Anti-Aging Cream Formulation Questions

Here are the answers to your questions based on the ingredients in your formula:

1. Ectoine Solubility

Ectoine is a water-soluble ingredient. While Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate is a liquid, it contains components from fermentation and is not pure water. To ensure Ectoine dissolves completely and functions effectively, it is best practice to dissolve it in a small amount of distilled water first before incorporating it into the water phase containing the Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate and other water-soluble ingredients.

Adding Cyclopentasiloxane to the oil/silicone phase is a suitable way to adjust the texture of the cream. Cyclopentasiloxane is a lightweight silicone that can help reduce the viscosity and provide a softer, smoother feel to the final product.

2. Omitting Disodium EDTA

Your formula contains several water-based ingredients such as Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Repair Activator, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, and Ectoine. The description for Perfect-C (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate), although oil-soluble, explicitly recommends including Disodium EDTA when there is a water phase in the formula. Disodium EDTA acts as a chelating agent, binding to metal ions that may be present in the water phase and could potentially degrade the Perfect-C. Therefore, even without adding extra distilled water, it is highly recommended to include Disodium EDTA at 0.2% to help maintain the stability and effectiveness of the Perfect-C in your formula.

3. Adding Satin Cream Maker

Your formula uses Silky Serum Base Plus as the primary emulsifier. The total percentage of your oil/silicone phase (Silky Serum Base Plus, Perfect-C, LipidSoft Lactic, and potentially Cyclopentasiloxane) is around 26-30%. The Satin Cream Maker has a recommended maximum oil capacity of 25%. Adding Satin Cream Maker might exceed its capacity to properly emulsify the formula and could lead to instability.

The description for Silky Serum Base Plus suggests adding 1-2% Magnesium Sulfate to help improve the stability and prevent separation of the formula. This might be a more appropriate approach to enhance stability with the Silky Serum Base Plus you are using. If you still wish to use Satin Cream Maker, you would need to carefully adjust the percentages of other ingredients, particularly the water phase, to stay within its recommended oil load and maintain a total of 100%.

4. Manual Mixing

Mixing this formula manually might be challenging to achieve a smooth and stable emulsion, especially with the Silky Serum Base Plus. The instructions for Silky Serum Base Plus recommend gradually adding the water phase to the oil/base phase in small increments while stirring thoroughly to ensure proper emulsification. This process can be time-consuming and may not result in a perfectly uniform texture compared to using a blender or homogenizer. While manual stirring is possible, using a low-speed blender (minimum 500 rpm) is recommended for easier and more effective emulsification. Adding Magnesium Sulfate, as mentioned earlier, might also help improve stability even with manual mixing.

Please note that while storing the product in the refrigerator can help slow down microbial growth, omitting preservatives entirely carries a risk of contamination, especially with ingredients like ferment filtrates. Be sure to maintain strict hygiene during mixing and use, and monitor the product for any signs of spoilage.