Formulating Gentle Cat Shampoo: Thickeners, Clarity, and Adding Gentle Ingredients

Asked by: anajak7 On: June 30, 2018 Product Type: Cosmetics Answered

Question

I am formulating a gentle cat shampoo using the following ingredients:

  • Disodium EDTA
  • Lauryl Glucoside
  • Coco Glucoside
  • Gluta Clean
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Coco Foam
  • Cond Foam
  • Amino Wash
  • Mild Preserved Eco
  • SugarThick
  • Flora Foam
  • Water

I've noticed that using Flora Foam (Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide) with some surfactants causes cloudiness that is difficult to resolve. I want to make the formula even more gentle. Can I add Glycerin and Aloe Vera Extract? If so, how should I adjust my formula to incorporate them?

Answer

Gentle Cat Shampoo Formulation Advice

Based on the ingredients you are using and your questions, here is some advice for formulating your gentle cat shampoo:

Ingredient Compatibility

The ingredients in your detailed formula (Disodium EDTA, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco Glucoside, Gluta Clean, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco Foam, Cond Foam, Amino Wash, Mild Preserved Eco, SugarThick, Flora Foam, and Water) are generally compatible for use in a mild cleansing product. This combination of gentle surfactants, chelating agent, preservative, and thickeners is suitable for formulating mild cleansers.

Flora Foam and Clarity

You observed cloudiness when adding Flora Foam (Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide). While it helps with thickening and foam stability, especially with amphoteric surfactants like Coco Foam and Mild Wash, it can sometimes cause cloudiness or be difficult to fully incorporate depending on the specific surfactant blend. Reducing the amount of Flora Foam might help improve clarity. If clarity is a priority, you could also consider relying more on SugarThick or exploring other thickeners known for producing clear formulas with surfactant systems, such as Xanthan Gum or EasyThick.

Adding Glycerin and Aloe Vera Extract for Gentleness

Yes, adding both Glycerin and Aloe Vera Extract can help make your formula more gentle and improve the feel on the skin and coat.

  • Glycerin: This is a humectant that helps retain moisture, preventing dryness and improving skin feel. It is highly compatible and water-soluble.
  • Aloe Vera Extract: Known for soothing properties, it can help reduce irritation and condition the skin and hair. It is water-soluble but, as an electrolyte, might slightly affect viscosity.

Both are compatible with your formula components.

Adjusting the Formula

To incorporate Glycerin and Aloe Vera Extract, replace a portion of the water in your formula. A starting point could be:

  • Glycerin: 1-5%
  • Aloe Vera Extract: 1-3%

Reduce the water percentage accordingly. Adding these may affect viscosity, so you might need to adjust the amount of SugarThick or Flora Foam to achieve your desired thickness.

Tags

Clarity Formulation Adjustment Gentle Formulation Shampoo Thickener