62 TEXTURES
Figure 1: Visualization of the network created by the next-generation SIG in water, under microscopic CryoMEB
Exceptional thickening efficiency at ultra-low dosage One of the most immediate consequences of this optimized microstructure is a dramatic increase in thickening efficiency. Where conventional natural gums may require concentrations of 1% or higher to achieve substantial viscosity, the optimized SIG system can create robust gels at concentrations as low as 0.05% to 0.5%. Within this range, the resulting hydrogels
remain clear and cohesive, while delivering viscosities that can exceed twenty times those produced by xanthan gum at comparable concentrations (0.1%). For formulators, this efficiency opens valuable
formulation space. Lower polymer loadings allow greater flexibility to incorporate active ingredients, humectants and polyols, botanical extracts or sensorial modifiers. Moreover, reducing gum concentration helps
avoid many of the undesirable side effects associated with gelling agents. High levels of thickener often introduce opacity, excessive elasticity, or a filamentous texture that can compromise sensorial elegance. By contrast, the refined SIG framework achieves
target viscosities without pushing the formulation toward these limitations. The result is a formulation landscape where lightness and performance can coexist, enabling textures that feel both structured and effortless.
Robustness across pH and electrolyte conditions Efficiency alone does not make a gelling system versatile. To appear as a universal formulation platform, it must also maintain its structure across the diverse chemical environments encountered in
PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE May 2026
cosmetic formulations. The enhanced synergistic gel framework demonstrates remarkable stability across a broad pH range. Hydrogels maintain their rheological integrity between pH 4 and pH 10, covering most personal-care applications. Equally important is the system’s tolerance
to electrolytes. Some natural gums but mostly synthetic gellants are highly sensitive to ionic species. Salts, mineral waters, or ionic actives can disrupt the polymer network, leading to a complete gel collapse. The optimized polysaccharide complex
exhibits much greater resilience in the presence of electrolytes with a great chassis effect. This allows formulators to incorporate, mineralized waters, ionic active ingredients, botanical extracts rich in salts, electrolyte-containing humectant systems without needing to compensate by increasing polymer concentration. Such robustness significantly simplifies
formulation design, particularly in modern skin care where active-rich compositions are increasingly common.
Stabilizing fluid emulsions Another demanding test for any natural gelling system is the stabilization of emulsions—especially low-viscosity emulsions, known to be the most challenging ones to stabilize. Fluid emulsions are inherently prone to instability. Droplets can move freely through the
continuous phase, increasing the risk of coalescence or phase separation. Synthetic polymers such as carbomers have long dominated this space because they provide both viscosity and yield stress at low use levels. The next-generation SIG platform
demonstrates comparable stabilizing capability.
In comparative experiments performed at equal polymer concentrations, emulsions thickened with xanthan gum or glucomannan showed visible instability during centrifugation tests and accelerated stability studies. Phase separation and droplet aggregation occurred within relatively short periods. By contrast, emulsions structured with the
optimized SIG network remained homogeneous and visually intact, with no detectable phase separation through both stability tests. From a mechanistic perspective, the elastic
hydrogel network immobilizes dispersed droplets by increasing the apparent yield stress of the continuous phase. At the same time, the structure surrounding each droplet is modulated by the fine mesh structure of the gel. Achieving such stabilization at concentrations
around 0.1% polymer is particularly noteworthy. It enables the creation of minimalist emulsions that remain stable while maintaining the light textures favoured in contemporary skin care.
Efficient particle suspension Suspension capacity represents another important functional attribute for modern formulations. Many cosmetic products incorporate insoluble components for visual or functional purposes: pearlescent pigments, exfoliating particles, or decorative botanical elements such as flower petals. Traditional natural gels can suspend these
materials, but often only when used at relatively high concentrations. This frequently results in heavy textures and pronounced stringiness. The engineered polysaccharide network
provides an alternative approach. Even at concentrations around 0.1%, the gel develops
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