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  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    February 11, 2014 at 11:02 am in reply to: sodium stearate/stearic acid

    Jose, that Na stearate gel you speak of only works with lower-chain alcohols and diols, e.g. SDA, propylene glycol. Once you start “pimping out” that system with other ingredients, the gel structure fails and you get an amorphous gunk. You can get a paste-like texture using mixed alkali stearates (K, Na,TEA) , some free stearic acid, and glyceryl stearate, Check out any “old school” shaving cream formulation, then modify from that starting point. You’ll have your pasty scrub in no time. Being soap, it will clean the face pretty well too! 

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    February 11, 2014 at 10:52 am in reply to: Slip in Conditioner

    Tasia, the only effective cationic ingredient that will solve both issues, and possibly make the cut as “natural” is chitosan (deacetylated).  It is derived from critters, not plants though: shrimp shells.  It is expensive, especially the HMW stuff, but it works splendidly!

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    February 3, 2014 at 3:12 pm in reply to: PH Drift - Is both an UP and DOWN ingredient needed ?

    Mike,

    I think the only rule is how exacting your ingrdient disclosure needs to be to satisfy the legal department in a case such as this.  Were this a routine personal care formulation, I would not bother reporting the NaOH, and none would be the wiser, especially since you and I know it does not exist in its purely ionic form but more so as a salt with methylparaben in this case.  After considering any possible legal claims against the KY makers (J&J, right?) by KY users could prop up, I’m sure the lawyers said “list it”.

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    January 30, 2014 at 2:50 pm in reply to: SPF 100 possible or not possible?

    You are not being ridiculous, you are the voice of reason! You should draw them that famous graph that exhibits the SPF value as asymptotic from number 45 onwards!  A picture might be worth a thousand words here.  Also, regardless of chemical sensititvity issues, do you think it is possible for a human test panel to validate that SPF value?  Might be nigh impossible, and certainly VERY expensive.  Good luck.

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    January 29, 2014 at 4:58 pm in reply to: Usage of Titanium Dioxide with Avobenzone for Sunscreen

    vjay, if you can cite the source of the article you mention, that would be helpful.  I have never heard or read of any mineral interactions with avobenzone; especially with a relatively inert one like TiO2.  In any event, you may want to avail one of those singlet-state quenchers (esters) supplied by HallStar since sunlight itself degrades avobenzone somewhat rapidly - that much is definitely known!

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    January 29, 2014 at 4:50 pm in reply to: Glycol Stearate in anhydrous formulation?

    dmh0023, GMS will not form any pearlescence without emulsifying in water, so an anhydrous pearl isn’t going to happen that way. If you’ve got to have that pearly appearance, and your formula has no water, just add one of the many pretty mica blends (aka “glitter”) and be sure to suspend it well.

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 6:06 pm in reply to: How to neutrallize hair stylers

    Gustavo, my only experience with anionic styling resins is with the terpolymer Amphomer series from National Starch  (now Akzo-Nobel?) and the ISP Gantrez series.of PMMA/VA copolymers (now Ashland?)  These folks give you the equivalent weight and you plug in the correct MW for your alkaline agent, which I recommend be AMP or AMPD, also the degree of neutralization, and this gives you the various properties of film pliability - which you are obviously schooled in already.  A helpful hint: use an alkyl amine (e.g. cocamidopropyl dimethylamine) to neutralize and you’ll get a nice firm hold with added humidity resistance, yet a nicer feel. Brazil, eh?  Wish I was there - it’s minus 10C here in Chicago. Best of luck to you.

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 5:56 pm in reply to: Best oil for dry curly afro hair

    Rahma, not to state the obvious, but mineral oil would be best. If you just have to go natural, however, coconut oil (92 mp), meadowfoamseed oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil have been shown to best penetrate the cuticle into the cortex, in decsending order of efficacy.  The cortex is where you want to be.  Look back into the SCC Journals (since 2004, if I remember) and you’ll find the TRI Princeton study article.

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