Dissolving Phenoxyethanol and Phenonip in Water-Based Formulas

It appears you are experiencing difficulty dissolving preservatives like Phenoxyethanol and Phenonip in your water-based facial foam formula and in distilled water, observing them as undissolved oil droplets.

This can happen because while these preservatives have some water solubility, they may require sufficient mixing time and method to fully incorporate, especially in certain formulations or when mixed directly into a large volume of water without adequate agitation.

Solution

As advised by the staff, the recommended method to ensure proper dissolution of Phenoxyethanol and Para-Preserve (eq. Phenonip P4) is to pre-dissolve them in the water phase of your formulation before combining with other ingredients.

Here's the suggested approach:

1. Take the required amount of water for your formula.
2. Add the calculated amount of Phenoxyethanol or Para-Preserve (eq. Phenonip P4) to this water.
3. Close the container and shake vigorously for several minutes until the preservative is completely dissolved and the water is clear, with no visible oil droplets or separation.
4. Once the preservative is fully dissolved in the water, you can then use this mixture as your water phase and proceed with adding the other ingredients of your facial foam formula.

Shaking is often more effective than stirring by hand for achieving complete dissolution in these cases.

Incorporating Essential Oils

Regarding the initial discussion about essential oils, to effectively incorporate essential oils into water-based formulas and maintain clarity, it is recommended to first mix the essential oil with a solubilizer like Flora Solve™ Clear (Fragrance Solubilizer) at a ratio of approximately 1 part essential oil to 3-5 parts solubilizer before adding the mixture to the water phase.