Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate and PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate pairing.

  • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate and PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate pairing.

    Posted by Graillotion on June 20, 2025 at 12:15 am

    When I look at Lubrizol’s propaganda, they recommend pairing them together. Obviously, any good marketer recommends that you pair things that are sold within the same company.

    I have the PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate (HLB 15) on hand, but not the low HLB piece. Question is… is the Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate (HLB 6.6) anything magical that GMS could not do just as well, something that I do have on hand.

    I have an emulsion I am not completely happy with….and while digging around the lab the other day…. came across a sample of the product in a clear container that was formulated with the PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, from a couple of years ago. It looked fantastic. Since I have never had the Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate… I have to assume I used GMS on that version from a couple of years ago. (I think at the time….I did not pursue that emulsifier, since I did not have a small MOQ source….which now I do…Thai place.)

    As well….I turned UL Prospector upside down looking for a consistent or even suggested ratio. Literally there was NO consistency in the Lubrizol sample formulas…. all sample formulas looked as random as mommy bloggers gone wild. From 1 to 1 rations to 2 to 1 ratios. Logic would suggest that I use one-part high HLB to 2 parts low HLB….but could not find this trend in Lubrizol’s sample formulas.

    For maximum robustness….any suggested ratios would be appreciated.

    @ketchito @chemicalmatt

    Aloha.

    • This discussion was modified 10 hours, 2 minutes ago by  Graillotion.
    ketchito replied 1 hour, 42 minutes ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • ketchito

    Member
    June 20, 2025 at 8:36 am

    The fact they are paired together has to do with packing. That’s why PEG-100 stearate goes with Glyceryl stearate, or Ceteareth-20 goes with Cetearyl alcohol. They are like perfect marriages (as if Henry Cavil marries Amy Adams). You could use a different structuring agent, but it’s like being with a husband/wife which is not your perfect match. You could try with a 4:1 ratio structuring agent/emulsifier, and screen it up to 2:1. If you want to be more precise, you could calculate the crystal parameters of each molecule, but I believe a 3:1 would be a safe bet.

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