Formulating Thick Tamarind Body Scrub Cream with Long Shelf Life

Question

I need guidance on formulating a tamarind body scrub cream that has a thick texture and a long shelf life of at least two years. Specifically, I need to understand how to calculate percentages in cosmetic formulations. For example, what does 1% of an ingredient mean in a 100g, 500g, or 1000g batch?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Tamarind Body Scrub Cream Formulation Guidance

To create a thick tamarind body scrub cream with a long shelf life (at least two years), you will need several key types of ingredients. Please note that providing a complete, ready-to-use formula with exact percentages is complex and requires stability testing, but I can guide you on the necessary components and suggest relevant ingredients.

Essential Components:

Exfoliant: You will need a scrubbing agent. Based on your request for tamarind, you could use Tamarind Seed Scrub. This comes in different mesh sizes (e.g., 100Mesh) for varying exfoliation intensity.
Cream Base: This typically involves an oil phase (emollients/butters), a water phase, and an emulsifier to bind them together into a cream texture.
Thickener: To achieve a thick, viscous cream texture, you will need a thickener. Options include CreamThick™ (Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate), which is easy to use and works over a wide pH range, or Sepimax Zen, known for its tolerance to salts and varying pH.
Preservative: A broad-spectrum preservative is crucial for preventing microbial growth and achieving a long shelf life of two years or more, especially in water-containing formulas. Consider options like Global Guard™ 221, Mild Preserved™ COS, or NaturePreserve™ Ultra. Each has specific usage guidelines regarding pH and concentration.
Other Ingredients: You might also include humectants (like Glycerin), antioxidants, fragrance, color, and pH adjusters as needed.

Achieving a two-year shelf life requires a robust and effective preservative system and thorough stability testing of the final formulation under various conditions.

Understanding Percentage in Formulations

Regarding your question about percentages, in cosmetic formulations:

1% of an ingredient means 1 gram of that ingredient for every 100 grams of the total finished product.
If you are making a 500-gram batch, 1% of an ingredient would be 5 grams (500 g * 0.01 = 5 g).
If you are making a 1000-gram (1 kg) batch, 1% of an ingredient would be 10 grams (1000 g * 0.01 = 10 g).

Remember to always measure ingredients by weight for accurate formulation.