Thickening a Homemade Cream Scrub
Question
I am making a cream scrub by adding coffee grounds, sugar, coconut oil, and shea butter to a pre-made cream base. This addition caused the cream base to become too thin. I also tried using Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum but found the texture too sticky. How can I thicken this cream scrub, and what are some alternative thickeners that provide a non-sticky texture, besides Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum? I was recommended Light Cream Maker™; how does it work and what are other options?
Answer
Guidance on Thickeners for Cream Scrubs
I understand you're looking to thicken your homemade scrub because adding coffee grounds, sugar, coconut oil, and shea butter to a pre-made cream base made it too thin. You also disliked the sticky texture from Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum.
Regarding Light Cream Maker™ which the staff recommended, it is an oil-in-water emulsifier and thickener that works without heat. You can simply add it to your cream base and stir or blend it in. The staff recommended starting at 1.5-2%, but you can increase up to 3% if you need more thickness. It provides a light, smooth texture that is easily absorbed and not gooey.
In addition to Light Cream Maker™, there are other thickeners that offer different textures compared to gums and might be suitable for your cream scrub:
- CreamThick™ (Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate): This is a thickener for the water phase. It's easy to use, requires no heat, and is resistant to electrolytes (which is good with sugar). It provides a soft, smooth skin feel and is not sticky like some other thickeners. It creates an opaque white gel texture. Use at 0.5-5%.
- Sepimax Zen: This is a thickener highly tolerant to salt and pH. It's easy to use by sprinkling the powder into the liquid phase and blending to create a gel. Use at 0.5-2%.
- CreamMaker EG™: This acts as both a thickener and a stabilizer, improving texture to create supple gels. It's easy to use with a cold process and can be added to either the water or oil phase. It gives a light, soft feel and is not sticky. Use at 1-3%.
- ClayThick™ (Magnesium Aluminum Silicate): This thickens and provides structure for formula stability. It gives a good, non-sticky texture and helps absorb oil. However, it requires a high-speed blender (Disperser or Homogenizer) to disperse in water and takes 48 hours to reach full thickness. Use at 0.5-2%.
The best choice of thickener depends on your desired final texture and ease of mixing. Keep in mind that adding oils and solid particles like coffee grounds and sugar will thin the original cream base, so you might need a slightly higher percentage of thickener than you would in a simple cream.
