• Formulating

  Hand cream turned out grainy

  Posted by debbie890 on October 2, 2025 at 4:45 am

  Hi fellow chemists! I made a hand cream formula that feels nice when applied, but it doesn’t look right there are very tiny grains dispersed all over it, even tho i heated both the water and oil phases to 70 degrees before mixing them together with a manual mixer that is relatively fast.

  The formula is as follows:

  Water phase

  Aqua 80.63%

  Sodium lactate 2%

  Xanthan gum 0.8%

  Oil phase

  Beeswax 2%

  Jojoba oil 2%

  Caprylic/capric triglyceride 4%

  Shea butter 1%

  GMS SE 1.15%

  Cetearyl alcohol 1.1%

  BHT 0.07%

  Cool down phase

  Phenoxyethanol + EHG 1%

  Fragrance 0.25%

  What may have went wrong?

  

  ketchito replied 6 hours ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  ketchito

  Member

  October 2, 2025 at 7:11 am

  It might be the case that your mixer doesn’t provide enough shear, that 70°C is not enough tempetrature and that it cools fast (fastern than required to allow for proper micelles formation), that the mixing time is too little, or that the amount of emulsifier you’re using is not enough.

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