Thank you for sharing your experience. You are correct that dissolving PoreNin™ (Tannic Acid) in water can be challenging, especially at higher concentrations.

Understanding the Solubility Challenge

The core issue, as noted by our experts, is that Tannic Acid (PoreNin™) has a limited solubility in water. If you are attempting to dissolve it at a concentration that exceeds this limit (e.g., near the maximum recommended usage rate of 3.0%), it will not fully dissolve, even with vigorous mixing.

Recommendations for Water-Based Systems

To successfully incorporate PoreNin™ into a water-based serum or facial mist, we recommend the following strategies:

1. Reduce Concentration: First, ensure your target concentration is well within the solubility limit. For a facial mist, a concentration of 0.1% to 0.5% is often sufficient and much easier to dissolve. If you are aiming for a serum, try to keep the concentration below 1.0% initially.
2. Pre-Dispersion (Your Method is Excellent): Your method of creating a slurry in Propanediol is an excellent technique. Propanediol acts as a co-solvent, helping to wet and disperse the powder before it is introduced to the main water phase.
3. Alternative Co-Solvents: If you don't have Propanediol, you can try pre-dispersing the powder in a small amount of other water-miscible solvents like Glycerin or Butylene Glycol before adding the rest of the water.
4. Slow Addition and Time: After pre-dispersing, add the slurry slowly to the water phase while stirring continuously. Allow adequate time for the powder to fully hydrate and dissolve. Avoid using heat, as the product description advises.
5. Filtration (For Mists): For a facial mist, if you are still concerned about micro-particles, you may consider filtering the final product to ensure a perfectly clear, non-clogging spray.