Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Suspending agent for exfoliating agents

  • Suspending agent for exfoliating agents

    Posted by aicha10 on February 17, 2024 at 2:58 am

    hello Chemists,

    I’m trying to incorporate exfoliating agents into a cleansing gel, but I notice that these agents float. Can you advise me on a suspending agent for these beads (KAHLBEADS 2178P ( HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL)

    Thank you

    Light56 replied 7 months, 2 weeks ago 7 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • Onur

    Member
    February 20, 2024 at 3:50 am

    Beads floating sounds like the formula is not thick enough. A gelling agent would help with the viscosity. I’d use HEC (Hydroxyethylcellulose) or Sodium Hyaluronate twice as much as the recommended amount to create a thicker gel for suspending things. The surfactants you use must be compatible with those agents, though. Try milder surfactants because waxes are considered lipids, which might partially dissolve in the formula.

    • Paprik

      Member
      February 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm

      HEC nor Sodium Hyaluronate do not have great suspending properties. It might work in emulsion, but for “heavy” beads/exfoliating particles it won’t suffice long term.

      Better to go with a good grade of Xanthan Gum or similar or as suggested by @ketchito carbomers.

      • Onur

        Member
        February 21, 2024 at 5:05 am

        They do actually, at higher concentrations.

        2% HEC in water gets insanely thick and would suspend those beads if they’re not too heavy. But I agree with you on the Carbomer, though they’re mostly pH sensitive.

  • ketchito

    Member
    February 20, 2024 at 8:27 am

    To suspend beads you need shear resistance, and the most used polymers for that are moderarely-to-highly crosslinked polyacrylates (carbomers).

  • BetaOneChem

    Member
    February 22, 2024 at 7:03 pm

    Polyacrylamide crosspolymer-6, Acrylates Copolymer,

    Carbopol ultrez 20, Xanthan gum, etc, they help with beads suspension.

    • oldman20

      Member
      February 25, 2024 at 8:15 pm

      agree

    • Light56

      Member
      March 22, 2024 at 4:54 pm

      what is the appropriate percentage of triethanolamine to neutrlize a 7% carbopol aqua sf 1 (acrylates copolymer )

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