Troubleshooting Sticky/Thick Texture in Skincare Formula

The sticky, thick, and heavy texture of your formula can be caused by several factors, primarily related to the ingredients and their proportions.

Potential Causes:

1. High amount of gelling agents/thickeners: Your formula contains Xanthan Gum and Pectin (part of Complex Salicylic Acid). These ingredients create gel structure and increase viscosity. Using them at too high a concentration or with incomplete dispersion/hydration can result in a thick, sticky, and potentially stringy texture.
2. High amount of water-soluble ingredients: Many active ingredients in your formula, such as Niacinamide (8%), Acetyl Glucosamine (4%), Tranexamic Acid (3%), Alpha Arbutin (2%), are highly water-soluble and act as humectants. These can make the product feel sticky, especially in humid conditions. Combined with Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Dimethyl Isosorbide (solvents/carriers/humectants), the total percentage of these ingredients is quite high, contributing to stickiness.
3. Incomplete mixing: Even when following a kit's instructions, minor errors like insufficient mixing, incorrect ingredient addition order, or inappropriate temperatures can affect the final texture.

How to Fix:

Adjusting the texture of a finished product is challenging. However, the most practical method to reduce stickiness and thickness is Dilution.

• Method: Gradually add "Sterile Distilled Water" (ingredient #12) to your finished product, a little at a time (e.g., 1-2% at a time). Mix thoroughly after each addition. Observe the texture; if it's still too thick or sticky, continue adding small amounts of water and mixing until you achieve the desired consistency.
• Caution: Diluting with water will reduce the concentration of all active ingredients proportionally, which may affect the product's intended efficacy.

Additionally, I recommend reviewing the mixing steps you followed from the kit to ensure no steps were missed or measurements were incorrect.