What is an ideal pH? - Chemists Corner

Formulating

What is an ideal pH?

Posted by Newtoformulating on February 13, 2022 at 5:38 pm

I’ve created a waterbased edge control/sculpting gel. It is a ringing gel. What would be an ideal pH for my final product? Is a pH of 7.5 ok? What would be considered unacceptable in the retail market? Thanks

Newtoformulating replied 2 years, 11 months ago 4 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

OldPerry

Member
February 13, 2022 at 7:26 pm

What’s your preservative system? For performance and skin safety 7.5 seems like it would be fine. Although most products are formulated at lower pHs like 5.0 or so.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 13, 2022 at 10:29 pm

Ok. My main preservative is optiphen plus and one of my ingredients has a preservative within it, Benzoic Acid. Thanks for responding
Graillotion

Member
February 13, 2022 at 11:24 pm

Newtoformulating said:

Ok. My main preservative is optiphen plus and one of my ingredients has a preservative within it, Benzoic Acid. Thanks for responding

The Optiphen plus needs a pH below 6 for all aspects to function.

The preservatives included in ingredients, only preserve that product prior to blending. In this case, it also has no effect at the new higher pH.

So, you are only using Phenoxyethanol, and Caprylyl Glycol. I think most here would believe that to be a bit of a weak system.

If you want the acid aspect to kick in…you need to lower your pH below 6. (And this is a VERY good thing.)
Karo_lina

Member
February 14, 2022 at 7:03 am

Graillotion said:

If you want the acid aspect to kick in…you need to lower your pH below 6. (And this is a VERY good thing.)

could you send the link to the above table? I am unable to see it on my computer due to the low resolution
Graillotion

Member
February 14, 2022 at 7:32 am

@Karo_lina that was from ULP, if you are not a member, the links won’t open for you.

But try this: Ashland | optiphen™ plus preservative

Any google search of opiphen plus will give you the same information….the working pH range.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 14, 2022 at 4:04 pm

@Graillotion Thanks for the information! The only thing is I’m not sure that I can lower the pH to under 6 and still have a good working formula. I’m using AMP 2000 as a neutralizer and if enough is not used I will not have a clear formula. It will be yellow or a very hazy cloudy gray color.
OldPerry

Member
February 14, 2022 at 4:25 pm

If your formula doesn’t have a properly working preservation system, then it isn’t a good working formula.

You either need a different preservative system or a formula that works at a lower pH.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 14, 2022 at 7:07 pm

@Perry Thank you for your feedback!