Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Water based serum with Guar gum is separating

  • Water based serum with Guar gum is separating

    Posted by greencosmetic on June 7, 2022 at 3:01 pm

    I made a hair serum for greying hair with darkenyl 

    It has 

    DW 60%
    Propylene glycol 5% 
    Poly 20  2%
    Edta 0.1%
    Preservative eco 0.7%

    Glycerin 2%
    Guar gum 0.5 
    Darkenyl 1%
    Nelumbo nucifera tincture 3%

    DW 24.2%
    EO blend 0.5%
    Poly 20 1%

    I mixed all the ingredients one by one and then added the Guar gum and glycerin slurry at the end. But after about 2hrs there is separation. Clear phase on top and thick non transparent phase at the bottom. 

    Why this might have happened? And can I resolve it now? 

    greencosmetic replied 1 year, 11 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • rodb1958

    Member
    June 7, 2022 at 11:44 pm

    sounds like the guar is not being hydrated. Try premixing the guar with glycerin, add it to the water  upfront, mix and heat to 60/65C (not F) till  the gel has formed, cool and add the rest. See how that goes.
    cheers.

  • greencosmetic

    Member
    June 8, 2022 at 1:06 am

    Thank you for your reply @rodb1958. I’ll try this in New batch.
    Is there anything I can do now to save current batch? There are heat sensitive ingredients added. As per my internet search pH reduction can be a solution. But I’m not sure. 

  • ketchito

    Member
    June 8, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    @greencosmetic Lowering pH works to speed Cationig guar hydration, by dissolving the outer coating. Not sure you have the same type of coating in Guar gum, but you could try. 

    Now, I’ve seen so many episodes of separation when using guar gum, that I’d try using HEC or HMPC instead, if possible.

  • greencosmetic

    Member
    June 8, 2022 at 12:59 pm

    Thank you for answering @ketchito. I have regular Guar gum, it’s not cationic.

    Just needed some hope that I can save this batch. But looks like it can’t be done 

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