Product Texture: Liquid and Sticky

1. Liquid Texture

Your tester product has a quite liquid texture, thicker than water but more liquid than a serum, and easily runs between fingers when pumped.

Answer: The liquid texture is unlikely caused by adding Water Lock™ alone. It is a result of the overall composition of your formula, particularly the Double Hyaluron Liquid base, which is already a liquid, and the addition of several active ingredients at high percentages. Many of these actives are water-soluble and some may be electrolytes, which can reduce the viscosity of polymer-based gelling agents like those used in hyaluronic acid or Pro Polymer gels. This combination likely contributes to the increased liquidity of the overall product.

2. Increasing Tester Thickness

You wish to make the tester product thicker and asked if adding Aloe Vera gel is possible, and if so, at what percentage.

Answer:

• Adding Aloe Vera gel: Yes, this can be done. Adding Aloe Vera gel (such as Aloe Vera Gel (Heavy)) can help increase viscosity because ready-made Aloe Vera gels often contain gelling agents like Pro Polymer™. The percentage to use depends on your desired thickness. You can add it gradually and mix until you achieve the preferred consistency.
• Alternative Thickening Options: If you want more precise control over viscosity, you can consider using powdered gelling agents directly, such as Pro Polymer™ or Xanthan Gum. These are common gelling agents used in serum or gel products. You should research the recommended usage rates for each ingredient (typically less than 5%) and the correct mixing method to achieve a clear and stable gel texture.

3. Sticky Texture

After applying the product, your skin feels sticky and you cannot massage your face like with the previous tester.

Answer: The sticky feeling on the skin is not caused by Water Lock™. Water Lock™ has properties that make the skin feel more slippery. The stickiness is a characteristic of gel textures containing Hyaluronic Acid, especially when used at high concentrations. It creates a slightly tacky film on the skin, similar to many general Hyaluronic Acid products. This feeling might be more noticeable for those with combination or oily skin, as previously mentioned.

If you dislike this sticky feeling, you might need to consider adjusting the base formula to use different moisturizing agents that provide a different skin feel, or reduce the total amount of ingredients that contribute to the sticky sensation in your formula.