We took a look at how to use Ultrez 20 yesterday, so let's take a look at using Sepimax ZEN in our gelled products today.

Sepimax ZEN (INCI: Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6) is a pre-neutralized polymer we can use to create thick gels without having to do a lot of mixing.

It works well with electrolytes, so we can use it to make gels from aloe vera and surfactant mixes easily. It can handle acidic pH levels, so we can use AHAs and glycolic acid at up to 4%. As it?s anionic or negatively charged, we can?t use positively charged or cationic ingredients, like honeyquat, polyquat 7, or Incroquat BTMS-50 in it. (Having said that, I have been able to make some things work, which you'll see shortly...)

Sepimax ZEN is awesome with surfactants. At as low as 2% it increases foam and lather, and leaves behind a moisturized feel.
Sepimax ZEN can be thickened by mixing for about 10 minutes. Start with a lower speed ? around 500 rpm ? and move to 1500 rpm. Or weigh all the ingredients into a container, mix a bit to integrate the ZEN, then leave it for up to 8 hours to hydrate. But you have to leave it alone! (Okay, you can take a look from time to time, but don?t mix it or you?ll ruin it!)

It advertises on the fact that it can incorporate vegetable and seed oils as well as esters, like C12-15 alkyl benzoate, to create cream gels. It says it can do up to 40% oils, but I've had trouble going above 10%.

As an aside, it?s a great addition to a product that wouldn?t normally handle electrol...