Vitamin C Gel Formulation Issue and Solution

It sounds like you're having trouble incorporating the oil-soluble Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) into your water-based gel formula. This is a common issue because oil and water naturally separate.

Your mixing steps are likely causing the problem because you are adding the oil-soluble Vitamin E directly into the water phase. Vitamin E Acetate is an oil and needs help to mix with water.

How to Fix the Mixing Issue

To properly incorporate the Vitamin E into your gel, you need to use a solubilizer or emulsifier. These ingredients help oil and water mix together evenly.

Based on the ingredients available, you can use a solubilizer like Flora Solve™ Clear or Ultra Solve™.

Suggested Mixing Procedure

Here is a revised mixing procedure that should help you create a stable gel:

1. Combine the water, Butylene Glycol, and Ethoxydiglycol in a container.
2. In a separate small container, mix the Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) with a suitable solubilizer, such as Flora Solve™ Clear. A typical starting ratio is 2-5 parts solubilizer to 1 part Vitamin E. Mix thoroughly until the Vitamin E is fully dispersed or dissolved in the solubilizer.
3. Slowly add the Vitamin E/solubilizer mixture to the water/glycol phase from step 1 while stirring.
4. Add the Pro Polymer Silk to the mixture. Use a high-speed mixer or blender to mix until a gel texture is formed.
5. Once the gel is formed and the temperature is below 30°C, add the Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) Ultra-Fine powder and mix until it is completely dissolved.
6. Add the Mild Preserved and mix well.
7. Check the pH of the final gel. For optimal Vitamin C stability, the pH should be between 2.0 and 4.0. Adjust if necessary.

By using a solubilizer to first disperse the Vitamin E before adding it to the water phase, you should be able to achieve a clear and stable gel without the oil separating.