• Formulating

  Body wash surfactants

  Posted by belassi on February 7, 2015 at 6:22 pm

  As I’ve commented before when discussing my change from the sodium to ammonium radical for a body wash, I found I had to use much higher concentrations of SLS/SLES than ALS/ALES to achieve the same foaming abilities. What really interests me was that I found I had to use a minimum of 40% of the sodium products. My results seem to be borne out by the body wash formulae found HERE. Note the percentages of surfactants required:

  Starting Formulation 6: Clear Conditioning Shower Gel for Hair and Body: 29% but uses DECYL GLUCOSIDE mainly.

  Starting Formulation 7: Mild, Conditioning Body Wash: 39% MAINLY SLES

  Starting Formulation 8: Value Brand Body Wash: 48% MAINLY SLS

  Starting Formulation 9: Clear, Conditioning Body Wash: 39% MAINLY SLES

  Starting Formulation 10: Transparent, Clear Conditioning Body Wash: 50% MAINLY SLS

  - The above courtesy of Dow Chemicals.

  My reformulated body wash uses only 30% surfactants and I could probably get away with less, but I wanted a product with terrific foam. Really, these formulations tend to confirm my belief that SLS / SLES are probably not as good for foam as ALS/ALES. I suspect they are mainly used because they are the cheapest.

  
  

  OldPerry replied 9 years, 2 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  OldPerry

  Member

  February 7, 2015 at 9:15 pm

  When I was formulating the best foaming product was always Pantene which is based on SLS/SLES.  So, while there might be some differences it’s pretty clear that at least some cosmetic formulators can make an excellent foam with SLS/SLES.

  Also, SLS and ALS were the same price so it wasn’t a pricing issue (at our company anyway).

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