Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Butylene Glycol, dicaprylyl carbonate and silica

  • Butylene Glycol, dicaprylyl carbonate and silica

    Posted by Dtdang on September 10, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    Anyone has experiences on Butylene Glycol, dicaprylyl carbonate and silica for facial cream formulation? 
    My search told me:
    Butylene glycol for decreasing viscosity.
    dicaprylyl carbonate and silica: reducing grease and helping enhances the absorption of other ingredients.

    Thank you so much for all inputs.

    Dtdang replied 5 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    September 10, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    I worked with butylene glycol and I haven’t noticed it decreasing viscosity. It’s good and not expensive humectant. It is a glycol and decreases water activity which an additional benefit. I also find it less tacky than glycerin, so it is my humectant of choice for many o/w formulas.
    If you want something for decreasing viscosity (for formulas with polymeric emulsifiers) go for humectants that are high in electrolytes such as sodium PCA (it’s a viscosity killer). But my problem is usually how not to decrease viscosity.
    Silica.. it’s quite multipurpose. You can use it in a formula for oily skin indeed. Have a look at clinique’s pep start moisturiser so see silica used for oil absorption. I mostly use it in foundations and concealers though.
    I haven’t worked with dicaprylyl carbonate.

  • Dtdang

    Member
    September 10, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    Thanks a lot @ngarayeva001

  • Dtdang

    Member
    September 23, 2019 at 3:26 am

    @ngarayeva001, would you please help me? I could not find silica and dicaprylyl carbonate in order to buy. Silica is INCI name?

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    September 23, 2019 at 7:57 pm

    Here you go: https://www.makingcosmetics.com/Silica_p_1061.html
    I cannot find dicaprylyl carbonate, but I understand it’s an emollient with a dry feel. You can replace it with any ester with a dry feel, such as Isopropyl Mirystate.

  • Dtdang

    Member
    September 23, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    @ngarayeva001 thank you.
    can I substitute it with hemisqualane C13-C15 from Centerchem?

  • Dtdang

    Member
    September 23, 2019 at 10:39 pm

    C13-C15 alkane 

Log in to reply.

Chemists Corner