Gel Formulation Turns Liquid with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)

Hello,

The reason your gel formulation turned into liquid after adding Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is due to the acidity of L-ascorbic acid. Many gel makers, such as Carbomer, Aristoflex HMB, and AVC, are sensitive to low pH environments and lose their gelling ability.

While you mentioned trying Pro Polymer, which is more acid-tolerant, it's possible that the concentration used or the specific pH level of your formula still caused the gel structure to break down over time.

As the staff suggested, you can try using AnyGel (Dehydroxanthan Gum) at 1% as a gel maker, as it is known to be acid-tolerant.

It is crucial to measure the final pH of your mixture after adding all ingredients, especially the Vitamin C. The staff noted that AnyGel should work correctly if the pH is not below 2. Please use a pH meter to check the pH of your finished product.

Also, ensure that the concentration of the gel maker you are using is sufficient for the overall composition and acidity of your formula.

Separately, please note that L-ascorbic acid is generally unstable in water-based formulations, which affects its efficacy over time. The staff recommended considering a more stable form of Vitamin C, such as Ethyl Ascorbic acid, as an alternative.

To help us provide more specific advice, could you please share the exact formula you used when the Pro Polymer gel failed (listing all ingredients and their percentages/amounts) and the measured pH of that mixture?

Thank you.