Hand Cream Thickening Options

To achieve a thicker hand cream texture and prevent it from being too liquid when dispensed from a tube, you have a few options based on your current formula and other available ingredients:

1. Increase Rich Cream Maker and/or Beeswax:

   • You can increase the percentage of Rich Cream Maker in your formula. While you are currently using 2.5%, increasing it to 3.5-4.0% or even up to 5-7% is generally considered safe for the skin. However, using higher amounts might result in a slightly sticky feeling on the skin.
   • You can also increase the percentage of Natural White Beeswax. Beeswax acts as a thickener and also provides emollient properties, helping to nourish the skin.
   • Experiment with increasing one or both of these ingredients gradually to find the consistency you prefer.

2. Incorporate Polymer Thickeners:

   • Consider adding polymer-based thickeners to your formula. These can help increase viscosity and provide different textural properties.
   • Pro Polymer is a gel-forming polymer that can create a thick, even pudding-like texture at higher concentrations (above 3%). It is mixed into the water phase.
   • Pro Polymer Silk is another polymer option that not only thickens but also provides a soft and smooth (silky) feel to the skin. It is also mixed into the water phase and requires blending to form a gel. Note that Pro Polymer Silk is positively charged and may not be compatible with negatively charged ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid.

Experimenting with small batches using these suggestions will help you find the right balance of thickness and skin feel for your hand cream.