Creating a pH-Adjust-Free Facial Cleansing Gel

Yes, it is possible to create a facial cleansing gel without needing to adjust the pH, as confirmed by the staff response. The key is to select surfactants that naturally have a pH suitable for the skin (around 5-6).

YouYou have Glycerin and are considering using Coco-Betaine and Xanthan Gum. These ingredients can certainly be part of your formula:

• Glycerin: Acts as a humectant, helping to keep the skin moisturized.
• Coco-Betaine: A mild surfactant and foaming agent that can contribute to the cleansing action and lather.
• Xanthan Gum: Used as a thickener to create the gel texture.

As the staff mentioned, AminoWash™ (Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate) is an excellent choice for a surfactant in a no-pH-adjustment formula because its pH is already in the ideal range of 5-6. Using AminoWash™ as the primary surfactant, potentially combined with Coco-Betaine for enhanced mildness and foam, will help ensure the final product pH is skin-compatible without needing adjustment.

Ingredients like Lauryl Glucoside, while gentle, have a high pH (around 11.5) and do require pH adjustment with an acid (like Citric Acid or Lactic Acid) to be suitable for skin, so it would not be ideal for a formula where you want to avoid this step.

A basic concept for a pH-adjust-free gel cleanser could involve combining water with Glycerin and Xanthan Gum (to form the gel base), and then incorporating AminoWash™ and Coco-Betaine as the cleansing agents. Remember to also include a suitable preservative to prevent microbial growth.