Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Oil gel thickening

  • Oil gel thickening

    Posted by Chemist5000 on August 16, 2018 at 10:29 pm

    I thicken a mixture of oils (jojoba, almond, sesame) together with silica.  It thickened nicely but when I put it on my skin it had a slight grainy texture with a little drag.  Can you just use silica to thicken an oil?  Should I use something else to help with the slip.  Do I need an emulsifier?

    Chemist5000 replied 5 years, 8 months ago 7 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • DrAndrewWorthen

    Member
    August 17, 2018 at 12:49 am

    You are likely feeling aggregates of silica particles.  What surface treatment does the silica have, and what is its particle size?

  • Chemist5000

    Member
    August 17, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    I am using Sipernat 500 LS.  Particle size 10.5 µm. I am looking for something to just thicken and not have an exfoliation feature.  Should I add glycerin or maybe thicken in with Xantham gum?

  • Chemist77

    Member
    August 17, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Did you check Ethocel 100 Premium from Dow?? 

  • Chemist5000

    Member
    August 17, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    @Chemist77  No I haven’t tried it. Thank you for the suggestion. I am trying to use what I have in house.  I am ordering the ethocel.  would methocel do the trick also? I am also trying to suspend beads.

  • Chemist77

    Member
    August 17, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    No methocel wouldn’t, it’s that grade only that I mentioned.

  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    August 18, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    try hydroxystearic acid, or hydrogenated castor oil

  • Chemist5000

    Member
    August 20, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Hello @Bill_Toge If I had HCO or Peg-40HCO to an oil mixture it will thicken it. Would it be able to suspend beads from your experience?

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    August 20, 2018 at 9:29 pm

    Hello.. i advice you to try the Vaselline (gelly petrolatum) .. heat it with your oils

  • amitvedakar

    Member
    August 23, 2018 at 5:31 am

    Try carbomer 940. not oily feel. adjust pH with TEA. also try combination of Carbomer940 with HPMC.

  • Chemist5000

    Member
    August 24, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    @chemist77  I have the ethocel (yeah) should I add about 3.5-4% of ethocel to my oil mixture?  What temperature?

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    August 25, 2018 at 2:19 am

    Try cellulose gum?

  • Chemist77

    Member
    August 25, 2018 at 5:41 am

    I hope they have sent you the product TDS, if not please download from Dow. Com and you will get all the information there. They specifically mention octyldodecanol as the solvent to disperse Ethocel. I have a sample on my desk where it is an oil gel with apricot shell and i don’t see any settling of the scrub particles. The start @3-5% I think should do the job for you. 

  • ZivBA

    Member
    August 27, 2018 at 7:33 am

    Chemist5000            in my opinion Chemist77  is right,

    first you can try the ETHOCEL if you want it to contain only Oils,

    However it will be very greasy.

    I have formulation for  “Fast Drying SPF30 Gel”,

    Using Alcohol as the main ingredient, all the oils you would like, and add Hydroxypropylcelluloce for the gelling affect- try to use Klucel MF.

  • Chemist5000

    Member
    August 27, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Good Morning to all, 
    @Chemist77- I know the specifically mention octyldodecanol as a solvent. I am using what I have available to me. I got super bold and did 10% of ethocel it dissolved in the oil mixture at 80C nicely.  I added IPM and crodamol CTS. I let is sit over the weekend and I had a seriously solid gel when I came in to work.  I plan to do it over with much less ethocel.  I want to try the HPMC also.  Thanks!

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