Simple Sleeping Mask Formulation (No Blender)

To create a gel or gel-cream texture without a high-speed blender that can incorporate both water and oil-soluble ingredients, you can use an easy-to-disperse gelling agent like Aristoflex AVC.

Aristoflex AVC is a powder that can be added directly to the water phase and mixed to form a gel. It can also help stabilize a small amount of oil (around 15-20%) within the gel structure, making it suitable for incorporating ingredients like Squalane.

Incorporating Your Desired Ingredients

• Squalane (Olive): This is an oil and can be easily mixed into the formula after the gel base is formed. Since Aristoflex AVC can handle some oil, you can add Squalane directly to your thickened water phase and mix gently until dispersed.
• Ceramide Complex (Water/Oil Dispersible Powder): This Ceramide powder can be dispersed in either water or oil. For a simple method, you can disperse it in a small amount of a suitable oil (like Squalane itself, or another oil in your formula) or a glycol (like Propylene Glycol or Butylene Glycol). The description mentions needing to warm this mixture to 70-80°C while mixing to ensure proper dispersion before adding it to your main gel base. While this requires some heating, it avoids the need for a high-speed blender for the final product.
• Cholesterol (95%, NF, Fine Powder): This ingredient has a very high melting point (150°C). Dissolving it properly requires heating it with a heat-resistant oil to temperatures above 150°C before incorporating it into the rest of the formula. This high-temperature step might be challenging without specific lab equipment and may not be suitable for a truly "simple, no-heat" method. If you can manage this heating step safely, you would dissolve the Cholesterol in a small amount of oil first, let it cool slightly (but still above 80°C), and then carefully incorporate it into your main gel base. Due to this difficulty, you might consider if this specific form of Cholesterol is feasible for your simple home method.

General Steps for a Simple Gel-Cream

1. Prepare your water phase ingredients (water, humectants, water-soluble actives).
2. Slowly add Aristoflex AVC powder to the water phase while stirring gently but continuously until the gel forms and is smooth. Avoid adding too quickly to prevent clumps.
3. In a separate small container, disperse the Ceramide Complex (Water/Oil Dispersible Powder) in a small amount of oil (like Squalane) or glycol. Gently heat this mixture to 70-80°C and mix until it becomes a homogeneous, opaque liquid. Let it cool slightly.
4. Add the Squalane (the remaining amount not used for dispersing Ceramide) to the main gel base and mix gently until dispersed.
5. Slowly add the dispersed Ceramide mixture (from step 3) to the main gel base while mixing gently until fully incorporated.
6. If you are able to handle the high-temperature step for Cholesterol, prepare it separately by dissolving it in a heat-resistant oil above 150°C, let it cool to around 80°C, and then carefully add it to your main gel base while mixing.
7. Add any other desired ingredients (preservatives, fragrance, etc.) and mix gently.

• Note: This method relies on gentle mixing, so the final texture might be slightly less smooth or uniform compared to formulations made with high-shear blending, especially if incorporating ingredients that require dispersion like the Ceramide powder.*

Copper Complex (Quick Call) and Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)

Regarding your question about Copper Complex (such as in Quick Call) and Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), you are correct that it is generally not recommended to use them together at the same time.

L-Ascorbic Acid is most stable and effective at a low pH (acidic), while Copper Peptides (the active part of many Copper Complex products) function best at a higher, more neutral pH. Mixing them can cause both ingredients to degrade and lose their effectiveness.

Recommendation: To use both ingredients in your routine, apply them at different times of the day. For example, use your Vitamin C serum in the morning and your Copper Complex product in the evening. If you must use them in the same routine, apply one product and wait at least 20-30 minutes before applying the other. This allows the first product to be absorbed and the skin's pH to return closer to its normal level.

I hope this helps you in formulating your sleeping mask!