Hair Growth Serum Formulation Advice

Regarding your formula for a hair loss reduction and new hair growth serum with a non-sticky, fast-absorbing texture, here is some advice:

1. Achieving a Non-Sticky, Fast-Absorbing Serum Texture

To achieve a serum texture that is not sticky and absorbs quickly, incorporating a suitable gel-forming agent into the water phase is recommended. Ingredients like Aristoflex AVC or Sepimax Zen are good options for creating a clear, light gel. Aristoflex AVC can also help incorporate a certain amount of oil into the formula.

2. Binding Ingredients (Solubilization)

Your formula contains oil-soluble ingredients (Sandal Pentanol and Fragrance) and water-soluble ingredients. While Ethyl Alcohol helps as a solvent, a dedicated solubilizer is needed to ensure the oil phase is fully dispersed in the water phase for a clear and stable serum. Ultra Solve™ or Flora Solve™ Clear are effective solubilizers for this purpose. Ultra Solve™ is generally more efficient.

3. Mixing Procedure

Here is a suggested mixing procedure for your serum formula, incorporating a gel maker and solubilizer:

Ingredients:

• Purified Water: q.s. to 100%
• Biotin Express™: 1%
• Benzophenone-4: 1%
• Phenoxyethanol: 1%
• N-Acetyl Cysteine: 1%
• Ethyl Alcohol: 20%
• Sandal Pentanol: 5%
• Fragrance: 1%
• Ultra Solve™: 5% (or Flora Solve™ Clear 10-15%)
• Aristoflex AVC: 1% (or Sepimax Zen 0.5-1.5%)
• Triethanolamine 99%: q.s. for pH adjustment (target pH 4.5-6)

Steps:

1. In a clean beaker, combine Purified Water, Biotin Express™, Benzophenone-4, Phenoxyethanol, and N-Acetyl Cysteine. Stir gently until all powders are dissolved.
2. In a separate beaker, combine Ethyl Alcohol, Sandal Pentanol, Fragrance, and Ultra Solve™ (or Flora Solve™ Clear). Stir well until the oil ingredients are fully dissolved/solubilized in the alcohol/solubilizer mixture.
3. Slowly add the mixture from step 2 to the water phase mixture in step 1 while stirring continuously.
4. Slowly sprinkle the chosen gel maker (Aristoflex AVC or Sepimax Zen) into the combined mixture while stirring. Continue stirring until a smooth, uniform gel texture is formed.
5. Measure the pH of the serum using a pH meter or pH strips. The pH will likely be acidic.
6. Add Triethanolamine 99% drop by drop, stirring thoroughly after each drop, until the desired pH range of 4.5-6 is reached. This pH range is suitable for the stability and efficacy of the active ingredients like Biotin Express™ and N-Acetyl Cysteine.
7. Mix the final serum thoroughly.

Remember to perform stability testing on your final product.