[LincsChemist]

Bentonite can be a bit of a nightmare to work with, it really need to be added to the heated water phase and homogenised to hell to properly hydrate. I’d probably scrap out the bentonite and add more kaolin (8-10%) if you’re just after the mattifying effect. Adding some cetearyl alcohol (~3%) will also help stabilise your emulsion - I’d take this off the soya wax. 

[LincsChemist]

I tend to premix HEC with Glycerine then add to quite quickly stirred water (but not so fast that you pull in air). If you can get treated HEC that hydrates slower that helps to avoid forming lumps - Natrasol grades from Ashland are my go-to.