IO Consistency Wax Granules

This ingredient at a glance

IO Consistency Wax Granules comes as round granules that dissolve in oils. The product card lists gel creams, lotions, creams, butters and balms as the products it suits. This ingredient is a well-known family of consistency factors used in the oil phase of cosmetics. These ingredients thicken and structure formulas, help emulsions stay stable and give a rich, cushioned texture. Check the INCI name, melting range and recommended level on the supplier data sheet and CoA, since these details decide how it behaves in a formula.

What a consistency factor does

Emulsions need more than an emulsifier. Fatty alcohols, waxes and esters in the oil phase build a network that gives body and keeps droplets from moving around. Without them, a lotion can feel thin and may separate over time. A consistency factor like this ingredient adds that structure. In anhydrous butters and balms it controls hardness and how the product melts on skin.

Product formats

Gel creams

A small amount gives a gel cream a richer, creamier body without losing its fresh feel.

Lotions

In body and face lotions it builds a smooth, flowing texture that stays stable.

Creams

Face creams, hand creams and night creams gain body and a cushioned feel.

Butters

Whipped body butters use consistency factors to hold their shape and give a firm yet spreadable texture.

Balms

Lip and body balms rely on waxy structurants to control hardness and glide.

Processing

Weigh the granules into the oil phase with the other lipids and emulsifiers. Heat until fully melted and clear, then emulsify with the heated water phase. Cool while stirring. For butters and balms, melt with the butters and waxes, then cool in a controlled way to avoid a grainy texture.

Good partners

Plant butters, fatty alcohols and emollient esters work well alongside it. Oat seed oil brings a soft, comforting feel to creams. For a richer body oil, pumpkin seed oil is a good carrier. See more oils in the carrier oils catalog and more functional ingredients in the actives catalog.

Testing

Measure viscosity and check emulsion stability with centrifuge and warm-cabinet tests. For balms, test hardness and look for blooming on the surface after temperature cycling.

Claims

Texture claims are the natural fit: rich, creamy texture; smooth, cushioned feel; long-lasting comfort.

Characteristics

Form: round granules. Solubility: in oils. Listed products: gel creams, lotions, creams, butters, balms. INCI, melting range and level: supplier data sheet and CoA.

Original recipe: rich hand cream, 100 g

Distilled water 69.30 g, glycerin 5.00 g, shea butter 6.00 g, sunflower oil 8.00 g, IO Consistency Wax Granules 3.00 g, cetearyl alcohol 2.50 g, glyceryl stearate citrate 4.00 g, panthenol 1.00 g, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin 1.00 g, xanthan gum 0.20 g. Melt the oil phase with IO Consistency Wax Granules, heat the water phase with glycerin and xanthan, emulsify, cool and add panthenol and the preservative.

Fine-tuning texture

Small changes in the consistency factor make a big difference. Raise it in steps to move from a lotion to a cream, and lower it for a lighter gel cream. Combine it with a fatty alcohol for a firmer body, or with a liquid ester for a softer, faster-absorbing finish. Keep notes on each trial so the texture can be repeated.

Range ideas

A body butter, a hand cream and a lip balm can share a common lipid base and a similar sensory profile.

Lot records

Keep each CoA with the batch file and note the lot used in every formula.

Record the lot number in your batch log so every production run can be traced back to its certificate of analysis. Retain a small sample of each lot for at least the shelf life of the finished product, since it makes later quality questions much easier to answer.

Storage

Store closed in a cool, dry place. Close the container after use.