Gentle fragrance-free shower gel

About this recipe. A gentle, fragrance-free shower gel intended as a starting formula for daily body cleansing. The combination of Coco Betaine and glucosides helps achieve pleasant foam and a gentler cleansing feel than a base formulated only with anionic surfactants.

Why these ingredients are used.

Distilled or deionised water acts as the vehicle and reduces the risk of interference from salts or hardness.
Glycerine provides humectancy and helps disperse the xanthan gum.
Xanthan gum adds body and improves the visible suspension of the gel, although final viscosity must be evaluated after resting.
Coco Betaine is used as an amphoteric co-surfactant to soften detergency and support foam.
Coco Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside complete the cleansing system as mild non-ionic surfactants.
Geogard 221 / Cosgard helps protect the formula against microbiological contamination within its usage and pH range.
Citric acid is used only to adjust the final pH to the target range.

It must be tested and validated before use or marketing, checking pH, viscosity, stability, preservation, container compatibility and tolerance.

Base formula

Include	Product	%	Quantity	Price / pack size
Gelled aqueous phase
	Distilled or deionised water	59.65 %	596.5 g	Manual addition
	Liquid vegetable glycerine	3 %	30 g	€0.70 used (1 x 125 g · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 95 g
	Clear Xanthan Gum	0.35 %	3.5 g	€0.41 used (1 x 30 g · purchase €3.50) Approx. leftover 26.5 g
Surfactants
	Coco Betaine	18 %	180 g	€2.59 used (1 x 250 ml · purchase €3.60) Approx. leftover 70 ml
	Coco Glucoside	12 %	120 g	€3.17 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €3.30) Approx. leftover 5 ml
	Decyl Glucoside	6 %	60 g	€1.39 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 65 ml
Preservation and pH adjustment
	Geogard 221 / Cosgard	1 %	10 g	€2.05 used (1 x 10 ml · purchase €2.05) Approx. leftover 0 ml · fully used
	Citric acid in a 20% solution	0 %	0 c.n.	Manual addition

Step by step

1 Room temperature

Prepare a lump-free aqueous phase

Start with a clean, disinfected mixing beaker, spatula and final container. Water-based formulas are not a place to improvise: weigh everything before you start and work calmly.

If the formula contains xanthan gum, mix it with the glycerine or humectants first. This wets the gum evenly and makes lumps much less likely to form.

Add the water gradually, in several additions, mixing gently after each one. If you see small lumps, do not whisk vigorously: leave it to rest for a few minutes and stir again until the base looks uniform.

2 Room temperature

Add the surfactants gently

Once the aqueous phase is uniform, slowly add the Coco Betaine. Use slow movements, as though folding the mixture, to avoid filling the product with foam.

Then add the remaining surfactants one at a time. Wait until each ingredient is evenly distributed before adding the next; this gives you better control over the texture and avoids concentrated areas.

In gels and liquid soaps, foam during production can be very misleading. Mix slowly and let the product rest before deciding whether it is too runny.

3 Room temperature

Preserve and adjust the pH

Add the preservative once the mixture is homogeneous and stir slowly for at least one minute. The preservative must be distributed throughout the formula, rather than remaining in one area.

Measure the pH and compare it with this recipe's target range: 5,2 - 5,8. If it is high, adjust with a 20% citric acid solution, drop by drop.

After each drop, mix and measure again. The pH does not always change immediately, so it is better to proceed slowly than to overshoot and have to adjust in the opposite direction.

Final

Allow to rest, check and package

Cover the beaker and leave the formula to rest for 24 hours. This allows the foam to subside, the gum to finish hydrating and the true viscosity to be assessed.

The next day, check the smell, colour, separation, lumps, clarity or opalescence, and texture. If anything changes unexpectedly, do not package it yet: first understand what has happened.

If everything is correct, transfer it to a clean container and label it with the name, date, final pH and any observations useful for repeating or improving the formula.

Preservation, shelf life and validation

Work with clean, disinfected utensils. Avoid whisking the surfactants so that excessive foam does not form during manufacture.
Always measure the final pH before considering the formula finished. Do not use the recipe on children, mucous membranes or the eye area without specific validation.

Questions, improvements and possible corrections

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