Agar Agar Powder
Description |
Agar-agar powder is a seaweed-based plant-based gelatin. Vegetable gelatin comes in flake, powder, bar, and strand form and can be used as a thickening and stabilizing component in recipes. Cosmetic agar is used as a gelling, thickener and stabilizer agent. Stable and inert, it forms reversible gels very useful for cosmetics formulations such as creams, emulsions, suspensions, dispersions, capsules, gels etc. |
INCI |
Gelidium Amansii (Agar) |
Appearance |
Fine, white-yellow powder |
Usage rate |
0.1-2.0% |
Applications |
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How to Work with It |
Agar is able to absorb as much as twenty times its weight and dissolves readily in boiling water. Its high heat tolerance, solidifying at just under 40°C, makes it ideal for cosmetic uses. Agar Agar is able to form gels far below the melting temperature and is able to gel at concentrations as low as 0.04%, though it is ideally used at 1-2% concentrations in your final formulation. |
Scent | Slight seaweed odor |
Solubility | Insoluble in cold water. Slightly soluble in warm water. Soluble in boiling water. |
pH | 5-8 |
Why do we use it in formulations? |
The agar-agar is one of the most commonly used elements due to its suspensive, emulsifying, stabilizing and gelling properties that add no oil to the product, which is a very important feature when developing skin products. In addition, it is non-toxic and non-irritating, essential for people with skin conditions. |
Strengths |
Agar is a jelly-like substance derived from red algae. It is used to gel, thicken, and stabilize cosmetic formulations. |
Benefits |
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