Review of Men's Facial Cleansing Gel Formulation with Exfoliation, Acne & Oil Control

Hello! Thank you for sharing your formulation for a men's facial cleansing gel with exfoliation. Based on your objectives and the ingredients you've listed, here is a review:

Your formulation includes ingredients that align well with your goals:

• Encapsulated Salicylic Acid (Liquid, Timed-Release): This ingredient is excellent for addressing objectives 4 (preventing acne and controlling oil). Salicylic acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) known for its ability to penetrate pores, exfoliate dead skin cells from within, and reduce inflammation, which helps with acne and oiliness. The encapsulated and timed-release form may offer gentler action and sustained effectiveness.
• Apple-Foam™ (Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acid): This is a mild, natural surfactant derived from apple amino acids. It provides cleansing action (objective 1). It is known for producing a soft, creamy lather rather than excessive foam, which fits your preference for less foam.
• WaterLock™ (Polyquaternium-51): This ingredient is a highly effective moisturizing agent (objective 3). It forms a protective, non-occlusive film on the skin's surface, helping to retain moisture and reduce the feeling of dryness or tightness after washing.
• Mild Preserved Eco™ (Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol): This is a broad-spectrum preservative blend necessary to prevent microbial growth in the water-based formulation, ensuring product safety and shelf life.
• Apricot Scrub (เม็ดสครับ แอพริคอท ขนาดกลาง): This provides the physical exfoliation you require (objective 2). Apricot kernel particles are a common natural exfoliant. However, for facial skin, especially for daily use or sensitive skin, apricot scrubs can sometimes be perceived as too harsh depending on the particle shape and size. While it fulfills the exfoliation requirement, you might consider testing the gentleness or exploring alternative, smoother physical exfoliants if irritation is a concern.
• SugarThick™ (PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate): This is a non-ionic thickener that will help create the gel consistency of your cleanser. It also aids in suspending the apricot scrub particles evenly throughout the product, which is important for consistent exfoliation.
• Distill water: The base of your water-based gel formulation.

Summary:

The combination of these ingredients appears well-suited to meet your objectives:

• Cleansing (Objective 1): Apple-Foam™ provides effective yet gentle cleansing with low foam.
• Exfoliation (Objective 2): Apricot Scrub offers physical exfoliation, complemented by the chemical exfoliation from Salicylic Acid. Consider the potential gentleness issue with apricot kernels for facial use.
• Non-drying (Objective 3): WaterLock™ is included specifically to combat dryness and leave the skin feeling comfortable after washing.
• Acne Prevention & Oil Control (Objective 4): Encapsulated Salicylic Acid is a key active ingredient for these purposes.
• Hand Mixable (Objective 5): The ingredients listed are generally compatible with hand mixing techniques suitable for a simple gel formulation.

Overall, this is a thoughtful formulation addressing your specific needs. Pay attention to the feel of the Apricot Scrub on the skin to ensure it meets your definition of "gentle exfoliation."