulsifier that has earned its place in cannabis skincare by doing its job quietly and well. You’ll often find it in creams and lotions that contain infused oils, helping them stay stable, feel comfortable on the skin, and release their ingredients slowly rather than all at once.

If you’re looking for a broader comparison of emulsifiers and how they behave with cannabis, you might also want to read this guide: Cosmetic Emulsifiers That Work With Cannabis.

What is Montanov 68™ Emulsifier?

Montanov 68™ has been around for a good while now, and that’s one of its real strengths. It’s a well-established emulsifier that’s been used and tested in real formulations for years, not something new that’s still finding its feet.

It’s completely plant based, made from sugars derived from cassava and fatty alcohols derived from coconut. You’ll often see emulsifiers like this described as vegetal emulsifiers, which is simply a general term for emulsifying systems that come from plant sources rather than petroleum.

If you specifically choose to work with plant cosmetics or vegan formulations, or you prefer to avoid petrochemical ingredients, Montanov 68™ fits neatly into that way of formulating.

From a technical point of view, it’s a non-ionic oil-in-water emulsifier. In practical terms, that means it’s fairly forgiving, works across a wide range of formulations, and behaves well alongside botanical extracts and cannabis-infused oils.

INCI Explained

The INCI for Montanov 68™ is: Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Cetearyl Glucoside. INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. It’s an internationally agreed naming system that lets you see exactly what’s in a product by reading the label, which is especially useful if you have known sensitivities or allergies. In practical terms, this INCI also tells you quite a lot about how Montanov 68™ behaves in a formulation.

Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol of plant origin. Despite the name, it isn’t drying or harsh. It’s also not a drinking or fermented alcohol of any kind. In creams and lotions, it adds structure and stability, and contributes to a smooth, cushioned skin feel.

Cetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols with glucose. This is the part that actually allows oil and water to stay mixed together in a stable emulsion.

Used together, these two ingredients form a complete emulsifying system rather than acting as separate additives. That’s one of the reasons Montanov 68™ is straightforward to work with and gives consistent results when it’s used correctly.

How Montanov 68™ Emulsifier Works

Montanov 68™ is an oil in water emulsifier that needs proper heat and shear to work as intended. It comes as white solid pellets, which are added to the oil phase and melted during the heating stage (Stage 1) of formulation. Once both phases are at temperature, high shear mixing is needed to bring everything together.

A domestic stick blender or immersion blender is usually enough. That initial burst of shear is important. Without it, the emulsion won’t fully form and you won’t get the structure Montanov 68™ is known for.

What makes Montanov 68™ different from simpler emulsifying waxes is what happens during cool down. As the cream cools, it forms a lamellar liquid crystal structure. Instead of oil droplets being randomly suspended in water, the oil and water organise themselves into repeating microscopic layers.

This layered structure closely resembles the way lipids are arranged in healthy skin. Because of that, creams made with Montanov 68™ tend to feel comfortable and well balanced rather than heavy or greasy. It also supports good moisturisation and helps the product sit well on the skin instead of just coating the surface.

This lamellar structure develops gradually as the emulsion cools, which is why gentle stirring during the cool down phase matters just as much as the initial high shear. Rushing this stage can affect both stability and final skin feel.

Skin Feel and Performance

Creams made with Montanov 68™ tend to feel balanced and comfortable on the skin rather than rich or heavy. They absorb steadily, leaving the skin moisturised without a greasy or waxy residue.

Because of the lamellar structure that forms during emulsification, the cream sits well on the skin and integrates gradually instead of feeling like it’s just sitting on the surface. This makes it particularly suitable for products that are meant to be worn for several hours.

The finish is smooth and cushioned, with enough body to feel nourishing but without drag. This balance is one of the reasons Montanov 68™ works well in both face and body products, especially where a refined skin feel matters.

In cannabis skincare, this kind of skin feel is especially useful. It makes infused creams comfortable to apply over larger areas of the body, which encourages regular use. In practice, that matters more than creating a strong first impression.

Behaviour with Cannabis-Infused Oils

Montanov 68™ behaves very reliably when used with cannabis-infused oils, which is one of the reasons it turns up so often in topical formulations. It copes well with medium to higher oil phases and remains stable with commonly used carriers such as Olive Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, and MCT Oil.

Because it forms a lamellar structure during emulsification, infused oils are held within the cream in an organised way rather than being loosely suspended. In practical terms, this means the cream stays uniform over time and the infused oil doesn’t separate or migrate as the product ages.

This structure also affects how the product feels and behaves once it’s on the skin. Instead of delivering everything at once, creams made with Montanov 68™ tend to release lipophilic ingredients more gradually. In cannabis skincare, that slow, steady delivery is often more useful than a quick hit, especially when products are applied regularly.

Best Product Types for Montanov 68™

Montanov 68™ works best in products where you want a stable emulsion with a comfortable, balanced skin feel rather than something heavy or occlusive. It’s particularly well suited to creams and lotions that are designed to stay on the skin for a while and be used regularly.

It performs very well in face creams, especially where you want good moisturisation without greasiness. The lamellar structure helps the cream sit well on the skin, which makes it suitable for daily use products rather than occasional treatments.

For body creams, Montanov 68™ is a solid choice when you’re working with infused oils and want a product that spreads easily over larger areas. It gives enough body to feel nourishing without feeling thick or sticky, which matters when people are applying it more than once a day such as with this Calendula Hand Cream.

Used at a lower percentage, it also works well in lighter lotions. In these formulations, it still provides stability and a refined skin feel, just with a more fluid texture.

Montanov 68™ is less suited to very thin emulsions, sprays, or milk-style products. It’s happiest in creams and lotions where structure and comfort are more important than extreme lightness.

Who Montanov 68™ Emulsifier is Best For

Montanov 68™ is a good choice for formulators who want something dependable rather than experimental. It suits people who value consistency, stability, and a predictable skin feel over chasing the newest ingredient on the market.

It works particularly well if you prefer plant-based or vegan formulations and want to avoid petrochemical emulsifiers. Because it behaves well with botanical extracts and infused oils, it fits naturally into cannabis skincare and other plant-forward formulations.

This emulsifier is also well suited to people who formulate at home or in small batches. It doesn’t require specialist equipment beyond proper heating and a stick blender, and it tends to forgive small variations in technique better than some more temperamental systems.

Montanov 68™ is a strong option if you’re making products that need to be applied regularly, such as daily creams or therapeutic body products. The comfortable skin feel and steady performance make it easier to create products that people actually use consistently.

It may be less appealing if you’re looking for ultra-light, sprayable emulsions or very fluid milks. In those cases, a different emulsifying system is often a better fit.

How it Compares to Other Emulsifiers

One useful way to think about Montanov 68™ is by the kind of formulating it supports. It sits firmly in the middle ground between simple wax-based systems and more technically demanding natural emulsifiers.

Compared to basic emulsifying waxes, Montanov 68™ gives you more structure and refinement without needing additional stabilisers. You don’t have to build a system around it. For many formulators, that makes it a step up in control without adding complexity.

Compared to more advanced natural emulsifiers, Montanov 68™ asks less of the formulator. It doesn’t rely on tight pH control, precise co-emulsifier ratios, or narrow processing windows. That makes it easier to use consistently, especially when working in small batches or changing oil blends.

In practical terms, Montanov 68™ suits formulators who want dependable results without turning formulation into a technical exercise. Other emulsifiers may offer more flexibility or lighter textures, but they often come with trade-offs in ease of use or robustness.

Seen this way, Montanov 68™ isn’t about being the most modern or the most minimal. It’s about being reliable, adaptable, and well suited to real-world formulation rather than laboratory-perfect conditions.

🎧 Listen Instead

Conclusion

Montanov 68™ isn’t about pushing boundaries or chasing novelty. It’s an emulsifier that does its job reliably, which is often exactly what you want when you’re working with infused oils and making products meant to be used regularly.

Its strength lies in balance. It gives enough structure to create stable creams and lotions, enough refinement to feel good on the skin, and enough flexibility to work across different formulations without becoming fussy or unpredictable.

For cannabis skincare in particular, that combination matters. When an emulsifier behaves well, feels comfortable, and supports steady use, it becomes part of a formulation you can trust rather than something you have to constantly manage.

Montanov 68™ may not be the answer to every formulation question, but when you want something dependable, plant based, and well suited to real world use, it remains a very solid choice.

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