• Formulating

  Thickening SLES Hand wash with PEG-40 HCO

  Posted by andrew_matt on June 8, 2024 at 4:41 pm

  Hey there, I’m attempting to formulate a SLES hand wash featuring PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, but I’m hitting a snag with its thickening properties. Despite experimenting with various methods and percentages, I can’t seem to get it to thicken properly. I’ve even tried a process of elimination to pinpoint the issue, but whenever I introduce PEG-40 HCO into the mix, the formula fails to thicken. Interestingly, other formulas without PEG HCO thicken just fine.

  Here’s the formula I’ve been working with:

  Water: 50%

  Sodium Laureth Sulphate (30%): 33%

  Coco Betaine: 6%

  PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: 4%

  Glycerine: 3%

  Sodium Chloride: 2%

  Essential Oils: 1%

  Phenoxyethanol: 0.75%

  Citric Acid: 0.1%

  Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

  ketchito replied 5 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply

  • handwash
  • peg-40-hydrogenated-castor-oil
  • sles
  • thickening
• 1 Reply

• 

  ketchito

  Member

  June 10, 2024 at 6:51 am

  The problem is clearly PEG-40 HCO, not only impairs viscosity but also foam. You’d be better off without essentisl oils, using a regular fragrance (they normally come with their own solubilizer), and without the need to add PEG-40 HCO.

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