Adding Active Ingredients to Sulfate-Free Foaming Base

Yes, you can add other active ingredients to the Sulfate-Free Foaming Base. These bases are designed to be easily customized with additional beneficial ingredients.

How to Add Active Ingredients

1. Prepare your active ingredients: Ensure your active ingredients are compatible with a water-based system and the pH range of the foaming base (typically pH 5.5-7.5). Some active ingredients may need to be dissolved in water or another compatible solvent first.
2. Mix with the base: Gently mix your prepared active ingredients into the diluted or undiluted foaming base. The product descriptions recommend mixing the base with water first (typically 25-35% base for shampoo/liquid soap, or 15-20% for facial/intimate wash), then incorporating other ingredients. Avoid vigorous stirring, which can create excessive bubbles.
3. Check compatibility and usage rate: Always adhere to the recommended usage rates for the specific active ingredients you are adding. Ensure they are compatible with the base and do not cause separation, cloudiness, or significant changes in viscosity or pH.

Is Additional Preservative Needed?

The Sulfate-Free Foaming Base and similar bases like Sulfate Free Shampoo Base and Sulfate-Free No-Tear Foaming Base already contain preservatives (such as Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, or Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone as listed in their descriptions).

For simple additions of compatible active ingredients at low concentrations, the existing preservation system may be sufficient. However, adding certain active ingredients, especially those that are plant-derived or used at higher concentrations, can introduce microbial contamination or alter the formula in a way that compromises the existing preservative's effectiveness.

It is generally recommended to assess the need for additional preservation based on:

• The type and amount of active ingredients added.
• The final pH of the mixture.
• The intended packaging and use of the product.

If you are adding ingredients that are known to be difficult to preserve or are significantly altering the formula, you may need to add an additional broad-spectrum preservative to ensure the product remains microbially stable and safe for use throughout its shelf life.