Understanding Your Night Gel Formulation

You've created a night gel with several beneficial ingredients, including Retinol, LipidSoft Lite, FloraSolve, Skin Defense, MSH White, Protect OX, Protect UV, 1,2 Hexanediol, and Satin Cream Maker. It's great that the formula initially performed well.

Why Did the Texture Change?

The change in texture from a gel to a more liquid or oil-like consistency over time suggests that the structure created by the Satin Cream Maker may have broken down. Satin Cream Maker is a heat-free emulsifier and thickener designed to create a gel or cream texture by suspending the oil phase within the water phase. The breakdown could be due to several factors, including:

• Incompatibility: Some ingredients in your specific combination might be affecting the long-term stability of the Satin Cream Maker.
• Mixing Process: Over-mixing or mixing at too high a speed (above 2500 rpm, as noted in the Satin Cream Maker description) can damage the polymer structure responsible for thickening.
• Storage Conditions: While Satin Cream Maker is relatively stable, extreme temperature fluctuations or exposure to moisture can potentially impact the formula over time.

Does Texture Affect Effectiveness?

Yes, the change in texture can potentially affect the effectiveness of your formula, especially for sensitive active ingredients like Retinol. Here's why:

• Stability: The breakdown of the gel structure might indicate that the overall formula environment is no longer optimal for the stability of Retinol, which is prone to degradation from factors like air and light, even with the inclusion of antioxidants like Protect OX and UV absorbers like Protect UV.
• Uniform Distribution: A stable gel or cream helps ensure that active ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the product. When the texture breaks down, the ingredients might not be uniformly dispersed, leading to inconsistent application and potentially reduced efficacy.

While the ingredients themselves are still present, their stability and ability to deliver the intended benefits might be compromised in a separated or significantly thinned formula.

How to Achieve a Stable Gel Texture in Future Formulations

To create a stable gel texture similar to your initial result, Satin Cream Maker is still a suitable option, as it is designed for this purpose and works without heat, accommodating your oil phase percentage. However, consider the following when formulating again:

• Review Mixing Technique: Ensure you are mixing the Satin Cream Maker into the water phase correctly and avoiding high-speed blending (keep it below 2500 rpm).
• Adjust Satin Cream Maker Concentration: You used 2%, which is within the recommended range (0.1-3.0%). You could try slightly increasing the concentration if you desire a thicker, potentially more stable gel, ensuring you stay within the maximum recommended usage rate.
• Ingredient Compatibility Check: While Satin Cream Maker is electrolyte resistant, review the compatibility of all ingredients in your formula. Sometimes, specific combinations can lead to long-term instability. Unfortunately, predicting all interactions can be complex.

Other cream makers like Soft Cream Maker or Silk Cream Maker exist, but they have different properties. Soft Cream Maker requires heat for emulsification, and Silk Cream Maker has a lower oil tolerance (up to 10%) than your current formula's oil phase (20%). Therefore, Satin Cream Maker remains the most appropriate choice for a heat-free gel with your oil content.

By carefully reviewing your mixing process and potentially slightly adjusting the Satin Cream Maker concentration, you can improve the chances of achieving a stable gel texture in your future night gel formulations.