• Formulating

  Has anyone worked with Hydrated Silica

  Posted by OliviaLeigh on January 27, 2023 at 11:52 am

  Hi everyone!

  Quick question - I want to use a natural silica in my heated oil stage to help lower the viscosity and add glide when applied in a moisturiser as well as any reducing any oily after feel. Ive tried hydrated microfine silica at around 0.5, 1 and 2% but Im pretty sure it clogs the odd pore in the skin giving a blocked pore that is hard and not easy to remove. Not good. Does anyone else have the same experience, are there better silicas out there that dont do this.

  Thanks  

  OliviaLeigh replied 1 year, 10 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies

  • silica-recommendations
• 4 Replies

• 

  chemicalmatt

  Member

  January 27, 2023 at 2:09 pm

  Silica (it is ALL natural, BTW, even when treated or fumed) will not lower viscosity in oil-based formulations, it will THICKEN them, so you may want to stop right there. However, if the goal is to add suspension (yield value) to your product intending to suspend another ingredient, then use silylated hydrated silica and lots of shear and heat to get it incorporated with your oils before adding any other component. Once accompished then reducing oily sensorial is a simple task: add light esters and/or rice powder to this and “feel the silk.” All this assumes you have no water phase involved, only oils.

• 

  OliviaLeigh

  Member

  January 28, 2023 at 9:53 am

  Thank you! I was a little unsure about the silica and whether I was using it properly … high shear may be the key … I want to use it in an O/W and already use rice starch which I do like … I reverted after being unsure of silica to using 1-2% arrowroot in the oil phase and 1-2% rice starch in the water phase… this was actually in a W/O formula I’ve been tirelessly working on, I have a lengthy discussion here on it… I will carry on but in no means will I be releasing it soon.. if at all! Maybe using silica in W/O was a problem too?? I do love it’s texture so far though … so, I divert! Yes, O/W I just want a high yet light oil/butter formula, nice and silky on application, hydrating with quick skin penetration (oils and butters have been carefully chosen) I use Coco-Caprylate-Caprate already, are there any other esters you’d recommend? Anything else I can add for the silky after feel? 

  Thanks ????

• 

  Graillotion

  Member

  January 28, 2023 at 10:11 am

  IMHO, Dicaprylyl carbonate leaves one of the best ‘after feels’ with zero oily/greasy feel.

• 

  OliviaLeigh

  Member

  January 28, 2023 at 7:28 pm

  Thank you so much ????????

Log In to Reply