Customizing Your Chloroxylenol Hand Gel Base

It's possible to customize your Chloroxylenol hand gel base to better suit your needs while maintaining its disinfectant properties. Here's how you can address your specific questions:

1) Adding Glycerin for More Moisturization

Yes, you can add liquid Glycerin to increase moisturization. Glycerin is a humectant that attracts and retains moisture. It is commonly used in hand sanitizers to help counteract the drying effects of disinfectants.

• Recommended Usage Rate: Glycerin (USP/Food Grade) can be used in cosmetic formulas at a rate of 1-100%. However, in a hand gel, adding too much Glycerin (typically above 5-10%) can result in a sticky or tacky feel. Start with a lower percentage (e.g., 1-5%) and adjust based on your desired feel and the existing base formulation. Ensure the Glycerin is thoroughly mixed into the water phase of the gel.

Adding Glycerin in reasonable amounts should not negatively impact the efficacy of Chloroxylenol, which is soluble in glycols like Glycerin. However, always test the final product to ensure stability and desired properties.

2) Thickening the Gel

To make the gel thicker, you can add a gelling agent. Several types are suitable for water-based gels:

• Carbomers: These are effective gelling agents. Since your base contains Chloroxylenol, which might affect pH or contain electrolytes, consider using an electrolyte-tolerant Carbomer like Carbomer Ultrez 30 or Carbomer U21. These can be used at rates typically between 0.1% and 2% depending on the desired viscosity. Powder Carbomers require neutralization with an alkali (such as Triethanolamine or Sodium Hydroxide) to form a gel.
• Pre-Dispersed Carbomer Gel: Products like CarboQuick are pre-neutralized Carbomer gels that are easier to use. You can simply mix them into your base at a rate of 3-15% to increase viscosity without needing to adjust pH.

Choose a thickener compatible with the existing ingredients in your hand gel base. Add the thickener gradually while mixing until the desired consistency is achieved.

3) Adding Fragrance

Yes, you can add fragrance to your hand gel. Fragrance oils can improve the user experience.

• Recommended Usage Rate: Fragrance oils are typically used at low percentages in hand gels, often up to 1%. Adding too much can cause irritation or affect the stability of the gel.

Fragrance oils are often oil-soluble and may require a solubilizer to disperse properly in a water-based gel to prevent clouding or separation. Your existing base may already contain a solubilizer (like PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, which is present in some Chloroxylenol products), but you might need to add more depending on the amount and type of fragrance used. Ensure the fragrance is fully solubilized and mixed well.

4) Non-Sticky Moisturizers

If you want to add moisturization without the potential stickiness of higher concentrations of Glycerin, consider these alternatives:

• Propanediol (1,3-Propanediol): This ingredient acts as a humectant and solvent and generally provides a less sticky feel compared to Glycerin. It can be used at a rate of 1-20%.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Different molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid can provide hydration. Ingredients like Super-HYA (Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate) are known for good skin absorption and a non-greasy feel, typically used at very low rates (e.g., 0.01-0.1%). A Hyaluronic Acid Gel Base could also be incorporated if compatible with your existing base.

Adding these ingredients at appropriate rates can enhance the moisturizing feel of the hand gel without making it overly sticky.