Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating HELP! Carbomer turns into a complete liquid.

  • HELP! Carbomer turns into a complete liquid.

    Posted by jyeramirez on October 1, 2021 at 1:22 pm

    I have been able to successfully formulate a gel serum in a 990ml beaker before. Until… today I tried to make it in a 4 liters container and it all went wrong.

    I normally just mix the main actives, adjust the PH 5.5 using citric acid, add preservative (liquid germall), add CARBOMER, leave overnight, then will be gel by tomorrow. It would normally work that way.
    Today, I went for a much bigger container (4L). The carbomer didn’t gel up. The only difference I made was use a sheer mixer since I was on a rush.
    I was told the following:
    1. I shouldn’t have used sheer mixer as it will break bonds of carbomer.
    2. I shouldn’t have used citric acid as it also break bonds.
    Here’s what I tried to save it:
    1. Added SODIUM CITRATE and SODIUM LACTATE thinking I mistakenly put too much citric acid that the PH dissolved CARBOMER.
    Here are some possible solutions I read from the internet:
    1. Use TEA, sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide to induce gelling of carbomer. However I’m not sure if this will work. Will it?
    2. I was told to add more carbomer, but I am afraid it will make the formulation very tacky.
    Any suggestion on how I can GEL IT UP again without being too tacky would so much be appreciated! Thank you very much!
    P.S. I am not a chemist. I pretty much like to imitate formulations on Youtube. 
    microformulation replied 2 years, 5 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies

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