Adjusting a Gel Formulation: Texture, Absorption, and Odor Issues

Question

I have created a gel formulation using the following ingredients:

Rosa Hybrid Cell Extract (HybridCell™) 3g
Aloe Vera Gel (Heavy) 100g
Black Caviar Extract 6g
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) 3g
PiteraEx™ (Saccharomyces Lysate Extract) 4g
Safe-B3™ (Vitamin B3, Niacinamide, Switzerland) 10g

I mixed all the ingredients together. When applied to the face, the gel feels sticky and does not seem to absorb into the skin. Additionally, the smell is not pleasant. How can I adjust the mixture to make it absorb better and feel less sticky? Also, how can I add fragrance without negatively impacting the facial skin?

Thank you.

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Subject: Suggested adjustments for your formulation

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your formulation and experience. It sounds like the mixture turned out sticky, didn't absorb well, and had an unpleasant smell. This is likely due to the high concentration of active ingredients in the Aloe Vera Gel base. You added 26g of active ingredients to 100g of base, resulting in a very high total active concentration (over 20%).

To address the stickiness and absorption issues, the simplest approach is to dilute the mixture. You can do this by adding more of the Aloe Vera Gel (Heavy) base to the mixture you have already made.

Suggestion for Texture/Absorption: Add at least another 100g, or preferably 200g, of the Aloe Vera Gel (Heavy) base to your current 126g mixture. This will significantly reduce the overall concentration of the active ingredients, which should improve the texture and absorption, making it feel less sticky. Mix thoroughly until homogenous.

To address the unpleasant smell:

Suggestion for Fragrance: You can add a cosmetic-grade fragrance designed for leave-on facial products.
- Choose a fragrance that is compatible with water-based gels.
- Add it at a very low concentration, typically between 0.1% and 0.5% of the total weight of your diluted formulation.
- Start with a small amount (e.g., 0.1%) and add more gradually if needed, but do not exceed the recommended maximum usage rate for the specific fragrance you choose.
- Mix well.

After making these adjustments, please test the modified formulation on a small area of your skin before applying it to your face.

I hope these suggestions help improve your formulation!