Gel Formulation with Glycerin, Acidic Ingredients, Preservative, and Gelling Agents
Asked by: marateeck077
On: January 29, 2019
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
I am trying to make a gel (potentially a mosquito repellent gel, based on context). I plan to use Glycerin as the base gel and add a preservative and acidic ingredients.
1. How long will the resulting gel be stable?
2. Is this method feasible?
3. Should I use a different gelling agent instead, such as AnyGel (Dehydroxanthan Gum)?
Thank you.
Answer
Regarding your questions about making a mosquito repellent gel using Glycerin as a base gel with a preservative and acidic ingredients:
- Stability: If you use Glycerin alone as the "base gel," it will not form a stable gel structure. Glycerin is a humectant and solvent, not a gelling agent. The stability of the ingredients themselves (like the preservative) in an acidic environment would depend on the specific ingredients used and their compatibility, but you would not achieve a stable gel consistency.
- Can it be done? Making a gel using only Glycerin as the base is not feasible because Glycerin does not create a gel structure on its own.
- Should you use another gelling agent like AnyGel? Yes, to create a gel, you need to use a proper gelling agent. AnyGel (Dehydroxanthan Gum) is a gelling agent that can create a gel texture. Using a gelling agent like AnyGel or another suitable one (such as Carbomer, other gums, etc.) is necessary to form a stable gel. The stability of the final gel will then depend on the specific gelling agent used, its compatibility with your acidic ingredients and preservative, and the effectiveness of the preservative at the formula's pH.
In summary, you need a gelling agent to create a gel. Glycerin is not a gelling agent. Using a gelling agent like AnyGel is the correct approach to achieve a gel consistency. The stability will depend on the compatibility of all ingredients in your specific formula.