Thickening a Facial Cleansing Gel with Surfactants
Question
I am formulating a facial cleansing gel with surfactants. I used HEC (Hydroxyethylcellulose) but it did not thicken effectively. What are suitable gelling agents for a clear facial cleansing gel containing surfactants, and how can I formulate it using the following ingredients?
- Lauryl Glucoside
- Coco Betaine
- Butylene Glycol
- Glycerin
- Salicylic Acid EZ
- Zinc PCA
- Phenoxyethanol
Answer
Hello,
Regarding your facial cleansing gel formulation, it's possible that HEC (Hydroxyethylcellulose) did not thicken effectively due to the presence of surfactants in your formula. For cleansing gels containing surfactants, certain gelling agents are more suitable.
Based on your ingredients, we recommend choosing one of the following gelling agents, which can help create a clear gel formula:
- SugarThick™ (PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate)
- ClearClean™
- Xanthan Gum (Clear Grade)
- EasyThick™
You can try a formula similar to this, adjusting the amount of the chosen gelling agent to achieve your desired viscosity:
- Lauryl Glucoside: 10%
- Coco Betaine: 10%
- Butylene Glycol: 10%
- Glycerin: 10%
- Salicylic Acid EZ: 5%
- Zinc PCA: 1%
- Phenoxyethanol: 1%
- Chosen Gelling Agent (from the list above): Adjust as needed
- Water: Remaining percentage
We hope this helps you create your facial cleansing gel!
Related Products Mentioned
Glycerin (USP/Food Grade)
Phenoxyethanol (Extra Pure)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Lauryl Glucoside
Zinc PCA
Butylene Glycol
