Analysis and Suggestions for Your Natural Shampoo & Body Wash Formula

You are aiming to create a natural shampoo and body wash free from harsh chemicals, preservatives, and fragrances. You've encountered issues with low foam, dry skin, and tangled hair using your current formula:

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine-B 15%
• Sodium Coco Sulfate 2%
• Mild Preserved Eco 1%
• Almond Oil 2%
• Grapeseed Oil 2%
• Jojoba Oil 2%
• Glycerin 10%
• Honey 10%
• Essential Oil 1%
• Water 55%

While you desire a formula free from harsh chemicals, preservatives, and fragrances, your current formula includes Sodium Coco Sulfate (a sulfate surfactant), Mild Preserved Eco (a preservative blend), and Essential Oil (a fragrance).

Here's a breakdown of the potential causes for the issues you're facing:

• Low Foam: The high combined percentage of oils (6%), Glycerin (10%), and Honey (10%) is the most likely culprit. These ingredients can significantly suppress the foaming ability of surfactants.
• Dry Skin: Sodium Coco Sulfate, being a sulfate, can be drying for some individuals, even at 2%. The high oil/humectant load might also interfere with effective rinsing, leaving a residue that feels dry.
• Tangled Hair: The 6% total oil content is very likely causing hair tangling by coating the hair strands and increasing friction.

Regarding your question about Vitamin E and Mild Preserved Eco:

Mild Preserved Eco is a microbial preservative, essential for preventing bacterial and fungal growth in water-based formulas. Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) is an antioxidant that helps prevent oils from going rancid. You do not need Vitamin E for microbial preservation if using Mild Preserved Eco, but a small amount of Vitamin E can be added to help protect the oils in your formula from oxidation and extend their shelf life.

The staff's suggested formula offers a good alternative:

• Sulfate Free Shampoo Base 30%
• Mild Preserved Eco 1%
• Almond Oil 1%
• Grapeseed Oil 1%
• Jojoba Oil 1%
• Glycerin 10%
• Essential Oil 1%
• Water (to 100%)

This formula addresses some key issues by replacing Sodium Coco Sulfate with a gentler Sulfate Free Shampoo Base and significantly reducing the total oil content from 6% to 3%.

Suggestions for Improvement:

• Adopt the Sulfate-Free Base: Switching to a Sulfate Free Shampoo Base is recommended for a milder product that is less likely to cause dryness and should improve foam.
• Reduce Oil Content: The reduced oil content in the staff's suggestion (3%) should help with foam and tangling. If issues persist, consider reducing the total oil content further (e.g., to 1-2%).
• Adjust Humectant Levels: High levels of Glycerin and Honey can suppress foam. If foam is still insufficient with the staff's formula, a slight reduction in Glycerin might be beneficial.
• Omit Fragrance: If you want a truly fragrance-free product, omit the Essential Oil.
• Add a Conditioning Agent (Optional): To specifically address hair tangling, consider adding a natural conditioning ingredient suitable for rinse-off products at a low percentage.
• Check pH: Ensure the final product's pH is adjusted to be skin and hair friendly (typically 5.0-6.0).

By adjusting the surfactant system, reducing oil content, and considering humectant levels, you can create a more effective and pleasant natural shampoo and body wash that meets your goals.