Bubble Bath Formulation Advice

Thank you for sharing your bubble bath formula. Here is some advice regarding your questions:

1. Increasing, Refining, and Stabilizing Foam

Your current formula uses Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, which are good surfactants for foaming. To enhance the foam further, make it finer, and more stable, you can consider adding a co-surfactant or a dedicated foam booster:

• Lauramine Oxide: This is an amphoteric surfactant that works well as a foam booster and helps stabilize foam. It is compatible with other surfactants in your formula.
• Laura-Foam-50 (Lauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine): Another amphoteric surfactant that focuses on creating lather and foam. It works best when used with other cleaning surfactants.
• Creamy Foamer (Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate): A gentle, sulfate-free anionic surfactant that acts as a foam booster, creating soft and smooth foam. It can help improve foam quality and stability.
• BabyFoam (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate): A gentle anionic surfactant known for producing high amounts of foam. It is in powder form, which might require adjustment to your mixing process.

Adding one of these ingredients at a suitable percentage (start with a lower percentage and adjust as needed) can significantly improve your bubble bath's foam characteristics.

2. Making Fragrance Last Longer

Fragrance oils can evaporate quickly in water-based products. To help the scent last longer, you can use a fragrance fixative or consider encapsulation:

• Dipropylene Glycol: Often used as a solvent for fragrance oils, it also acts as a fixative, slowing down the evaporation rate of the fragrance.
• Encap Shampoo (2-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate): This ingredient functions as a fragrance fixative, helping to prolong the scent life when mixed with the fragrance oil.
• AromaLock (Fragrance Encapsulation Service): For the best longevity, especially with volatile scents, encapsulating the fragrance oil into a powder form can help it adhere better and release the scent over a longer period. This is a service where your fragrance is processed.

Using a fixative like Dipropylene Glycol (if not already used as your fragrance solvent) or Encap Shampoo, or exploring the encapsulation service, can help your bubble bath retain its fragrance longer.

3. Using Filtered Water Instead of Distilled Water

While filtered water is better than regular tap water, distilled water is highly recommended for cosmetic formulations. Distilled water is free from minerals, salts, and microorganisms that can be present in filtered water. These impurities can affect the stability, clarity, and effectiveness of preservatives in your formula, potentially leading to discoloration, separation, or microbial growth over time. Using distilled water ensures consistency and reduces the risk of contamination.

4. Suitability for Children and Non-SLS Status

Your formula is already non-SLS. Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate and Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate are not sulfates. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is also a mild, amphoteric surfactant.

Regarding suitability for children, while the surfactants are non-SLS and generally considered milder than sulfates, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, especially at a high concentration like 30%, can still be irritating to sensitive skin, including children's skin. Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (SulFoam) and Cocamidopropyl Betaine are milder options.

To make the formula gentler and more suitable for children, it is crucial to adjust the pH of the final product to the skin's natural range, typically between 5.0 and 6.0. Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate has a high pH (8-9), so pH adjustment is essential for mildness. You could also consider reducing the percentage of Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate and increasing the percentage of milder co-surfactants like Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, BabyFoam, or IseFoam.

By adjusting the pH and potentially modifying the surfactant blend to include a higher proportion of very mild surfactants, you can create a bubble bath formula that is gentler and more appropriate for children's sensitive skin.