Instability and Crystallization of Stabilized Vitamin C Serum After Adding Thickener
คำถาม
I purchased 1 liter of Stabilized Vitamin C Glycol solution, but it was too liquid.
I tried to adjust the texture by adding Pro Polymer (Acrylate Crosspolymer) at 0.5% and mixing it at the factory.
Initially, the texture was good, with appropriate viscosity, easy to apply, and absorbed well.
However, after about 1 month, the texture became very thick, almost sticky, making it difficult to apply. More importantly, it developed crystals/flakes that felt abrasive on the skin.
I would like to know how I can fix this issue. I'm concerned about wasting the 1 liter of product.
Specifically, can I add Butylene Glycol, for example, at 20%?
If I add 20% Butylene Glycol to the original 1 liter of (assuming 15% concentration) Stabilized Vitamin C Glycol, will the resulting vitamin C concentration be 12.5%? (Based on the formula C_initial * V_initial = C_new * V_total, where 15% * 100 = C_new * 120, solving for C_new).
คำตอบ
It sounds like you're having trouble with your stabilized vitamin C serum after adding Pro Polymer. The crystallization and extreme thickening you're experiencing are likely due to an incompatibility between the specific stabilized vitamin C glycol solution and the Pro Polymer (Acrylate Crosspolymer). Acrylate crosspolymers can be sensitive to the pH or other components in the vitamin C solution, causing the polymer network to break down or interact unfavorably, leading to precipitation (crystals) and instability.
Adding Butylene Glycol might help to some extent. It can act as a solvent and might help redissolve some of the crystals and reduce the overall viscosity. However, it's important to understand that this might only be a temporary fix and doesn't address the root incompatibility issue. The problem could potentially recur. If you decide to try this, I recommend testing it on a small portion of your serum first to see if it improves the texture without causing other issues.
Regarding your calculation, if your original stabilized vitamin C glycol solution had a concentration of 15% and you add 20% Butylene Glycol, diluting the total volume by 20%, the resulting vitamin C concentration would indeed be approximately 12.5% (15% * 100 / 120 = 12.5%). So your calculation is correct based on that assumption.
For future formulations, it's crucial to test the compatibility of ingredients on a small scale before making a large batch. If this specific stabilized vitamin C glycol product requires thickening, you might need to explore alternative thickeners that are more compatible with its composition and pH.
ผลิตภัณฑ์ที่เกี่ยวข้องที่กล่าวถึง
Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker)
Butylene Glycol
