Gentle fragrance-free shower gel with Coco Glucoside

Formula objective. A starting shower gel in which Coco Glucoside acts as the main surfactant. The formula aims for daily body cleansing with moderate foam, good sensory tolerance and a simple structure that is easy to adjust for viscosity and pH.

Why these ingredients were chosen.

Coco Glucoside is the main cleansing base for its non-ionic profile and good performance in gentle rinse-off formulas.
Coco Betaine helps round out the foam and reduces the harsh feel of the surfactant system.
Glycerine provides humectancy during washing and improves comfort afterwards.
Xanthan gum allows a gel texture to be built without complex thickening systems.
The preservative protects a water-containing formula against microbiological contamination during use.

Intended users. People who want to formulate a simple, fragrance-free body gel for frequent use, especially as an introduction to shower gels with glucosides.

Skill level. Easy level: requires precise weighing, thorough hydration of the gum, incorporation of surfactants without excessive beating and pH adjustment to the intended range. Heating is not required, but patience is needed to avoid foam during manufacture.

Validation required. Before using or giving it as a gift, check pH, appearance after 24-48 hours, viscosity stability, absence of separation, container compatibility and skin tolerance in actual rinse-off use.

Base formula

Include	Product	%	Quantity	Price / pack size
Gelled aqueous phase
	Distilled or deionised water	66.35 %	663.5 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 Glucoside	16 %	160 g	€3.17 used (1 x 250 ml · purchase €4.95) Approx. leftover 90 ml
	Decyl Glucoside	8 %	80 g	€1.86 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 45 ml
	Coco Betaine	5.5 %	55 g	€1.08 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.45) Approx. leftover 70 ml
Preservation and pH adjustment
	Geogard 221 / Cosgard	0.8 %	8 g	€1.64 used (1 x 10 ml · purchase €2.05) Approx. leftover 2 ml
	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 Glucoside. 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

Questions, improvements and possible corrections

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