Adding Oil to Gel Formulations

It is possible to add oil to a gel formulation, but as mentioned previously, adding oil will typically result in a texture that is more like a cream-gel or a light cream, rather than a clear gel.

There are different ingredients you can use to help incorporate oil into a water-based system:

• Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker): This is primarily a gel-forming agent for water-based formulas. It has some ability to help incorporate a limited amount of oil, typically up to around 10-15% of the total formula. If you use Pro Polymer™, you would generally create the gel base by mixing Pro Polymer™ into the water phase first. Once the gel is formed, you can then gradually add the oil phase while continuously mixing.

• Light Cream Maker™: This ingredient is specifically designed as an oil-in-water emulsifier and thickener. It is very effective at combining oil and water phases to create cream or lotion textures. Light Cream Maker™ can handle a higher percentage of oil compared to Pro Polymer™, up to 20% of the formula. When using Light Cream Maker™, you can mix it into either the oil phase or the water phase before combining the two phases and mixing until a cream is formed. The product description provides an example method where it's added to the oil phase.

Choosing Between Pro Polymer™ and Light Cream Maker™:

You should choose one of these ingredients based on the desired texture and the amount of oil you want to include:

• If you want a gel-like texture with only a small amount of oil (under 10-15%), Pro Polymer™ might work, but the texture might be less stable or feel slightly oily.
• If you want a light cream or lotion texture and plan to include up to 20% oil, Light Cream Maker™ is generally a more suitable choice as it is designed for emulsifying oil and water.

Do not use both Pro Polymer™ and Light Cream Maker™ together, as they serve similar purposes and using both could negatively affect the texture and stability of your formulation.

Always refer to the specific usage instructions for the product you choose for detailed mixing steps and recommended usage rates.