[ozgirl]

I have experience in several household products. I am happy to help in this forum setting. Just post your formula and you issue.

[ozgirl]

Was your xanthan gum properly hydrated in the manufactured batch?

[ozgirl]

Sodium Bicarbonate is often regarded as irritating by many people when used in these types of products.

Try looking at deodorant actives such as Triethyl Citrate or Ethylhexylglycerin for better performance.

[ozgirl]

We have batch instructions which are usually only one page long.

The batch instructions have the list of raw materials with amounts required and their location in the warehouse at the top. The raw materials are divided into sections (e.g. Part A, Part B) if required.

Below the raw materials is a brief method on how to manufacture the products.

For example some instructions might be:

Add the raw materials in Part A to Tank 7 in order and stir until combined.

or

Add the raw materials in Part C to the tank when the temperature is 40oC (or less).

We also add in some basic safety instructions when working with Caustic, strong acids etc.

Fortunately our manufacturer’s are experienced or work with an experienced worker until they are competent so they don’t require too many details. You may require more details if your workers are inexperienced.

We don’t include information about the use of the equipment (tanks, pumps, blenders, emulsifiers etc) in our batch instructions. This is in a separate SOP for each equipment type.

Our products are pretty simple surfactant blends, emulsions, blended powders but if you have more complex products or equipment you might need more details.

Hope this helps. 🙂

[ozgirl]

You are also forgetting that making a good enough (but not great) product with excellent marketing is generally what is needed to succeed in the cosmetic industry. Marketing plays a very big part of selling cosmetics.

[ozgirl]

Does it spray well with that much Polyquaternium-7 in it? If not you may want to reduce the PQ-7.

[ozgirl]

What is the pH of your moisturizer? Glyceryl stearate SE needs a slightly alkaline to be most effective.

[ozgirl]

Stearic Acid is going to be draggy on the hair. Try replacing it with some more SCI.

[ozgirl]

Cocamide MEA has some refatting properties so this may be what your testers prefer rather than any difference in silicone deposition.

[ozgirl]

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is not really the best option for clear liquid systems because it is not very soluble. What you are seeing is probably it cooling and precipitating. It can be stabilised but there are much better options out there.

If you want to stick with isethionates, try using Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate (Iselux) or try a different surfactant.

[ozgirl]

Have you considered BTMS-50. It has a higher percentage (50%) of the cationic and less of the fatty alcohol with some butylene glycol. You can use less to get the same conditioning and because there is less fatty acid it won’t be as thick.

[ozgirl]

Is the issue the ethoxylation or the lanolin (animal based)?

I seem to remember seeing a polyglyceryl lanolin ether when I was searching for something else. Not sure if this would meet your needs.

I have also seen glyceryl oleate in some wool washes (e.g. woollykins) which might work as a refatting agent.

Hope this helps 😊

[ozgirl]

Happy New Year and Happy Formulating in 2025! 🙂

[ozgirl]

They are possibly relying on the Propanediol and Hydroxyacetophenone which is claimed to be a “multifunctional” ingredient (not preservative ) that “guards formulations against biodegradation and spoilage”

I doubt this would be sufficiently preserved. I haven’t used this ingredient but most of these types of multifunctional ingredients have limited application.

[ozgirl]

Not sure if this is what you after but this this link gives the list of which denatured formulas can be used in which products (including cosmetic products such as shampoos).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-21#part-21

There is also this from the FDA

https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/alcohol-free

and this

https://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/alcohol-and-alcohol-denat/

[ozgirl]

You need to provide more information including what other ingredients are in the product.

I am assuming that if they are going PEG-free that the product is also sulfate-free. Sulfate-free systems are more difficult to thicken than sulfate systems.

[ozgirl]

I am not sure what some of your ingredients are since you only give trade names.

You could try adding a builder (sodium citrate is commonly used but other chelants can also be used)

If your market accepts them, an optical brightener would help make white fabrics appear whiter.

You could also try increasing the concentration of your surfactants.

Have a look on UL Prospector or supplier websites for starting formulations to compare with your formulation.

[ozgirl]

How big is the batch you are making? Could this be a weighing error from only using very small amounts of dye?

If it is a UV light issue you can also look for PET packaging with UV filters incorporated into the PET.

[ozgirl]

Preservatives are often not required for anhydrous blends but honey is not anhydrous and you would be best to leave it out if you are only going to use oils and beeswax. FYI-Sweet almond and Rosehip are carrier oils (or emollients) and not essential oils.

If you add water (or water soluble ingredients) it is necessary to use a preservative. It is also necessary to use preservatives if your product will come into contact with water. The preservative you use will depend on the product type (e.g emulsion, surfactant blend) and pH.

Here is a good review of the common preservatives and their limitations.

https://makingskincare.com/preservatives/

makingskincare.com

Preservative Reviews -

PreservativesAll you need to know!Learn how to preserve effectivelyCommon strategies chemists use to pass preservative testsPreservative free?True or false? Previous Next Free, online skincare formulation course from Chemists Corner, Swiftcraftymonkey and Making Skincare.As a first step to making your own … Continue reading

[ozgirl]

You could try adding a defoamer/antifoam (silicone based) but it would probably be easier to just find a lower foaming surfactant instead.

If it is for personal use only you could give a small spritz of ethanol to the foam when filling the travel bottle but this is impractical for commercial production

[ozgirl]

Is this your product? The ingredients on the label don’t match your ingredients list. Why are the ingredients listed by the the Trade Name on the label?

How was the sample stored? I have seen this sort of separation when samples are stored at elevated temperatures.

[ozgirl]

Ethylhexylglycerin is only slightly soluble in water (0.1%). It is is more soluble in glycols (e.g. butylene glycol) and also in paraffin and silcone oils.

[ozgirl]

In laundry washing machines you don’t want much foam. In front loading and high efficiency machines foam can cause issues with the sensors.

[ozgirl]

You are correct there is more in the document. This particular tank is a fixed speed tank so no need for additional settings information but that should be added if required. The definition of “until combined” is covered in training our staff and just means until homogeneous. We manufacture simple products so our instructions don’t need to be too complex.

[ozgirl]

I suggest removing the Euperlan because it will not work in a low viscosity formula. If you want an opaque product look at an acrylate opacifier instead.