Cleansing Gel Formula for Tube Packaging

Creating a cleansing gel that is suitable for tube packaging, has a non-sticky texture, good stability, and sufficient foam requires careful selection of ingredients, particularly the gel-forming agent and surfactant.

It sounds like using EasyThick at 4% resulted in a texture that was too sticky and lacked foam, which can happen depending on the specific surfactant system used in the formula. EasyThick is primarily designed for thickening shampoos and liquid soaps.

Gel-Forming Agents

For a non-sticky gel texture that is stable in a tube, consider using alternative gel-forming agents. Some suitable options include:

• Sepimax Zen: This is a highly salt and pH tolerant thickener that creates a gel texture in the water phase. It is known for providing a non-sticky feel and good stability, making it suitable for tube packaging.
• ClearClean™ or ThickClean™: These are Acrylates Crosspolymer-based thickeners designed for liquid soaps and shampoos. They can create clear, viscous gels and help suspend particles. ClearClean™ provides high clarity, while ThickClean™ provides medium clarity and is a more cost-effective option if glass-like clarity is not essential. These can also provide good texture for tube packaging.

Foaming Agents

Regarding increasing foam, Dimethicone 1Secs is not typically used to generate the kind of immediate, rich foam desired in a cleansing gel that is rinsed off quickly. It functions more as an ingredient that creates foam when left on the skin for a period.

To achieve better foam in your cleansing gel, focus on selecting a surfactant (cleansing agent) that is known for good foaming properties. Consider using:

• Creamy Foamer™: This is a gentle, high-concentrate Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate that creates a soft and smooth foam. It is suitable for facial cleansers and can provide good lather without sulfates.
• IseFoam™: This is Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, another gentle detergent that produces good foam.

Adjusting the concentration or combination of your primary surfactant(s) will be the most effective way to improve foam.

Cooling Agent

For adding a cooling sensation, a water-soluble cooling agent is ideal for a gel formula. Water-Cool™ is a suitable option that can be mixed directly into the water phase and provides a lasting cooling effect.

Sample Cleansing Gel Formula

Here is a basic sample formula structure incorporating the recommended ingredients. You will need to adjust percentages based on desired viscosity, foam level, and cooling intensity.

• Water: Up to 100%
• Sepimax Zen: 0.5 - 2% (Start with a lower percentage and increase as needed for desired gel consistency)
• Creamy Foamer™ (or IseFoam™): 10 - 20% (Adjust based on desired foam level)
• Water-Cool™: 1 - 5% (Adjust based on desired cooling intensity)
• Preservative: As recommended by the supplier

Instructions:

1. Disperse Sepimax Zen in the water phase and mix until a gel forms.
2. Gently incorporate the Creamy Foamer™ (or IseFoam™) into the gel base, minimizing air incorporation.
3. Add Water-Cool™ and preservative, mixing until homogenous.
4. Adjust pH if necessary (Sepimax Zen is tolerant to a wide pH range, but the surfactant might have an optimal pH for foam).

This formula provides a starting point for a non-sticky, stable cleansing gel with good foam and a cooling effect, suitable for packaging in a tube.