[David]

First you need to make a test without the fragrance.

[David]

not really an answer but TEA is less reactive than MEA and DEA can form nitrosamines…

[David]

note that usually cocamide propylbetaine contains salt so I wouldn’t call the formulation salt free.

[David]

thanks MarkBroussard, I believe so too…

[David]

I use 50g “micro” batches sometimes in order to speed up some testing. However it is nothing for the beginner - you have to really know what you are doing. One remaining drop in the pipette can make the experiment worthless. Weighing in one beaker and transferring the material to another 

beaker or 2 seconds without a cover means several kilos (%) are lost in “reality”. Temperature gradients are steeper. As Bobzchemist nicely put it - it is like building a toy car with toothpicks. I would recommend 1 kg as well.

[David]

There are many gel formers for hair gel - you need to be more precise when asking the question.

[David]

I think you have to reformulate the question - I suppose you mean a serum that protects your skin from drying out is what you ask for - not a serum that doesn’t dry out.

[David]

exactly Bobzchemist&  Perry it is not a natural product - which brings me back to the actual question - do I need a warning? one says most safety assessors don’t care another says I should measure… maybe not so easy to answer - that is why I put it under “advanced” -anyway thank you for the input

[David]

location?

[David]

@ Chemist77 - I am not sure it is a must but there is definitely a correlation - if somebody know how to make for example a gel that can hold particles but not air please let me know!

[David]

After preparing a lot of safety assessments for cosmetic products I think a database like EWG will always be unreliable whether it is put together by chemists or not. The hazard of a chemical always have to be put in context with the concentration, application and exposure. A hair color wouldn’t be very safe as a toothpaste.

[David]

Agree with Bob, just want to add that it really depends on what products you have - some are quite easy to replicate others not. If you can post the INCI here you may get a more precise response. In general I would say it is never good to be stuck with only one supplier if you have a good selling brand.

[David]

@Chemist77 correct but I was informed that the aeration properties is what makes the SF1 so good at suspending - it is not easy to trap air.

[David]

If you are not working with one of the standards (ecocert, NaTrue etc.) you can pretty much make up your own rules for what is natural. 

[David]

why not just use petrolatum and vitamin E? no need to formulate at all.

[David]

1. Yes your system could be pH sensitive.

2. pH 6 is too high for potassium sorbate to work effectively

3. You could try the Euxyl 9010 instead since you already have phenoxyethanol in there.

4. I have never experienced the smell you are describing

[David]

Liquid extracts are dissolved in a solvent and are not intended to use @ 10% - if you find a cheaper version they are just more diluted. I would try to have a talk with the customer first.

[David]

It is funny that she claims bisphenol “imitates our hormones” - are we under alien control?

[David]

Thanks Bill_Toge, but regarding Annex V - I think you are wrong:

Annex V says (at the bottom):

All finished products containing formaldehyde or substances in this Annex and which release formaldehyde must be labelled with the warning ‘contains formaldehyde’ where the concentration of formaldehyde in the finished product
exceeds 0,05 %

secondly I agree - however a negligible concentration is unfortunately not defined and doesn’t mean < 0,05% !

[David]

here is an interesting point of view on the subject:

http://www.syntheticisnotnatural.com/ecover-petition/synthetic-algae-not-solution-palm-oil/

[David]

Maybe someone can answer that specific question. What I know is that biodegradable ingredients usually need more preservative.

I would however think more in terms of: what is the rest of the formula? which pH do I have? what is green? can I use f.ex isothiazolinones?

[David]

agree with both above - that is a day creme you are describing and clogging and skin breathing are words that describe a skin condition when your body is wrapped in plastic - not after applying a cosmetic product

[David]

I may be wrong but I don’t think the rheology of “thin honey” is possible to achieve with a combination of only waxes and oils since honey is sugar and water. Maybe a rheology expert here can explain more?

[David]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_fatty_matter

[David]

@Perry although I partly agree and know what your point is I think that at the levels B3 and some other ingredients are used here I don’t think they have no effect- on the contrary - they contribute to a large part of the formulation properties -another question is - do we need this? probably not - so in this case - I would start from scratch and not trying to get the pH right. formulating is a bit like cooking - you can’t just put a lot of good ingredients together and hope it will taste good! better nice & easy adding ingredients one by one and  testing - feeling-that is how you make a good recipe!