Using Ultra Solve™ to Dissolve Activated Resorcinol™ and MSH White™ in a Clear Gel

Here's a breakdown of the feasibility and stability of your proposed method:

1. Can you dissolve both components in Ultra Solve™ and mix into a gel?

It is possible to use Ultra Solve™ to dissolve Activated Resorcinol™ and MSH White™ before incorporating them into your gel formula. Ultra Solve™ is designed as a highly effective solvent and water-oil binder that can dissolve various oils and oil-soluble ingredients, making it suitable for incorporating oil-soluble actives into water-based systems like gels.

However, there are important considerations regarding the dissolution process due to the properties of the actives:

• Activated Resorcinol™ is soluble in oil, but its description advises refraining from using heat as it can deteriorate.
• MSH White™ is soluble in oil or alcohol at temperatures of at least 60°C, and the recommended mixing method requires using heat at 80°C to ensure it dissolves clearly in the oil phase.

These conflicting temperature requirements present a challenge. Dissolving MSH White™ in Ultra Solve™ requires heat, which could potentially degrade Activated Resorcinol™. A possible approach could be to heat Ultra Solve™ to dissolve MSH White™, allow the mixture to cool down, and then attempt to dissolve Activated Resorcinol™ in the cooled Ultra Solve™/MSH White™ solution without further heating. The effectiveness of dissolving Activated Resorcinol™ in this cooled mixture would need to be tested.

Once dissolved (assuming a stable solution can be achieved), mixing this Ultra Solve™ solution into your main gel formula using an overhead stirrer is a standard method for incorporating an oil phase into a water phase or gel.

2. Will the formula be stable, and will the oil solution precipitate?

Ultra Solve™ functions as a water-oil binder and solubilizer, specifically intended to help maintain the stability of formulas containing oil-soluble components in a water base and prevent separation or precipitation.

If Activated Resorcinol™ and MSH White™ are successfully dissolved in the Ultra Solve™ at the desired concentrations, and the Ultra Solve™ is used at an appropriate concentration (typically 1-10% as suggested for Ultra Solve™) and properly incorporated into the gel base, the Ultra Solve™ should help maintain the clarity and stability of the formula and prevent the precipitation of the dissolved actives (which are effectively held within the "oil" phase created by the Ultra Solve™).

However, the overall stability of the final gel formula will depend on several factors, including:

• The specific concentrations of Activated Resorcinol™ and MSH White™ used.
• The concentration of Ultra Solve™ relative to the actives.
• The composition of your main gel base (e.g., the type and concentration of gelling agent, presence of other ingredients, pH).
• The potential impact of the required heating step for MSH White™ on the long-term stability of Activated Resorcinol™ within the Ultra Solve™ solution before it's added to the gel.

While Ultra Solve™ is designed to enhance stability and prevent precipitation of oil phases, it is crucial to perform stability testing on your final formulation to ensure it remains clear and stable over time under various conditions (e.g., temperature fluctuations).