Guide to Making Alcohol Gel with Moisturizers and Fragrance

To make your own alcohol gel with added skin benefits and a pleasant scent, you will need several key components. While I couldn't see the specific products in your photo, here is a general guide based on common ingredients:

Essential Components:

1. Alcohol: The primary ingredient for sanitizing. You will need high-purity Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) at a concentration typically between 60-80% in the final product.
2. Gelling Agent: This turns the liquid alcohol into a gel consistency. Carbomers are commonly used. Different types offer varying properties, such as ease of dispersion or tolerance to electrolytes. Examples include Carbomer 940, Carbomer U21, or Carbomer Ultrez 30. These usually require a neutralizer like Triethanolamine to form the gel.
3. Water: Used to dilute the alcohol to the desired concentration and dissolve other water-soluble ingredients.

Adding Moisturizers:

To counteract the drying effect of alcohol, incorporate moisturizing ingredients:

• Glycerin: A very common humectant that draws moisture into the skin.
• Aloe Vera Extract: Known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
• Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Helps to hydrate the skin and improve its barrier function.

Adding Fragrance:

To give your gel a light, pleasant scent, you can add a small amount of fragrance oil. Choose fragrances suitable for cosmetic use. Popular options include fruity scents like Strawberry or floral scents like Jasmine or Lavender. Use sparingly to avoid irritation.

Preservative:

Even though the high alcohol content provides some preservation, adding a broad-spectrum preservative like Phenoxyethanol is recommended to ensure the product remains stable and free from microbial growth over time, especially with the addition of water and other ingredients.

General Formulation Tips:

• Always follow recommended usage rates for each ingredient.
• Add the gelling agent to water first, neutralize it to form the gel, then carefully mix in the alcohol, moisturizers, fragrance, and preservative.
• Ensure all ingredients are compatible with high alcohol concentrations.

By selecting these types of ingredients, you can create an effective alcohol gel that also cares for your skin and has a lovely scent.