Recommended Foaming Agents and Usage for Foam Pump Liquid Soap
Question
What are the recommended foaming agents and their usage percentages for liquid soap formulations (body wash and face wash) intended for foam pumps, especially to achieve abundant foam? The original question mentioned Coco Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, and Coco Glucoside, which were found not to provide sufficient foam.
Answer
Recommended Foaming Agent Usage for Foam Pump Liquid Soap
For creating liquid soap suitable for a foam pump, especially for body wash and face wash, the foaming agents Cond-Foam (Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate) and Clarify-Wash (Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate) are generally more suitable than Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco Glucoside, or Lauryl Glucoside if you desire abundant foam.
Here are recommended starting percentages for formulations intended for foam pump bottles:
Using Cond-Foam (Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate)
Cond-Foam is known for its high gentleness and good foaming properties, making it suitable for both body and face wash.
- For Body Wash: Start with a concentration of 10-20%.
- For Face Wash: Use a lower concentration for increased gentleness, starting around 5-15%.
For optimal foaming and gentleness with Cond-Foam, ensure your final formula has a pH in the range of 5-6.
Using Clarify-Wash (Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate)
Clarify-Wash provides high cleaning efficiency and abundant foam. It is generally more suitable for body wash due to its stronger cleansing power.
- For Body Wash: A starting concentration of 10-15% is recommended.
Clarify-Wash can be irritating at high concentrations and has a high inherent pH. It is crucial to adjust the final formula's pH to the 5-6 range for better skin compatibility.
When formulating for a foam pump, the total surfactant concentration is typically lower than in standard liquid soaps to maintain the necessary low viscosity for the pump mechanism.
