Thickener Recommendations for High-Salt, Herbal Extract-Containing Shower Gel

Based on your formula containing 3% NaCl, ALS, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and Pentacare, and the difficulty you've had with Easy Thick and Sugar Thick, it's likely that the high salt concentration and potentially components in your herbal extracts and Pentacare are interfering with the thickening performance.

Easy Thick and Sugar Thick (PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate) can be sensitive to electrolytes like NaCl, causing a loss of viscosity.

You need a thickener that is more robust and tolerant to electrolytes and other additives. Here are a few options that are known for better electrolyte tolerance:

• Sepimax Zen (Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6): This is explicitly described as a highly salt and pH tolerant thickener. It's easy to use; you simply sprinkle the powder into the water phase and blend to form a gel. The typical usage rate is 0.5-2%. This would be a strong candidate given your formula's high salt content.

• Carbomer 2020 or Carbomer U20 (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer): These Carbomer types are developed for electrolyte tolerance and are easy to disperse. They require neutralization with an alkali (like Triethanolamine or Sodium Hydroxide) to form a gel, typically at a pH of 6-7. The usage rate is 0.5-3%. While they tolerate electrolytes, you would need to ensure your final formula pH is in the effective range for these Carbomers after adding all ingredients, including the herbal extracts and Pentacare.

• ThickClean™ (Acrylates Copolymer, eq. Carbopol SF-1): This is designed for thickening surfactant systems like shampoos and liquid soaps and can help suspend beads. It works in a pH range of 4-6. The description mentions that adding salt can help thicken, but suggests not exceeding 2%. Your 3% NaCl might be higher than ideal for this specific thickener's optimal performance or clarity, but it could still be worth testing at lower concentrations.

Considering the high 3% NaCl concentration, Sepimax Zen is likely the most suitable option due to its high salt tolerance. If you prefer a Carbomer type and can adjust the pH to 6-7, Carbomer 2020 or U20 are also good alternatives.

It's recommended to perform small-scale tests with each potential thickener in your complete formula (including herbal extracts and Pentacare) to determine the optimal usage rate and ensure compatibility and desired viscosity.