Adding Water-Soluble Ingredients to Cream Base
Question
Can water-soluble ingredients be added directly to a cream base? What factors should be considered, and how can I test for proper incorporation and stability?
Answer
Based on the staff's reply:
Yes, generally, if your cream base contains a sufficient amount of water to dissolve the water-soluble ingredient you want to add, you can add it directly.
The crucial point is whether the amount of water in the base is enough for the specific ingredient's solubility. Different ingredients have different solubility limits (how much can dissolve in a certain amount of water).
A practical way to check is to take a small amount of your cream base, add the ingredient you want to include, mix thoroughly, and observe if it dissolves completely and mixes well.
It is important to let this test mixture sit for about 12 hours in a sealed container (like it would be in the final product packaging) to ensure there is no separation over time.
The same principle applies to adding oil-soluble ingredients to a base that contains oil.