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how to prevent cream from emulsifying on the skin
Hi there,
me again.
My cream/lotions turn white when i rub it onto my skin. if i am not wrong, this is because the cream is emulsifying/foaming on my skin yes?
How do i prevent this? My emulsifier to oil ratio is around 28%… does the type of emulsifier increase the foaming of creams as well?
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13 Replies
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i also have 0.2% xanthan gum in the emulsion. will that affect it?
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Add a fatty alcohol to your emulsion - cetyl or stearyl - and that should be the end of that; unless of course you have a foaming surfactant in there you aren’t divulging. e.g. a betaine or a glucoside. If so, then rename it a “foaming lotion”. Marketing can solve these problems when chemistry cannot.
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@chemicalmatt
Thank you for that! it currently already has 1.5% cetyl alcohol in it!!!here is the emulsion system..
olivem1000-1%
Cetyl alcohol - 1.5%
Stearic Acid -0.8%
Glyceryl Monostearate -0.8%
coconut oil - 0.5%
macadamia oil - 3.5%% of emulsifiers to oil is 28%. should i increase the cetyl alcohoL?
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I think you are talking about what is often referred to as the “soaping effect”.
This old thread may be of interest.
https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/90/soaping-whitening-when-cream-is-rubbed-into-skin -
Is the non-declared part merely water and preservatives?
A quick glance at the delared formula suggests too high a proportion of emulsifier.
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Is it not possible for you to add little dimethicone (350cs @0.5%) and see how it performs in the existing recipe that you have mentioned above.
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@Chemist77
i will try it just to see what effect it has but i cant be in the final formula because its mean to be certified organic.do i put it in the hot phase or can i post add/ add in the cold phase?
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Generally i add it immediately after emulsification as mixing with regular oil phase doesn’t produce uniform oil phase. Though you can add it to your oil phase, generally.
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Far too much emulsifier.
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I can confirm that dimethicone will reduce the soaping effect. I’ve made
a similar formula with and without 2 % dimethicone and latter one did
not rub in white.@chemicalmatt: Really? I’ve had the exact opposite experience. If I don’t include cetyl alcohol or stearic acid there’s no soaping effect.
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I have found Stearic Acid to be particularly troublesome with regard to soaping (whitening on rub in) in cream/emulsion formulas. I would replace it with Cetyl Alcohol and see where that gets you.
Additionally, what is your pH. Stearic acid turn into “soap” at high pH.
I’m not sure what you mean with regard to your emulsifier:oil ratio. Your emulsifier levels look adequate for the amount of oil you have. You could even consider reducing them slightly. I have seen soaping with GMS also, but not to the extent of stearic acid. Perhaps try replacing that also.
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GMS esp the SE grade has some soap content and thats why mild soaping can be observed, again just replacing Stearic acid with cetyl won’t help alone given the list of emulsifiers mentioned above.
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