Gelmaker NAT vs Gelmaker RHEO | VERSUS | DIY | Polymer

[@Cclearly9]

I’m so glad you posted this! I’m trying to formulate a lip cream using Sapogel Q.

[@curlytea]

omg I've been experimenting with Sapogel Q (aka NatraSap). lol! It's...interesting. I'm still trying to get the right percentage ratio between it and the oils to come up with something good. :D

[@roopashree9217]

Which one is better emt 10 or gel maker nat to make moisturiser for very oily skin

[@curlytea]

I have no data specifically on how each ingredient will behave for greasy skin. I can say that Sepinov EMT 10 feels more substantial on the skin while Gelmaker NAT feels light and dissolves quickly. The only problem with using Gelmaker NAT is it's sensitivity to electrolytes (like Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (azelaic acid)). Sepinov EMT is a more robust, much less finicky ingredient when formulating. But Gelmaker NAT may feel better (if you can get it to work with your formula).

[@roopashree9217]

@@curlytea thank u

[@yurrr552]

can i use sepinov and sepimax zen together?

[@curlytea]

Yes you can. :D

[@roopashree9217]

Even after using 4% of gel maker nat, my final product turned out to be runny like a lotion and not like a gel moisturizer. What would have gone wrong?

[@curlytea]

I don't know. My Gelmaker NAT thickened after about 1 minute of continuous mixing. It's also highly sensitive to eletrolytes and pH. Both of them are. Make sure you're not using anything like aloe vera, potassium azeloyl diglycinate, coconut water etc. And make sure the pH is at least 5.5. I just sh00t for ph 6. You should also check with the supplier. I once bought Gelmaker Style that literally didn't thicken no matter what I did (time, mixing speed, pH adjustment). I suspect they sent the wrong ingredient or an expired ingredient.

[@roopashree9217]

@@curlytea okay thank u so much

[@roopashree9217]

I tried to make niacinamide gel moisturizer using gel maker nat. The resultant pH was 8.3. the gel turned out to be thick and nice. But when I tried to reduce the pH by adding lactic acid to bring down the pH to 6, the consistency of gel moisturizer became runny. How do I reduce the ph of the final product without making any changes to the consistency

[@curlytea]

These two Gelmaker ingredients are very sensitive to electrolytes and pH. I think lactic acid is a weak electrolyte. The liquid Gelmakers are finicky to work with for anything other than basic things unless you delve into the world of pH buffers, or follow formulas straight from the manufacturer. But what you can try is this: FIRST get the pH of your liquid mix/product to where you want it, THEN gel the mix by adding Gelmaker. But be careful. If you have too much/too many electrolytes, your product won't gel at all no matter how long you mix it. Gelmaker isn't like HEC or Acrylates C10-30____, where you can change the pH at will to get it to thicken. If GelmakerNAT/RHEO loses viscosity when adjusting pH, then it's probably fighting with the pH adjuster (like lactic acid). With Gelmaker NAT and RHEO, I haven't been able to revive any gel that lost viscosity once it turned back into a liquid. Once the gel matrix is broken, that's it (from my experience). I haven't been able to make anything I absolutely love with either Gelmaker NAT or Gelmaker RHEO yet. Yes, I've made things, but nothing outstanding. If you can stand it, stick with Sepinov EMT 10 (gel creams), Sepimax Zen (gels), the MakingCosmetic's version of the Acrylates C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer called "Gelmaker Powder", or even something like Xanthan Gum (Clear).

[@roopashree9217]

@@curlytea thank u. Will try to adjust the ph before adding gel maker nat. Hope this works.

[@roopashree9217]

Is citric acid also an electrolyte?

[@curlytea]

I think citric as well is a weak electrolyte. However, "strong' and "weak" can be relative terms because I've read that the potency depends on what solvent you put it in. Putting a some strong electrolytes in water can turn them weak and vice versa, according to information I've found online. Try to use 80%water: 20% citric acid solution to adjust the pH. If that doesn't adjust pH enough, try a 50%/50% solution. Bottom line, unless you're going to hire a cosmetic chemist, it's all about experimentation to find what works, and then what works well. :)

[@roopashree9217]

@@curlytea ok thanks. Will try. 😊