Emulsifying wax GP is a high-quality, industry-standard self-emulsifier composed of glyceryl stearate and PEG-100 stearate. It is designed as a primary emulsifier for all types of oil-in-water (O/W) cream and lotion systems. This material is highly versatile, suitable for creating a wide range of products, from light milks to rich emulsified butters. Its key advantage is that it does not significantly increase viscosity, even in formulations with high oil content. Because it does not contain thickening agents such as cetearyl alcohol, it provides greater flexibility in adjusting the consistency and skin feel of the final product. It also delivers excellent stability in low-viscosity emulsions.
Glyceryl stearate and PEG-100 stearate–based emulsifiers are widely used in personal care products due to their versatility, allowing independent adjustment of viscosity and oil phase size in formulations. They easily create stable emulsions at low usage rates and perform well across a broad range of oil phase sizes. Their cost-effectiveness, performance, and lightweight skin feel make them stand out from other commonly used emulsifiers.
During formulation, the blend must be melted and incorporated into the oil phase. The standard emulsification procedure is as follows:
- Heat the water phase and the oil phase (containing emulsifying wax) separately to 70–75 °C
- Combine the water phase with the oil phase under high-shear mixing to create a stable, creamy emulsion
- Let the emulsion cool gradually while maintaining gentle stirring
- Once the mixture reaches a lower temperature, incorporate any optional ingredients such as essential oils
- Conclude by adding a preservative to help extend the formulation’s shelf life
