Shampoo Formulation Review for Mildness

You're looking to create a shampoo that is gentler than commercial options while still providing effective cleansing. Let's review your proposed formula and discuss potential adjustments.

Your current formula includes:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) 10%: This is a primary anionic surfactant that provides good cleaning and foam. While milder than SLS, it can still be irritating at higher concentrations.
• Lauryl Glucoside 5%: A mild, non-ionic co-surfactant derived from natural sources. It helps boost foam and improve the mildness of the formula.
• Coco Betaine 5%: An amphoteric co-surfactant that reduces irritation from anionic surfactants and improves foam quality.
• Lanolin 2.5%: An emollient and conditioner that helps moisturize hair and scalp.
• Sugar Thick (PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate) 3%: An effective thickener for surfactant systems that can also help reduce irritation from sulfates.
• Water: The base of the formula.

This combination of surfactants is a common approach to balance cleansing with mildness. The inclusion of Lauryl Glucoside and Coco Betaine helps make the formula gentler than one using SLES alone.

Suggestions for a Gentler Formula

To achieve significantly higher mildness, especially if targeting sensitive scalps, you could consider:

1. Reducing SLES Concentration: Lowering the percentage of Sodium Laureth Sulfate (e.g., to 5-8%) would decrease its potential for irritation. You might need to slightly increase the co-surfactants (Lauryl Glucoside, Coco Betaine) to maintain cleansing performance and foam, though this requires testing to find the right balance.
2. Using a Sulfate-Free Surfactant System: As the staff suggested, using a Sulfate Free Shampoo Base is an excellent way to ensure high mildness. These bases typically use very gentle surfactants like amino acid derivatives such as Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate or Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Taurate. Using such a base simplifies formulation and provides inherent mildness.

Lanolin vs. Silicones

Lanolin is a good natural emollient and conditioner. If you are concerned about silicones causing build-up on the scalp, you could consider using water-soluble silicones as alternatives. Examples include PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone or PEG-17 Dimethicone (like FoamTex™). These provide conditioning benefits and slip but are designed to rinse away more easily than traditional non-water-soluble silicones like Dimethicone, thus reducing the likelihood of build-up.

Recommendation

Your current formula is a good starting point for a milder shampoo. Adjusting the SLES level and co-surfactant ratios can further enhance mildness. However, for maximum gentleness and a sulfate-free product, exploring a Sulfate Free Shampoo Base containing mild surfactants like Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate, or Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Taurate, as suggested by the staff, is highly recommended. If you prefer a silicone conditioner that is less likely to build up, consider water-soluble options like PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone or PEG-17 Dimethicone.

Experimentation with different concentrations and combinations is key to finding the perfect balance of mildness and cleansing for your specific needs.