Using PVP-K90 for a Face Mask

You have PVP-K90 and want to use it for a peel-off face mask, avoiding Ethyl Alcohol and needing a substitute for Polyvinyl Alcohol, which is not available.

Based on the product information and previous discussion:

• PVP-K90 can function as a thickener and film former in face mask products. The product description indicates a usage rate for dissolving in water up to 20%. The staff previously suggested a formula using 6% PVP-K90.
• However, using PVP-K90 alone or with simple thickeners may result in a very thin film that peels off in small pieces, unlike the thicker, more flexible peel-off masks popular today.
• The previous formula provided by the staff included Polyvinyl Alcohol, which is a key film-forming polymer for peel-off masks and is not available on MySkinRecipes. It also included Ethyl Alcohol, which you wish to avoid.

Given these factors, creating a modern, thick peel-off mask texture using only PVP-K90 and other readily available ingredients (excluding Polyvinyl Alcohol and Ethyl Alcohol) from MySkinRecipes is challenging.

Alternative Options for Peel-Off Masks

MySkinRecipes offers ready-made mask bases specifically designed to create a good peel-off mask texture. These bases already contain the necessary film-forming ingredients and are easier to use:

• Peel-Off Mask Base (Opaque White, Fast Setting): A powder base that mixes with water to form a thick, opaque mask that sets quickly.
• Peel-Off Mask Base (Opaque White, Slow Setting): Similar to the fast-setting version but with a longer setting time.
• ClearFlexPeel Film™ (Peelable Skin Mask, Active Delivery, Transparent): A liquid base that forms a transparent, flexible film. It can incorporate up to 10% water or water-soluble ingredients.

These bases are formulated to provide the desired peel-off properties without needing Polyvinyl Alcohol or Ethyl Alcohol, and they allow you to easily add other beneficial active ingredients.

If you still wish to experiment with PVP-K90 despite the potential texture limitations, you could try using it as a film former at a concentration within its solubility limit (up to 20%), potentially combined with a simple water-soluble thickener like Potassium Alginate to improve viscosity, though this combination may not yield a cohesive peel-off film.