Is Carbopol Vegan? A Close Look at This Versatile Thickener

Is Carbopol Vegan? A Close Look at This Versatile Thickener

Posted by MH on Apr 6th 2021

When formulating creams, lotions, and other skincare and hair care products, you will often need thickeners in order to get the product to have the right feel and consistency. Thickeners range in quality and effectiveness, so knowing which ones are worth using will help you a great deal when creating your own recipes.

Carbopol is an interesting thickening agent that is effective at forming clear gels and helping to stabilize emulsions. What stands out about this thickener is that although it is purely synthetic, it is also considered wholly vegan and safe for all skin types, making it an excellent choice for crafting a wide range of products.

If you are looking for more information about high-quality carbopol or simply want to know which thickening agents to use in your formulas, this quick guide will be of use to you. Below we have outlined some of the notable qualities of this ingredient and why you would want to utilize it over other natural thickening agents like tapioca starch or gelatin.

An Amazing Thickening Agent That is All Synthetic

Lately, natural and organic ingredients have garnered a lot of attention for their beneficial traits when it comes to skincare and personal wellness products in general. Rather than rely on harsh and abrasive chemicals and animal-derived ingredients, more consumers are choosing to use natural ingredients that are better for the environment and their health.

Of course, natural doesn’t automatically mean healthy, but in general, plant-derived ingredients do tend to be better for our skin and hair. Given that they are full of naturally beneficial vitamins and minerals, as well as other nutrients, these ingredients are often great at moisturizing, cleansing, and toning. Products that tout high-quality ingredients like mango butter, essential oils, and similar plant-based ingredients are exploding in popularity for this very reason. Not only are they effective at helping the skin, but they are also often gentler as well.

So where does a synthetic thickener such as carbopol come into play? If this ingredient is completely synthetic, is it actually safe to put on our skin and can it be considered vegan?

Carbopol 940, also known as Carbomer, is a 100% synthetic thickening agent derived from acrylic acid and is so distantly removed from most natural chemical compounds that it simply doesn’t cause negative reactions on the skin. Since it is not derived from animals in any way, it is also considered an official vegan ingredient as well. While there are certainly other useful plant-based thickeners out there such as tapioca starch and cornstarch, these natural substances are as versatile for creating clear gels and creams.

Studies have shown that carbopolis safe for skin even in high concentrations, and while it isn’t an organic plant-derived ingredient, it’s still vegan. No animals are harmed during the production of this incredible thickener, which means it can be used to formulate various shampoos and cleansing gels and get the perfect consistency without having to worry about using other questionable synthetics.

Where Can You Find Carbopol and Other Quality Vegan Ingredients?

Unlike cornstarch, which is readily available in most supermarkets, it’s not always easy to get your hands on quality synthetic lotion-crafting ingredients, vegan or not. If you are searching for a go-to location for all of your ingredient needs, you are in the right place. Here at MakeYourOwn.buzz, you will have access to a wide variety of thickeners, emollients, surfactants, fragrances, colorants, and more. We feature high-quality carbopol here in our store, along with triethanolamine which is often used to neutralize it in formulas.

The quality of the ingredients you use is everything when it comes to formulating skincare products. To get that perfect look and feel for your products, and get them to behave correctly under certain conditions, you need the best ingredients possible. Carbopol is a unique synthetic thickening agent that is perfect for crafting a variety of different gels and lotions, such as body washes, facial cleansers, and liquid soaps.

Here at MakeYourOwn.buzz, we’re proud to offer an incredible variety of top-quality ingredients. Whether you are interested in crafting lotions and soaps that are 100% vegan or if you simply want to ensure that you are sourcing effective ingredients that will help your formulas turn out right, we have just what you’re looking for. Everything from thickeners like Carbopol to plant butters, essential oils, soap bases, surfactants, and more. We even carry various measuring tools and other accessories that are necessary during the course of the formulation process.

Have any questions about which thickening agent is right for you? You can reach out to our team at MakeYourOwn.buzz by calling (888) 583-7738. No matter what specific product you are trying to formulate, we have the right product that can help you make your recipe a reality.