INCI Name: Carbomer
Appearance: White, fluffy, dry powder
Solubility: Dispersible in water
Usage Rate: 0.1% – 1%
Function: Thickener, stabilizer, suspending agent, emulsifier support
Carbomer 940 is a highly efficient rheology modifier used to produce crystal-clear gels and thickened emulsions. It provides excellent suspension capabilities and forms a smooth, elegant texture in both rinse-off and leave-on products. Carbomer 940 is ideal for creating transparent, pH-sensitive gel bases in skincare, haircare, and personal care formulations.
Carbomer 940 is a high molecular weight crosslinked polymer of acrylic acid, commonly used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations to adjust viscosity, stabilize emulsions, and suspend particles. When neutralized, it forms smooth, clear gels with excellent consistency and shelf stability.
Disperse into deionized water under low-to-medium shear. Avoid clumping by sprinkling slowly. Once fully hydrated, neutralize with TEA (triethanolamine) or NaOH to pH 6–7 to activate gelling properties.
Best added to the water phase at room temperature. Requires neutralization to reach full viscosity.
It’s a high-molecular-weight crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymer. That means it produces very high viscosity at low concentrations (0.1–1%), giving clear gels with a glossy finish. It’s the classic choice for thick gels, whereas some lower grades focus more on suspension or electrolyte tolerance.
It creates stable, crystal-clear gels with very little polymer needed. This makes it ideal for face serums, hand sanitizers, and styling gels where both clarity and viscosity matter.
In its raw state it’s acidic and won’t thicken. Adding a neutralizer like TEA (triethanolamine), sodium hydroxide, or aminomethyl propanol raises the pH and uncoils the polymer chains, creating viscosity and gel structure.
Carbomer 940 has poor electrolyte tolerance. Ingredients like sodium PCA, AHAs, or high levels of salts screen its charges and break down the gel network. If your formula is salt-heavy, a more tolerant polymer (like Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6) is better.
Clumping (often called “fish eyes”) happens if Carbomer isn’t dispersed properly. Always sprinkle it slowly under high shear into the water phase, or pre-wet it in a solvent like glycerin or propanediol before hydrating.
Over-neutralization or too high concentration can give stringiness. Adjusting pH to around 6–7 or lowering Carbomer concentration usually restores smooth application.
Yes, but the polymer and neutralizer must be chosen carefully. For ethanol-heavy systems, neutralizers like aminomethyl propanol or TEA are commonly used to stabilize the gel structure.
It can be blended with gums like xanthan or sclerotium for added suspension or texture. The combination improves stability in systems with moderate electrolytes while softening Carbomer’s sharp gel feel.
0.1–1% is enough for most cosmetic gels. Hand sanitizers may use slightly higher levels for thicker gels. Above 1%, viscosity increases but spreadability and clarity often suffer.
Check the pH: if it’s below 5.5, the polymer isn’t fully neutralized. If it’s correct but still thin, too many electrolytes may be collapsing the gel network. In that case, switching to an electrolyte-tolerant grade is the reliable fix.
