Adding Cleansing Properties to Cream Scrub

Question

I want to add cleansing properties to my cream scrub formulation. My base contains:

Macadamia Nut Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Jojoba lite oil
Rosehip oil
Avocado Oil
Organic virgin Argan Oil
Vitamin E
Shea Butter (Ultra Soft)
Microcrystalline Wax
Soft Cream Maker

I want the scrub to cleanse gently without leaving a slippery feel or making the skin dry/tight. I was considering using Creamy Foamer or Coco Wash. How can I add cleansing to this formula, what ingredients should I use, what percentage is recommended, and how should I handle the scrub particles like Himalayan Crystal Rock Salt and Apricot Scrub for gentleness?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Cream Scrub Formulation with Cleansing Properties

To add cleansing properties to your cream scrub while keeping it soft and gentle, you can incorporate a mild surfactant. Based on your goal of cleansing without dryness and the previous staff recommendation, here's a suggestion:

Instead of Creamy Foamer or Coco Wash, consider using one of the gentle surfactants previously recommended by the staff:

Cocamidopropyl Betaine: A gentle amphoteric surfactant that provides mild cleansing and foam.
BabyFoam™ (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate): A very gentle anionic surfactant that creates a creamy foam and is suitable for sensitive skin.
AminoWash™ (Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate): Another gentle anionic surfactant derived from amino acids, known for its mildness and pleasant feel.

These surfactants are better suited for general skin cleansing in a scrub formula compared to Coco Wash, which is primarily for makeup removal, or Creamy Foamer, which is more of a foam booster.

Recommended Usage Percentage:

You can add one of these gentle surfactants at a rate of 5-10% of the total formula. This range should provide effective cleansing without causing dryness or stripping the skin, while also ensuring compatibility with the cream base.

Regarding Scrub Particles:

As the staff mentioned, the abrasiveness of the scrub comes from the scrub particles themselves, not the cream base. To ensure the scrub feels gentle and not harsh on the skin, it is recommended to:

Remove Himalayan Crystal Rock Salt from the formula.
Use a smaller size of Apricot Scrub particles.

By adjusting the scrub particles and incorporating a suitable gentle surfactant like Cocamidopropyl Betaine, BabyFoam, or AminoWash, you can achieve a cream scrub that effectively cleanses and exfoliates while leaving the skin feeling soft and moisturized.

Your base cream formula with the oils (Macadamia Nut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba lite oil, Rosehip oil, Avocado Oil, Organic virgin Argan Oil, Vitamin E), Shea Butter (Ultra Soft), Microcrystalline Wax, and Soft Cream Maker is suitable for creating a soft texture.