The clean label trend, already well established across personal care, is increasingly extending into baby care as well. Parents are seeking sulfate free, ultra-gentle and visibly transparent products that offer peace of mind, and Corel Pharma Chem has created a solution for this with Acrypol® ET-22.
Formulating for this segment means getting a balance of aesthetics and texture correct, while still meeting the rigorous safety standards required for infant skin. Achieving high viscosity and crystal clear clarity in a sulfate free system has historically been one of the trickier hurdles a formulator can face.
About Acrypol® ET-22
Acrypol® ET-22 is manufactured by Corel Pharma Chem and is a high molecular weight liquid rheology modifier, supplied as a 30% active dispersion for straightforward, cold-process handling. It’s classed as a Hydrophobically modified Alkali Soluble Emulsion (HASE) polymer, with the INCI name Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer.
Its molecular architecture is engineered to work in synergy with anionic surfactants, giving sulfate free systems the strength they can lack, and enabling non-sticky gel textures. Beyond thickening, its HASE nature provides strong suspension power, allowing botanical oils such as almond or carrot seed oil to be stabilised without sacrificing clarity.
Key Benefits
- Readily dispersible in water for rapid, cold-processable manufacturing
- Sulfate free compatibility, providing strength to systems that often struggle with viscosity loss
- Enables non-sticky gel textures with a cushiony skin feel
- Provides suspension power for botanical oils, without sacrificing clarity
- Works as a primary emulsifier in surfactant free systems, creating stable, velvety emulsions with a non-greasy after-feel
- Stable across the pH range used in these formulations, from 6.5 up to 12.0
Formulation Performance Across the Range
The table below sets out Corel Pharma Chem’s tentative baby care formulations, showing the dosage, pH, viscosity and appearance achieved with Acrypol ET-22 across each product type.
| Application | Acrypol ET-22 (%)* | pH | Viscosity (cps) | Appearance |
| Baby Cream | 2.00 | 6.8–7.3 | 8,000–10,000 | Opaque |
| Baby Laundry Detergent | 8.00 | 6.0–6.5 | 5,000–5,500 | Transparent |
| Baby Shampoo | 4.00 | 6.5–7.0 | 2,500–4,500 | Transparent |
| Transparent Baby Shampoo | 6.00 | 6.5–7.0 | 5,500–6,500 | Transparent |
| Herbal Baby Shampoo | 7.00 | 6.0–7.0 | 4,000–6,000 | Transparent |
| Baby Shower Gel | 6.00 | 6.5–7.0 | 5,500–6,500 | Transparent |
| Herbal Baby Body Wash | 6.00 | 6.0–7.0 | 2,500–4,500 | Transparent |
*As supplied
Key Applications
- Baby shampoos and shower gels, delivering the sparkling clear look associated with purity
- Herbal or botanical washes, where its suspension power keeps active oils stable without clouding the base
- Baby creams and lotions, where it acts as a primary emulsifier for a soft, silky, fast-absorbing finish
- Baby laundry detergents, where it holds viscosity and stability at a gentle pH of 6.0 to 6.5
Ready to Find Out More?
With applications across creams, shampoos, shower gels, body wash and laundry detergent, Acrypol ET-22 from Corel Pharma Chem is a great starting point for your next baby care formulations.
Get in touch with the HARKE UK & Ireland technical team to request a sample or talk through your next formulation.
