Increasing Viscosity in Xanthan Gum Gel Cleansers

Yes, Sodium Lactate can help increase the viscosity of a facial cleansing gel that uses Xanthan Gum as the primary gelling agent. Sodium Lactate acts as an electrolyte, and while Xanthan Gum is generally tolerant of electrolytes, adding Sodium Lactate can contribute to increased thickness in the formula.

If you are looking to reduce the amount of Xanthan Gum while maintaining or increasing viscosity, you can explore using other gel-forming agents in combination with or as alternatives to Xanthan Gum. Some suitable options for water-based gel formulations include:

• Carbomer 940: A widely used gelling agent that creates clear gels. However, it is sensitive to electrolytes and low pH, which is important to consider depending on the other ingredients (like surfactants) in your facial cleanser formula.
• Aristoflex AVC: A synthetic polymer that forms clear gels in water and can also help stabilize emulsions.
• Sepimax Zen: A highly tolerant thickener that works well across a wide pH range and can handle electrolytes and various oils, making it quite versatile for different formulations.
• AnyGel™: Another general-purpose gel maker suitable for creating gel textures.
• Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC): A non-ionic thickener that produces clear gels and is compatible with a wide range of ingredients, including many surfactants.

Combining different thickeners or using a more potent thickener might allow you to achieve the desired viscosity with a lower total amount of gelling agents compared to using only Xanthan Gum.