Using Hydrosol with Pro Polymer for Gel Mask

Yes, you can use hydrosol instead of distilled water when making a gel mask with Pro Polymer. Hydrosol is primarily water, so it can serve as the water phase in your formulation.

To create the gel texture, you should add the Pro Polymer powder directly to the hydrosol and mix according to the instructions for Pro Polymer. Pro Polymer is designed to be mixed into the water phase to form the gel.

Keep in mind that some hydrosols might contain small amounts of minerals or other compounds from the plant, which could potentially act as electrolytes. Pro Polymer has good electrolyte resistance, but if you notice the gel is softer than expected, you might need to use a slightly higher concentration of Pro Polymer. If you are adding other ingredients that are known electrolytes, it is recommended to form the gel with the hydrosol and Pro Polymer first, and then add the electrolyte-containing ingredients afterwards, observing the texture.

There is also Pro Polymer Silk, which provides a softer, silkier feel but has less electrolyte resistance and requires blending to form a gel, unlike the standard Pro Polymer which can gel with stirring.