Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating What’s causing this serum to be sticky/tacky?

  • What’s causing this serum to be sticky/tacky?

    Posted by DeedeeUkulele on March 4, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    The serum is very spreadable; a little goes a long way. It takes a while to dry down but when it does, it leaves a sticky finish. If I keep patting my face, the stickiness turns tacky and eventually fades to this dry, film-like sensation. Also, the same tackiness stays on my hands until I wash it off. 

    Water
    10% Dimethyl isosorbide
    6% Niacinamide
    5% tranexamic acid
    4% n-acetyl glucosamine
    3% Polysorbate 80
    2% propylene glycol
    1% Jeecide CAP-5
    0.75% Aristoflex AVC
    0.50% Saliguard EHGP
    0.50% allantoin 
    0.50% alpha lipoic acid (from a capsule, to fill in for an ingredient I don’t currently have) 
    0.25% xanthan gum
    0.25% caprylic/Capric triglycerides
    0.10% disodium EDTA 
    0.02% citric acid

    DeedeeUkulele replied 4 years ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • DeedeeUkulele

    Member
    March 5, 2020 at 4:13 am

    I forgot to mention the Polysorbate 80 is a solvent for tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane (the ingredient I don’t currently have) @ 1:4. The manufacturer claims it’s partially soluble in Dimethyl isosorbide but since I can’t try it out yet, I’m using Polysorbate 80 for now. 

  • bil7

    Member
    March 5, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    Polysorbate 80 will also deactivate propylene glycol ince i readed.
    And the problem to stickness increase capric and  caprylic triglyceride may sort out problem trade name liponate gc .
    Also can be added little peg 75 . Which will dry and make a smooth finish film on the skin and dnt tacky to hands

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    March 5, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    You have too many active ingredients at very high concentrations. Select two main ingredients and add everything else at a very low %

  • DeedeeUkulele

    Member
    March 7, 2020 at 12:35 am

    bil7 said:

    Polysorbate 80 will also deactivate propylene glycol ince i readed.
    And the problem to stickness increase capric and  caprylic triglyceride may sort out problem trade name liponate gc .
    Also can be added little peg 75 . Which will dry and make a smooth finish film on the skin and dnt tacky to hands

    Thanks. I don’t have access to PEG 75 but will try adding some silicones. 

  • DeedeeUkulele

    Member
    March 7, 2020 at 12:40 am

    You have too many active ingredients at very high concentrations. Select two main ingredients and add everything else at a very low %

    I’d really like to keep the TXA, niacinamide, and NAG combo since they’re found to work synergistically with one another. I did go for the maximum effective %, however. I’ll try lowering the % and see if it makes a difference. Thanks. 

  • czkld

    Member
    March 11, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    Hi! Why would you include 4% NAG? I’ve only seen 2% used in clinical studies, so I would think that it would be enough. Adding more is probably just a waste of money (I think)..

  • DeedeeUkulele

    Member
    March 16, 2020 at 2:38 am

    You’re right about 2% NAG. I made this for myself and I don’t mind going for higher percentages in small batches. Can’t hurt haha. I’ll be using a 4% Niacinamide+2% NAG combo for selling.

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