Why Cetaphils cleanser has higher viscosity than mine?

Formulating

Why Cetaphils cleanser has higher viscosity than mine?

Posted by Abdullah on November 12, 2024 at 9:23 am

This is ingredients list of an old Cetaphil cleanser

Water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol,butyl, propyl,methyl parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol.

It has ≤1% SLS.

This is my formula

Water

Cetearyl alcohol 5%

SLS 1%

Citric acid 0.8%

CMI MI 0.02%

Formalin 0.02%

Fragrance 0.01%

pH 6

Method

.Add SLS to 45% hot water

.add citric acid to reduce pH to 6

. Add melted cetearyl alcohol

. Homogenize for 5 minutes

. Add 50% cold water while mixing to reduce temperature below 40c.

.add preservatives and fragrance.

My product is more white than Cetaphil product and i think i use more cetearyl alcohol and SLS than them but their product has higher viscosity than mine. Why their product has higher viscosity than mine?

Abdullah replied 22 hours, 53 minutes ago 3 Members · 9 Replies
9 Replies

Aniela

Member
November 15, 2024 at 4:19 am

Hi,

Not sure how this helps but the ingredients are listed in this order: Water, Cetyl alcohol, Propylene glycol, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Stearyl alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, thus SLS might be/is at >1%.
- Abdullah
  
  Member
  November 16, 2024 at 8:36 pm
  
  Thanks
  
  Where is it written like this?
  
  I saw a picture of product itself and in label it is written the way i wrote it.
  - Aniela
    
    Member
    November 17, 2024 at 6:52 am
    
    Here https://incidecoder.com/products/cetaphil-cleansing-milk and here https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/cetaphil-gentle-skin-facial-cleanser-old-formula
    
    Maybe not your “go-to” sources, but to me, it makes more sense their lists.
    - Abdullah
      
      Member
      November 17, 2024 at 10:20 am
      
      Screenshot_2024-11-17-20-48-58-37_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg 539 KB Image File - Click to view
      
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      - Aniela
        
        Member
        November 17, 2024 at 11:49 am
        
        I think your list is right (proof that my common sense can be wrong😳), as the new version lists the SCI in the <1% section- Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.
ketchito

Member
November 18, 2024 at 7:23 am

Keep in mind that they’re are using way more cetyl than stearyl alcohol. That can influence final viscosity.

Also, this might be a bit counterintuitive, but try with a bit less of SLS.
- Abdullah
  
  Member
  November 18, 2024 at 8:14 pm
  
  I made a version with 0.5% SLS and it had less viscosity.
  
  My product with 5% fatty alcohol is completely white while there product wasn’t that white at all. More fatty alcohol makes it more white right?
ketchito

Member
November 19, 2024 at 7:07 am

The key there for the not completely solid white color is propylene glycol.
- Abdullah
  
  Member
  November 20, 2024 at 10:14 am
  
  Good point
  
  Thanks