[lesmith1018]

ketchito said:

@lesmith1018 Did you or can you make sure that product is safe for the dog? Some things that we think are harmless, can be quite toxic to them.

Yes, everything in it is safe. You just rub a little on the gums

[lesmith1018]

I’m having the same problem. I’m using glycol distearate at 1.5% and am just getting milk. No pearlizing effect. Is there a trick to it?

[lesmith1018]

lesmith1018 said:

Thanks for your reply. I’m looking for alternatives to Sunspheres and Hallbrite BHB. I am trying to make a reasonably priced reef friendly (Oxybenzone, Benzophenone, PABA, Octocrylene and Octinoxate free) sunscreen that is still very effective (SPF 30) without minerals. I am using homosolate and Avobenzone as UV protectants. 

I am also looking for an alternative film former to Ganex V-220. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

evchem2 said:

Can’t really help on the filters, maybe look at some commercial reef safe benchmarks for inspiration? 
Are you looking for an exact replacement for Ganex or just another oil-soluble film former? Ganex is now sold under Antaron trade name, there’s Unimer U-15 from Givaudan, and Coast Southwest calls their Endicare® SC-530 an alternative to Ganex though it’s water soluble.

Thanks for your input! I am just looking into things that would have the same properties as the Ganex. I will look into the ones you mentioned. 

[lesmith1018]

chemicalmatt said:

You need to put octocrylene back into that formula if you want to sell in the USA. That is the indicated stabilizer for avobenzone that is also an approved sunscreen. If you are outside the USA then add Uvasorb HEB (Iscatriazone)from 3V Sigma. Film-former: have you tried Cosmosurf DDG-20 from Surfatech? All-natural organic chemistry and makes for a water-resistant product.  

Thank you your help, chemicalmatt!  I will check into your suggestions when I’m back at work tomorrow. 

[lesmith1018]

Thanks for your reply. I’m looking for alternatives to Sunspheres and Hallbrite BHB. I am trying to make a reasonably priced reef friendly (Oxybenzone, Benzophenone, PABA, Octocrylene and Octinoxate free) sunscreen that is still very effective (SPF 30) without minerals. I am using homosolate and Avobenzone as UV protectants. 

I am also looking for an alternative film former to Ganex V-220. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[lesmith1018]

I’ll try again by increasing my active ingredients to 13 - 15% and see how i do. 

[lesmith1018]

Thank you!!

[lesmith1018]

As supplied. SLES is liquid form. Thanks!

[lesmith1018]

Hi, I am having trouble figuring out how to reply to comments one by one. I am new.. (to this forum AND to formulating shampoo), so sorry 
I don’t have the full formula but I am using 15% SLES and 8% CAPB. I am using glycol distearate so it is opaque.
It is a good idea to lower the fragrance. I added it little by little until I could really smell it, but maybe I can get away with less.  
Thank you for the information on the Sorbithix. I am making 200g batches, and I don’t have the ability to stir for 2 hours. I really appreciate the suggestion of the Acrylates Copolymer. Is that something that takes a a lot of stirring too, or is it easy to do by hand? Can you add it at the end or when do you add it?
The way I use the solubilizer is to mix it with my fragrances, then add the mix in at the end (before pH and NaCl. Is that right? The reason I add it at the end is because I need to heat it up to 170 and the fragrances are temperature sensitive. I have tried to add in the oils without a solubilizer, but the system thins even more. Adding a 1:1 ratio of Tween 20 : fragrance helps a lot. 
Thank you for the suggestion of Cocamide DEA. When/how do you add it please?
Whew, thank you all so much and if I didn’t address your response it was not on purpose.

[lesmith1018]

ngarayeva001 said:

How much SLES and CAPB are you using? It’s either on a low end or the fragrance is the culprit. Is your product clear or opaque?

Hi, 
I hadn’t checked in on the site and I’m glad people are willing to help!
SLES is at 15% and CAPB is at 8%

[lesmith1018]

Hi there!
The pH is already around 5.5. 
Solubilizer to decrease viscosity? Increasing viscosity after the addition of essential oils is my goal.
Thank you so much,
Lauren

[lesmith1018]

Hi Paprik,
Thanks for answering. I’m using about 1% fragrance. I tried NaCl (small increments up to 2%) at the end of the process after adjusting the pH to about 6. I used PolySugamulse D9 (Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer) to solubilize the essential oils before adding them to the formula. I was thinking of using Tween-20 next time, instead. In addition to the HPMC or sorbithix l-100 if I can figure out how to use them. 

…or maybe I’m overthinking it. 

I had a formula that was working using a SLES paste but I cannot duplicate it working with the aqueous form, which is what I’ll need to use going forward. 

[lesmith1018]

Thank you!!