[RedCoast]

Xanthan gum has better consumer perception, particularly in the “natural” and Ecocert markets BUT if you’re just starting out with formulating, it can be tricky to use.

The soft grade is easier to use. You can find it on several repackers online, but unfortunately, it is pricey compared to carbomer.

[RedCoast]

The pH isn’t the problem. The skin is slightly acidic and functions best if it’s ~4.7 or so. This varies by location (face vs arms, for example) but generally speaking it’s 5 pH or under.

It’s the high concentration of surfactants that’s causing dry hands. Keep in mind this can be even more drying if you often wash your hands or have generally drier, more mature skin.

Do you have access to other surfactants that meet your palm-free requirements?

[RedCoast]

If you only have a home address with a “throwaway” email account (like Gmail or Outlook), you won’t look professional or legitimate in most suppliers.

That should read: If you only have a home address with a “throwaway” email account (like Gmail or Outlook), you won’t look professional or legitimate in most major suppliers’ eyes.

(Darn typos.)

[RedCoast]

It actually depends on the company.

If you’re doing this for a small business, you’d be far more successful in receiving samples if you had a business address. Make sure you have a professional email account. If you have a brand name picked out, buy the domain name and put a “coming soon” page. 

If you only have a home address with a “throwaway” email account (like Gmail or Outlook), you won’t look professional or legitimate in most suppliers.

[RedCoast]

Disodium EDTA has only had a few incidences of allergic contact dermatitis in scientific literature. Considering how ubiquitous that chelator is, allergies to it appear to be exceptionally rare. One study that reported allergies to ETDA involved a 1% concentration, which is far higher than any cosmetic ingredient would ever use.

In other words, wouldn’t worry about those “side effects”.

But yeah, most of the criticism with disodium EDTA is its lack of biodegradability and its potential harm to aquatic wildlife.

[RedCoast]

Just two months ago, I had been looking for polyglutamic acid, too. All I wanted was a little sample that I could get right away. Yes, that’s also the same seller I’d been looking at!

But I decided against it, because there’s the possibility of it being counterfeit.

If that powder is counterfeit, you have no way of knowing unless you did a chemical analysis on it.

There’s also the possibility that it’s contaminated with heavy metals or other bad things, even if that is indeed polyglutamic acid.

Can you request a free sample on Ulprospector? (It would be much safer that way.)

[RedCoast]

Adding my 2 cents in, because colloidal oatmeal has been a pet project of mine for a while.

Colloidal oatmeal is one of the best bug food there is. Microbes just love starches and all the other goodies that are in oatmeal. Mold will be the first (and most obvious) to attack, but other microbes will be inevitable. Also, keep in mind that microbes can feed on other microbes.

You will have to make at least one major compromise on your final product. It could be:

-Viscosity and skin feel

-Other ingredients in the product, especially claims ones

-Packaging

-Specific preservatives

-% of colloidal oatmeal

-Consumer perception

If you’re trying to avoid using parabens or formadehyde-releasers, you’re in for a challenge. Expect to fail a challenge test more times if you don’t use them.

You may want to take a look at this product for some ideas: https://incidecoder.com/products/gold-bond-ultimate-eczema-relief-cream