Achieving Clarity with Oil-Soluble Vitamin E in Gel Formulas

You are experiencing turbidity when trying to incorporate oil-soluble Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) into a gel formula using PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. This is a common issue because oil-soluble ingredients require effective solubilizers to disperse clearly in water-based systems.

Here are a few ways to achieve a clear gel:

• Use Water-Soluble Vitamin E: The simplest solution is to use a water-soluble version of Vitamin E Acetate, such as Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) Water-Soluble. This form is designed to dissolve directly into water-based formulas like gels without needing a separate solubilizer for the Vitamin E itself.

• Choose a More Effective Solubilizer: If you need to use the oil-soluble Vitamin E, consider using a solubilizer specifically designed for achieving clarity with oils in water systems. Flora Solve™ Clear is an excellent option as it is effective at solubilizing oils, including Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), in water or gel bases to create clear solutions. Mix Flora Solve™ Clear with the oil-soluble Vitamin E first (typically 2-5 parts Flora Solve™ Clear to 1 part Vitamin E) before adding the mixture to your gel base.

• Consider Polysorbate 20: While Polysorbate 20 is a common solubilizer, its description indicates it may cause turbidity when used with oils, so it might not fully solve your clarity issue with oil-soluble Vitamin E.

By switching to a water-soluble form of Vitamin E or using a more effective solubilizer like Flora Solve™ Clear, you should be able to achieve a clear gel formulation.