Thickening Oil/Silicone Formula Without Forming a Gel
Question
How can I thicken a formula containing silicone and other oils to achieve a thickened liquid texture, not a full gel? What ingredients are suitable for achieving compatibility between silicone and oils, and what thickeners can provide the desired texture?
Answer
Based on your formula and the staff's advice, the key first step is to ensure your silicone and oil phases are compatible. As the staff mentioned, silicone and other oils don't mix directly. You will need to use an emulsifier like SiliSolve Plus or Silicone Blender to create a stable mixture before attempting to thicken it.
Once your formula is a stable, homogeneous mixture of silicone and oils, you can then add a thickener. You are looking to thicken the oil phase without creating a full gel texture.
There are two main options discussed:
Hectorite Gel™ (Cyclomethicone Base): This ingredient (available in High Viscosity and Medium Viscosity versions) is a silicone gelling agent. Its primary function is to create a gel texture in silicone-based formulas and is particularly effective at suspending pigments in makeup. While it will thicken, it is designed to form a gel, which may not be your desired outcome if you want a thickened oil liquid rather than a gel. It is more suitable if your formula is a makeup product containing powders or pigments that need to be suspended.
Oil Thick™ Soft: This product is designed to create an oily gel texture, but its description indicates that at lower usage rates (2-5%), it can create a thick liquid rather than a firm gel. It is compatible with oils and silicones and is suitable for cream formulations. This option seems more aligned with your goal of thickening the oil phase without necessarily turning it into a strong gel.
Considering your aim to thicken the oil phase without it becoming a full gel, Oil Thick™ Soft might be the more suitable choice. You can experiment with the usage rate, starting at the lower end (around 2-5%) to achieve a thickened liquid consistency. If your formula is a makeup product containing pigments, Hectorite Gel™ (Cyclomethicone Base) could still be considered for its pigment suspension properties, but be aware it will likely result in a more gel-like texture.
Remember to emulsify your silicone and oils first using SiliSolve Plus or Silicone Blender before adding the chosen thickener.
