Coffee Body Scrub Formula Review

Your formula includes a high percentage of exfoliating ingredients (Ground Coffee, Sea Salt, and Sugar), which is typical for a body scrub. The oils (Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Vitamin E) provide lubrication and moisturizing benefits. Glycerin acts as a humectant, attracting moisture. Potassium Cocoate is a surfactant, likely included to provide some cleansing ability and help rinse off the scrub. Fragrance Oil adds scent, and Optiphen is a preservative.

The percentages seem reasonable for a scrub formulation, creating a product that provides physical exfoliation along with nourishing oils.

Can Potassium Cocoate be removed or replaced?

Yes, you can remove Potassium Cocoate from the formula. Potassium Cocoate is a type of surfactant (สารลดแรงตึงผิว), which provides cleansing and foaming properties.

You mentioned wanting to avoid surfactants. If your goal is a scrub that only exfoliates and moisturizes without cleansing, then removing Potassium Cocoate is the correct approach.

Regarding replacements:

• Clarify-Wash (Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate) is also a strong surfactant. Replacing Potassium Cocoate with Clarify-Wash would still mean your formula contains a surfactant, which goes against your aim to avoid them.
• Sodium Lactate is a humectant and moisturizer, not a surfactant. Replacing Potassium Cocoate with Sodium Lactate would change the function of that ingredient in the formula from cleansing to moisturizing. This is possible if you want to increase the moisturizing effect and completely remove the cleansing aspect.

In summary, if you want to avoid surfactants, remove Potassium Cocoate and do not replace it with Clarify-Wash. You could replace it with Sodium Lactate or increase other moisturizing ingredients if desired, but understand this changes the product's function.

Can Aloe Vera Extract be added?

Yes, you can add Aloe Vera Extract to your formula. Aloe Vera Extract is known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties, which can be beneficial in a scrub to help calm the skin after exfoliation.

Adding Aloe Vera Extract at 1% is well within the recommended usage rate (typically 1-10%). At this concentration, it is unlikely to cause skin irritation; in fact, it is often used to reduce irritation.

Aloe Vera Extract is water-soluble. Since your current formula is primarily oil-based with solid exfoliants, adding a water-soluble ingredient like Aloe Vera Extract might require careful formulation to ensure stability and prevent separation. You might need to incorporate a small water phase and potentially an emulsifier, depending on the overall formula structure you are aiming for after removing the surfactant.