Gentle water-based facial cleanser with Decyl Glucoside

Formula objective. A rinse-off aqueous facial cleanser with Decyl Glucoside as the main ingredient. It is intended for gentle cleansing, with low technical complexity and an aqueous phase that is easy to prepare.

Why these ingredients were chosen.

Decyl Glucoside provides gentle facial cleansing within a rinse-off system.
An amphoteric co-surfactant helps soften the cleansing feel and improve foam quality.
Glycerine improves comfort during massage and after rinsing.
The surfactant level is kept moderate because the face tends to tolerate excessively detergent formulas less well.
The preservative and pH are critical because this is an aqueous product for facial use.

Intended users. Normal or combination skin seeking a simple rinse-off facial cleanser. For very sensitive skin, fragrance and irritating active ingredients should be reduced and tolerance validated with particular care.

Skill level. Easy level: the technique is accessible, but pH must be measured, mixing must avoid foaming, and the product must rest before its texture is evaluated.

Validation required. Validate pH, tolerance in the event of accidental eye contact, feel after rinsing, stability, preservation and container compatibility. It is not formulated as an eye makeup remover.

Base formula

Include	Product	%	Quantity	Price / pack size
Gelled aqueous phase
	Distilled or deionised water	81.2 %	812 g	Manual addition
	Liquid vegetable glycerine	3.5 %	35 g	€0.81 used (1 x 125 g · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 90 g
	Clear Xanthan Gum	0.5 %	5 g	€0.58 used (1 x 30 g · purchase €3.50) Approx. leftover 25 g
Surfactants
	Decyl Glucoside	9 %	90 g	€2.09 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.90) Approx. leftover 35 ml
	Coco Betaine	5 %	50 g	€0.98 used (1 x 125 ml · purchase €2.45) Approx. leftover 75 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

When the aqueous phase is uniform, slowly incorporate the Decyl Glucoside. Use slow, folding movements to avoid filling the product with foam.

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

For a facial cleanser, the aim is gentle cleansing and good rinsing, not harsh foam. If a lot of foam appears during manufacture, stop for a few minutes and let it subside.

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: 5,0 - 5,5. 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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