Creamy liquid shampoo with SLMI

An indicative liquid shampoo for testing SLMI as the core of a creamy, easy-rinsing foam, without turning the recipe into a solid bar. The main ingredient is SLMI. The recipe is designed around it as the core of the cleansing system, rather than a token addition. The other ingredients help adjust texture, foam, comfort in use and preservation. Why it is designed this way: - SLMI provides most of the active surfactant matter in the formula. - Lauryl Glucoside helps balance foam and viscosity without taking the main role. - Panthenol is added in the final phase to improve hair feel during rinsing. - Gentle heat is used only if needed, rather than an aggressive hot process. Intermediate level: requires precise weighing, slow mixing to avoid filling the formula with air, and a final pH check. This is an indicative suggestion; before continued use or marketing, stability, preservation, pH, viscosity, container compatibility, foam and tolerance must be validated.

Base formula

Include	Product	%	Quantity	Price / pack size
Aqueous phase
	Distilled water	76.8 %	76.8 g	Manual addition
	Vegetable glycerine	3 %	3 g	€0.07 used (1 x 125 g · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 122 g
	Clear Xanthan Gum	0.4 %	0.4 g	€0.05 used (1 x 30 g · purchase €3.50) Approx. leftover 29.6 g
Surfactant phase
	SLMI - Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate	10 %	10 g	€0.70 used (1 x 100 g · purchase €6.95) Approx. leftover 90 g
	Lauryl Glucoside	6 %	6 g	€0.14 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 119 ml
Final phase and pH
	Provitamin B5 - Panthenol W75%	3 %	3 g	€0.53 used (1 x 25 g · purchase €4.45) Approx. leftover 22 g
	Geogard 221 / Cosgard Preservative	0.8 %	0.8 g	€0.16 used (1 x 10 ml · purchase €2.05) Approx. leftover 9.2 ml

Step by step

1 Room temperature

Prepare the workspace and equipment

Before weighing anything, clean the worktop and disinfect the beakers, spatulas, stirring rods, thermometer, pH meter or pH strips, and final container.

Keep the formula in front of you and check that every ingredient is identified. This step may seem basic, but it prevents almost all simple mistakes: mixing up a surfactant, forgetting the preservative or having to look for something while the mixture is uncovered.

2 Room temperature

Weigh and protect yourself from dust

Put on a mask, goggles and gloves before handling the powdered surfactant. There is no need to make the recipe seem daunting: we simply want to avoid inhaling fine particles while weighing and mixing.

Weigh the water, glycerine and xanthan gum together. Weigh the powdered surfactant separately and avoid pouring it from a height.

3 Room temperature or gently warmed

Hydrate the aqueous base

Mix the glycerine with the xanthan gum to form a lump-free slurry. Then gradually add the water while stirring.

If the surfactant needs help to disperse, you can gently warm the aqueous phase. The aim is to make the process easier, not to boil or subject the formula to excessive heat.

4 Room temperature or gently warmed

Incorporate the main surfactant

Add the powdered surfactant gradually, as though sprinkling it in. Stir slowly, close to the side of the beaker, and give it time to hydrate.

If you see small lumps, do not suddenly increase the speed. Stop for a few minutes, allow the powder to become thoroughly wetted, then mix slowly again.

5 Room temperature

Add the supporting surfactants

Now add the secondary surfactants in the formula, one at a time. Mix after each addition until you can no longer see separate areas.

If too much foam forms, stop. There is no harm in waiting five minutes: a formula with less air is easier to measure and package.

6 <35 ºC

Add the final phase

When the mixture is uniform and below 35 ºC, add the preservative and sensitive ingredients, such as panthenol if it appears in the formula.

Mix patiently. The aim is to distribute the ingredients evenly, not to whisk them.

7 Room temperature

Measure and adjust the pH

Measure the pH at the end, not at the beginning. The indicative target for this recipe is 5.0-5.5.

If you need to lower the pH, use a dilute solution of lactic acid or citric acid and add it very gradually. Mix, wait a few minutes and measure again before adding more. If you need to raise it, likewise make dilute, controlled adjustments.

Final Room temperature

Package and validate

Transfer to a clean, dry container and label it with the name, date and amount prepared.

Leave to rest for 24 hours before assessing viscosity and foam. Then check over several days that the smell, colour, pH and texture do not change and that no separation appears.

Preservation, shelf life and validation

Indicative formula for external, rinse-off use. Work with clean, disinfected utensils, a clean container and protected hands.
Do not use the formula if its smell, colour or texture changes, or if unusual separation appears.

Questions, improvements and possible corrections

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