Both separated and suspended scrub types are achievable with glycols. The ratio employed in the salt / Sugar and oil fromulary also holds for glycol formulas:25%to 35%glycols and 65% to 75% salt phase. The disadvantage for this type of scrub is lack of good skin after-feel. Suspended formulas are more popular in the market. In suspended formulations, a thickened glycol phase is achieved by adding rheology- modifying polymers, emulsifiers with emollients, or a combination of both. The polymers must be glycol- soluble in order to thicken the continuous phase. Examples of applicable polymers include polyquarternium10 or xanthan gum.
When formulating glycol-based scrubs using emalsifiers and emollients, one could use the same approach used for a normal Water-based cream or lotion. In this case however, water is replaced by glycols. Possible emulsifiers are glyceryl stearate, certain pdysorbates and other nonionic surfactants. Possible emollients are fatty alcohols, natural and synthetic oils, and plant extracts.
Glycol scrubs impart skin benefits via humectants (as moisturizers), minerals ( for treating skin), and emollients ( for improved skin feed and protection). The performance is adjustable by changing the ratio of these ingredients. The salt concentration varies from 50% to 70 % and the glycol concentration varier from 50 % to 30 %.
Dramatic temperature dependency of viscosity is the nature of glycol scrubs. The formula should be well balanced with emulsifiers and emollients to ensure the product's integrity in normal temperature variation in different seasons.
Scrubs based on silicone oils: To achieve the best skin after- feel, silicone oils can be used in scrub formulations, Both separated type and suspended type can be formulated with silicone oils.