Stretchy Gel Formulation and Comparison of Polyox vs Snail Resin

To create a cloudy, stretchy gel similar to the one pictured, you can use a combination of a gel-forming agent and an ingredient that provides elasticity like Snail Resin. The cloudiness might require additional ingredients not covered here.

Here is a basic formula for a stretchy gel:

• Water: ~94%
• Gel Maker (e.g., Pro Polymer): 1%
• Snail Resin (PEG-90M or PEG-160M): 4%
• Preservative: ~1%

Procedure:

1. Heat the water to around 80°C.
2. Slowly add the Gel Maker and Snail Resin to the heated water while stirring until fully dissolved and a gel forms.
3. Once cooled, add the preservative and mix well.

Note: If your formula contains glycols (like Propylene Glycol or Butylene Glycol), it might be easier to dissolve Snail Resin by heating it with the glycol component first at 70-80°C before adding to water.

Polyox vs Snail Resin

Both Polyox and Snail Resin are types of polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylene oxide with different molecular weights, which gives them different properties and uses.

• Polyox (represented by products like Polyglide, which is PEG-14M) generally refers to polyethylene oxides. Lower molecular weight grades like PEG-14M are often used to provide a smooth, slippery feel, reduce friction (e.g., in shaving products), and can help increase fluidity and foam in products like shampoos.
• Snail Resin (available in PEG-90M and PEG-160M grades) is specifically designed to impart a pronounced "snail-like" stretch and add smoothness to formulations. The higher molecular weight of PEG-90M and especially PEG-160M compared to PEG-14M is what gives it this distinct elasticity and stretchiness.

In summary, while both are related polymers, Snail Resin uses higher molecular weight grades of PEG to achieve the specific stretchy, elastic texture you are looking for, whereas lower molecular weight PEGs like Polyglide are used more for general slip and smoothness.