Solidification and Precipitation in Facial Foam with High AminoWash Concentration

Question

I have a facial foam formulation containing AminoWash (Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate) at a high concentration of 20%. The product solidifies or precipitates out of the solution at room temperature, forming a cloudy layer at the bottom.

Heating the mixture worsened the separation, leading to more significant precipitation and solidification.

I successfully tested an alternative blend using:

MildWash 10%
CocoFoam 20%
BabyFoam 11%

Could you explain why the original formula with AminoWash 20% behaves this way and confirm if the alternative blend is a suitable solution?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Reason for Separation: The separation in your facial foam formula is likely caused by the high concentration (20%) of AminoWash (Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate). At this concentration, AminoWash appears to be solidifying or precipitating out of the solution at room temperature, forming the cloudy layer at the bottom. Heating the mixture worsened the separation because AminoWash, being an amino acid-based surfactant, can be sensitive to heat. High temperatures may have caused it to denature or lose solubility, leading to more significant precipitation and solidification. Recommendations: Reduce AminoWash Concentration: The most direct solution is to lower the concentration of AminoWash in your formula. The staff's findings suggest 20% is too high and causes solidification. You will need to test to find an optimal concentration that remains soluble and stable. Use an Alternative Surfactant Blend: Your successful test using a blend of MildWash, CocoFoam, and BabyFoam instead of AminoWash indicates that this combination provides better stability. Consider replacing AminoWash with a blend of surfactants that are compatible and remain soluble in your formula base. The percentages from your successful trial (MildWash 10%, CocoFoam 20%, BabyFoam 11%) could be a starting point for further testing. The key is to adjust the surfactant system to ensure all components remain soluble and stable within the formula at room temperature.