Issue with Liquid Texture and Potential Separation

Based on your description and the information about the Transderm base, the liquid texture you are experiencing is likely due to the temperature handling during mixing and storage.

The Transderm base is designed to be liquid when cold and thicken into a gel-like consistency at room temperature. Your process of keeping the water phase on ice and refrigerating the final mixture is preventing the base from reaching the temperature required for it to thicken properly.

The slight clear liquid observed on the surface could be a sign of some separation, which can also occur when this type of base is kept at cold temperatures after mixing.

To check for true separation:
Please follow the staff's advice: gently tilt or pour the mixture. If a clear liquid layer flows out distinctly from the main body of the mixture, then separation has occurred. If the entire mixture flows together, even if it's liquid, it might not be separated but simply hasn't thickened yet.

Recommendation:
Regardless of whether the product has separated or not, the key is to store the final product at room temperature. Avoid refrigerating it after mixing.

• If it has not separated: Storing it at room temperature and giving it time (possibly more than one day) might allow the texture to thicken on its own.
• If it has separated: You could try gently re-mixing the product at room temperature, avoiding strong heating.

The "sticky" feeling you described might be a characteristic of the Transderm base itself or a result of the combination of ingredients at these concentrations, especially when the texture is still liquid.