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My Deodorant Stick is sticky and doesn’t glide easily
Hello,
I’m currently working on formulating an anhydrous deodorant stick and have tested different waxes in various combinations and percentages. However, I’m finding it difficult to achieve the right balance, especially to ensure that:
- The stick remains intact when applied.
- It isn’t overly sticky, particularly for armpit hair.
Some of my attempts resulted in a texture so sticky that I almost felt like I had created a styling wax for my armpits!
Waxes tested:
- Cutina HR Powder (BASF) – Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- Cera Alba (Beeswax)
- Carnauba Wax
- Candelilla Wax
- Sunflower Wax
- Rice Wax
Oils used:
- Organic Refined Sunflower Oil
- Organic Unrefined Shea Butter
Odor-absorbing ingredients:
- Zea Mays (Corn) Starch
- Sodium Bicarbonate
I have managed to create a formulation where the deodorant stick holds up well and glides decently. However, it still feels too sticky when applied, particularly on armpit hair.
Recipe A:
- Sunflower Oil – 55.1%
- Shea Butter – 4%
- Carnauba Wax – 2%
- Hydrogenated Castor Oil – 2%
- Cera Alba (Beeswax) – 8%
- Tocopherol – 0.2%
- Zea Mays (Corn) Starch – 20%
- Sodium Bicarbonate – 8%
I reached out to my manufacturer (who isn’t specialized in stick formulations), and they suggested that the stickiness might be due to the Hydrogenated Castor Oil, as castor oil itself tends to be quite sticky.
So, I created a new formulation by reducing the amount of Hydrogenated Castor Oil and introducing Rice Wax to improve the glide. This updated version seems to be the most balanced so far:
Recipe B:
- Sunflower Oil – 53.1%
- Shea Butter – 4%
- Carnauba Wax – 1%
- Hydrogenated Castor Oil – 1%
- Cera Alba (Beeswax) – 8%
- Rice Wax – 4%
- Tocopherol – 0.2%
- Zea Mays (Corn) Starch – 20%
- Sodium Bicarbonate – 8%
I also tried another variation where I increased Sodium Bicarbonate to 20% (to balance it with Corn Starch at 20%), but this made the stick too brittle—it broke easily. I feel like I need more wax for structure, but I’m worried that adding more will just increase the stickiness.
Additionally, I noticed that my T-shirt had a lot of white marks—could this be due to the Sodium Bicarbonate?
My main challenges:
- Reducing stickiness, especially on armpit hair.
- Improving glide without compromising structure.
Does anyone have insights or recommendations to improve the formulation? Would another type of wax help? Should I adjust the ratio of powders?
Thanks a lot for your help!
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