Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Common usage rate and upper limit of SLS/SLES in emulsion for stability

  • Common usage rate and upper limit of SLS/SLES in emulsion for stability

    Posted by Abdullah on November 16, 2021 at 1:32 am

    What is the common usage rate and upper limit of SLS and SLES in an emulsion to help stability that doesn’t cause negative skin effects?

    Abdullah replied 3 years ago 4 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Pharma

    Member
    November 16, 2021 at 5:30 am

    Depends on your formulation.

  • Abdullah

    Member
    November 16, 2021 at 5:54 am

    Pharma said:

    Depends on your formulation.

    Yes i know 5% of total emulsifier. But is there any upper limit for these two surfactants because of irritation or they are safe like other anionic surfactants in leave on Products?

  • ketchito

    Member
    November 16, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    @Abdullah SLES/SLS have shorter alkyl chain lenght and lower ethoxylation, compared to common anionic emulsifiers used in emulsions (that’s why they are used more as detergents, not to mention the amount of foam they’ll cause during the emulsion process). Chances are your SLES/SLS would reside more in the water phase of your emulsion, and won’t do much to stabilize it. If you want to use an anionic surfactant to stabilize your emulsion, there are few to choose from, which are more common in those type of systems. 

  • Abdullah

    Member
    November 16, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    ketchito said:

    @Abdullah SLES/SLS have shorter alkyl chain lenght and lower ethoxylation, compared to common anionic emulsifiers used in emulsions (that’s why they are used more as detergents, not to mention the amount of foam they’ll cause during the emulsion process). Chances are your SLES/SLS would reside more in the water phase of your emulsion, and won’t do much to stabilize it. If you want to use an anionic surfactant to stabilize your emulsion, there are few to choose from, which are more common in those type of systems. 

    I know two other anionic surfactants, SSL and GMS citrate but these two doesn’t work well in pH 4. Do you know any anionic surfactant that works well at pH 4 for emulsion stabilization?

  • zetein

    Member
    November 17, 2021 at 12:12 am
    Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is very common.
    Alkyl phosphate or acyl methyltaurate is common too.
  • Abdullah

    Member
    November 17, 2021 at 1:17 am

    zetein said:

    Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is very common.
    Alkyl phosphate or acyl methyltaurate is common too.

    Thanks

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