You shared your opinion here, by e-mail, and on my new Facebook page for the blog, so we'll be spending a few more weeks on creating gelled products with Ultrez 20 and Sepimax ZEN. 

Last week we took a look at adapting a toner to become a gelled toner by incorporating Ultrez 20 into your recipe. But you could make a gel, then add your ingredients to it after the fact, as I did in this post. (I'm altering the recipe, though, because it contains a whole bunch of ingredients that don't get along with Ultrez 20. I've learned a lot since 2009!)

MAKING A THICK GEL WITH ULTREZ 20
96.5% distilled water
1.2% Carbopol Ultrez 20
1.6% triethanolamine or 18% lye solution*
0.5% liquid Germall Plus

Add your Ultrez 20 to water and mix gently to get all the flakes wet. You'll know they're wet enough when they are transparent or clear in the container, like the picture to the left. Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes, then add the TEA or 18% lye solution. Mix well. If you'll be storing the gel as is, please add the liquid Germall Plus or other suitable preservative. If you will be using it right away in other products, leave it out and incorporate a preservative into the next recipe.
The following recipe is great for normal skin types.

LAVENDER & CHAMOMILE OIL FREE GEL MOISTURIZER
LIQUID PHASE
30% lavender hydrosol
2% glycerin
2% panthenol
0.5% liquid Germall Plus

POWDER PHASE
0.5% powdered chamomile extract
0.5% allantoin

GEL PHASE
64.5% thick gel

Weigh your liquid ph...