Formulation 1: Kaffir Lime Shampoo Review

Your goal is a gentle shampoo with not too much foam. Let's look at the ingredients:

1. น้ำมะกรูด (Kaffir Lime Juice) 81.4%: This is a very high percentage of a natural ingredient. Kaffir lime juice is acidic and contains natural compounds. While it's the key ingredient for the "มะกรูด" aspect, using such a high percentage can significantly impact the formulation's stability, pH, and preservation challenge. It will likely result in a low pH product.
2. Plantacare 1200 UP 8%: This is an Alkyl polyglucoside (Lauryl Glucoside). It's a non-ionic surfactant known for being very mild and producing stable foam. It's often used in gentle formulations.
3. Amphitol AB 55 3%: This is Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It's an amphoteric surfactant commonly used as a co-surfactant to boost foam, improve viscosity, and reduce irritation caused by anionic surfactants. It contributes to mildness.
4. Aminon C-02S 3%: This is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate. It's considered mild, produces a creamy foam, and is often used in sulfate-free formulations.

The combination of Plantacare 1200 UP, Amphitol AB 55, and Aminon C-02S is a good choice for a gentle, sulfate-free system. Compared to traditional sulfate-based shampoos, this combination should provide milder cleansing and potentially less voluminous foam, aligning with your goal.

5. Polyquaternium-10 1.5%: This is a cationic polymer used as a conditioning agent in shampoos. It helps to reduce tangles, improve wet and dry combability, and can also help stabilize foam.
6. Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile Extract) 3%: Chamomile extract is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for the scalp.
7. สารกันเสีย (Preservative) (Brodox L) 0.1%: A preservative is absolutely essential for any water-based product, especially one containing natural ingredients like Kaffir Lime juice and botanical extracts, to prevent microbial growth. Brodox L is a specific preservative blend. You need to ensure that Brodox L is effective in the pH range of your final formulation (which will be quite low due to the Kaffir Lime juice) and that the concentration of 0.1% is sufficient according to the supplier's recommendations for your specific formula composition and desired shelf life. Always check the preservative's specifications regarding effective pH range and recommended usage level.

Overall Assessment of Formulation 1:

The choice of surfactants is good for a gentle, lower-foam shampoo. The conditioning agent and extract add beneficial properties. The main challenge is the very high percentage of Kaffir Lime juice, which will significantly affect pH and stability and requires careful preservation. The formula seems viable in terms of ingredient types for a gentle shampoo, but stability over time with such a high natural juice content would need thorough testing.

Mixing Instructions for Formulation 1:

Mixing a shampoo typically involves hydrating polymers, mixing surfactants, adding other water-soluble ingredients, adjusting pH, and finally adding heat-sensitive ingredients like preservatives and fragrances/extracts. Given your formula:

1. Prepare the Kaffir Lime Juice: Ensure your Kaffir Lime juice is fresh and filtered.
2. Hydrate Polyquaternium-10: Disperse the Polyquaternium-10 in a small amount of water (or a portion of the Kaffir Lime juice if compatible and stable) and let it hydrate fully. This usually takes time and possibly gentle heating. Follow the supplier's instructions for hydrating Polyquaternium-10.
3. Combine Surfactants: In your main mixing vessel, combine the Plantacare 1200 UP, Amphitol AB 55, and Aminon C-02S. Mix gently to avoid excessive foaming.
4. Add Kaffir Lime Juice & Hydrated Polymer: Slowly add the bulk of the Kaffir Lime juice to the surfactant mixture while stirring gently. Then, add the hydrated Polyquaternium-10 solution and mix until uniform.
5. Add Chamomile Extract: Add the Anthemis Nobilis extract and mix.
6. Check and Adjust pH: Measure the pH of the mixture. Kaffir Lime juice is acidic, so the pH will likely be low. While some surfactants perform better at certain pH ranges, and Polyquaternium-10's deposition is pH-dependent, the natural pH from the juice might be acceptable or require slight adjustment depending on ingredient compatibility and desired performance. Crucially, ensure your preservative (Brodox L) is effective at this pH.
7. Add Preservative: Add the Brodox L preservative and mix thoroughly. Ensure it is fully dispersed.
8. Final Check: Check the appearance and viscosity. Adjust viscosity if needed (often done with salt or polymers, but your formula is already quite full).
9. Packaging: Package the shampoo.

• Important Considerations:*
• Always weigh ingredients accurately.
• Mix gently to avoid incorporating too much air, which can cause foam and stability issues.
• Ensure all ingredients are compatible with each other and the pH of the formulation.
• Perform stability testing (e.g., heat/cold cycles) on your final product to ensure it remains stable over time.

Formulation 2: Baby Shampoo/Liquid Soap Review

You are using a base, distilled water, and preservative. You want to know if you can add chamomile fragrance and how much.

Yes, you can definitely add a fragrance like chamomile to a shampoo/liquid soap base. Fragrances are commonly used in these products to provide a pleasant scent.

How much fragrance to add:

The amount of fragrance to add depends on the strength of the specific fragrance oil you are using and the desired intensity of the scent. A typical starting point for fragrance in rinse-off products like shampoo or liquid soap is often between 0.1% to 1% of the total formulation.

• Start with a low percentage (e.g., 0.2% - 0.5%), mix it in, and check the scent.
• You can gradually add more, mixing well each time, until you reach the desired fragrance level.
• Do not exceed the maximum recommended usage rate provided by your fragrance supplier, as using too much can cause skin irritation or affect the product's stability.

To add the fragrance, simply mix it into your base, water, and preservative mixture after everything else is combined and the temperature is below the flash point of the fragrance (usually add it towards the end of the mixing process).