Formulating a Glowy Face Spray: Stability and Preservation

Question

I am formulating a face spray and would like advice on the following formula, intended for use after makeup or during the day to achieve a glowy, healthy look without stickiness: Mineral Water (drinking water) Aloe barbadensis leaf juice 2% Saccharide Isomerate (MOIST72) 3% Polyquaternium-51 (WATERLOCK) 1% 1,2-Hexanediol 3% Glycerin 2% Grape Seed Oil 3% Pearl Gold Mica (ขนาด B) 4%

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Here is a review of your proposed Korean glowy face spray formulation:

Your formula includes several excellent moisturizing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Saccharide Isomerate (MOIST72), Polyquaternium-51 (WATERLOCK), 1,2-Hexanediol, and Glycerin. These ingredients are great for providing hydration and achieving a dewy, healthy look as you intended. The addition of Pearl Gold Mica will certainly help provide the desired glow.

However, there are a few points to consider and potentially improve for stability and usability:

Ingredient Compatibility (Stability): Your formula contains oil (Grape Seed Oil) and a powder pigment (Pearl Gold Mica). These ingredients will not naturally mix with the water base (Mineral Water) and will likely separate over time. This means you would need to shake the product vigorously before each use, and even then, the distribution might not be even. To create a stable and easy-to-use spray, you should consider adding a suitable Solubilizer or Emulsifier designed for spray systems. This will help disperse the oil and mica evenly and keep them suspended in the water phase.
Preservation: This is a water-based product containing natural ingredients (Aloe Vera), which makes it susceptible to microbial contamination. While 1,2-Hexanediol offers some preservative boosting properties, it is generally not sufficient on its own to fully preserve a water-based cosmetic product, especially one used as a spray. You should include a broad-spectrum Preservative system to ensure the safety and shelf-life of your product.
Mica Percentage: 4% Mica is quite a high percentage for a face spray. It might result in a very shimmery look, and the mica particles could easily settle at the bottom or potentially clog the spray nozzle. If you aim for a natural glow, you might consider reducing the percentage of Mica or using a finer particle size Mica specifically designed for liquid formulations.

In summary: Your formula has good ingredients for hydration and glow, but you should add a solubilizer/emulsifier and a preservative to ensure the formula is stable, safe, and easy to use as a spray.