Shower Gel Formulation: Glycerin vs Shea Butter Water

Question

Hello!

If I make a shower soap with this formula, would it work?

[url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B6%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7/1107-sodium-lauroyl-glutamate.html:1rj4xq5b]Sulfate Free Shampoo Base (pH 7, Clear, Foaming)[/url:1rj4xq5b] - 20%
[url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4/737-shea-butter-water-soluble.html:1rj4xq5b]shea butter water[/url:1rj4xq5b] - 5%
[url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2/1001-ethylhexylglycerin-caprylyl-glycol.html:1rj4xq5b]Mild Preserved Eco™[/url:1rj4xq5b] ([url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B5/1001-ethylhexylglycerin-caprylyl-glycol.html:1rj4xq5b]Preservative-Free[/url:1rj4xq5b]) 1%
[url=https://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99-anti-static/7470-acrylamidopropyltrimonium-chloride-acrylamide-copolymer-.html:1rj4xq5b]PolyCat™ (Cationic Softening Polymer)[/url:1rj4xq5b] 0.1%
[url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/319-%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1:1rj4xq5b]Fragrance[/url:1rj4xq5b] 1%
[url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2/838-%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%8C.html:1rj4xq5b]น้ำกลั่น[/url:1rj4xq5b] ส่วนที่เหลือ

Can [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4/737-shea-butter-water-soluble.html:1rj4xq5b]shea butter water[/url:1rj4xq5b] replace [url=https://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/143-glycerin-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%99.html:1rj4xq5b]Glycerin[/url:1rj4xq5b] in a shower soap? Or is it better to include both?

Thank you very much.

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Hello!

Regarding the formula you inquired about, it is possible to make it, but here are some observations and recommendations:

Overall Formula:

This formula uses Sulfate Free Shampoo Base as the main base, which is suitable for making shower gel.
However, using only 20% of the base is quite low compared to typical shower gel formulas. This might result in a thin consistency, less foam, or lower cleaning efficacy than desired. It is recommended to check the suggested usage rate for this specific Sulfate Free Shampoo Base again.

Regarding Shea Butter Water and Glycerin:

Shea Butter Water (Water-Soluble Shea Butter): This is shea butter processed to be water-soluble. It typically provides skin conditioning properties and leaves a soft feel after use (emollient).
Glycerin: This is a humectant that helps draw water to the skin, preventing dryness after showering. It also contributes to the viscosity of the product and helps stabilize foam.

Answers to Your Questions:

Can Shea Butter Water replace Glycerin? Not entirely. They have different primary functions. Shea Butter Water focuses on conditioning and skin feel, while Glycerin focuses on humectant moisturizing and contributes to product texture/foam. Using only Shea Butter Water instead of Glycerin might result in less humectant moisturizing and could affect the viscosity and foam of the shower gel.
Is it better to include both? Yes, it is recommended to include both. Using both Shea Butter Water and Glycerin together will help complement each other's properties, resulting in a shower gel with both the skin-softening benefits from Shea Butter Water and good moisturizing properties from Glycerin.

In summary: This formula can be made, but the base concentration might be lower than usual. It is recommended to use both Shea Butter Water and Glycerin together in the formula for better moisturizing and skin conditioning results.