Viscosity Builder
What is Viscosity Builder?
Viscosity builders thicken shampoos, body washes, liquid hand soaps, and cream cleansers—delivering consumer-preferred rheology, suspension of actives, and stable foam during use. Venus Ethoxyethers supplies co-surfactants and ethoxylated grades that build viscosity efficiently with salt, amphoterics, and polymer…
What is Viscosity Builder used for?
In surfactant-based systems, viscosity often peaks at specific ratios of anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants—forming wormlike micelle structures. Co-surfactants such as alkyl glucosides and ethoxylated fatty alcohols tune the salt curve and clarity of finished products. Venus Ethoxyethers manufactures and supplies in India; request a quote for your requirements.
Viscosity builders thicken shampoos, body washes, liquid hand soaps, and cream cleansers—delivering consumer-preferred rheology, suspension of actives, and stable foam during use. Venus Ethoxyethers supplies co-surfactants and ethoxylated grades that build viscosity efficiently with salt, amphoterics, and polymer thickeners.
How viscosity is built
In surfactant-based systems, viscosity often peaks at specific ratios of anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants—forming wormlike micelle structures. Co-surfactants such as alkyl glucosides and ethoxylated fatty alcohols tune the salt curve and clarity of finished products.
Product options
Fatty alcohol ethoxylates, polyethylene glycols, and methyl ester ethoxylates support different thickening strategies for sulfate and sulfate-free lines. Emulsifiers also contribute body in cream cleansers.
Formulation support
Explore personal care chemicals and contact Venus for viscosity-building surfactant samples and starting formulations.
| INCI DESIGNATION | APPLICATION | PROPERTIES/COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Steareth-20EO | Anti-perspirants, depilatories, bleaches, baby care, deodorant, bath and shower products | Forms stable oil-in-water emulsions and produces viscosity and body in creams and lotions |
| Ceteth-20EO | Skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, sun care | Imparts body and viscosity to creams, stable over wide pH range |
| Steareth-21EO | Foundation makeup, skin care, hair care, anti-perspirants, depilatories, bleaches, baby care, deodorant, bath and shower products | Forms stable oil-in-water emulsions and produces viscosity and body in creams and lotions. |
| Glycereth-26EO | Foundation makeup, skin care, hair care, anti-perspirants, depilatories, bleaches, baby care, deodorant, bath and shower products | Used as humectant that offers a smooth and luxurious feel. It is recommended as skin conditioning agent, dispersant, detackifier, solubilizer, viscosity modifier, plasticizer, foam modifier and as exceptional lubricant. |
| PEG-20-Stearate | skin care, color cosmetics, sun care products | Used as a viscosity builder and emulsion stabilizer in creams and lotions. Used in products which are required to melt at body temperature. |
| PEG-1500 Mono Stearate | Baby care, skin care, sun care, bath, shower and hair care products | It is used as an emulsifier, viscosity builder, thickener, spreading agent. |
| PEG-1750 Mono Stearate | Baby care, skin care, sun care, bath, shower and hair care products | It is used as an emulsifier, viscosity builder, thickener, spreading agent. |
| PEG-2000 Di Stearate | Baby care, skin care, sun care, bath, shower and hair care products | It is used as an emulsifier, viscosity builder, thickener, spreading agent. |
| Polyethylene Glycols (MW 200-10000) | Baby care, skin care, hair care, bath and shower products | Used as humectants, fixatives and viscosity modifiers. They are mild, nonirritant, neutral and water soluble polymers. |
| Coco Monoethanol amide | Shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, cleansing formulations, hair care and skin care products | Used as a foam booster and viscosity builder in shampoos. It has low skin irritancy. |
| Lauric Monoethanol amide | Shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, cleansing formulations, hair care and skin care products | Used as a foam booster for stable and dense foams. Also used for viscosity building in shampoos and soaps. |
| Coco Monoethanmol amide - 3EO/5EO | Shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, cleansing formulations, hair care and skin care products | Used as alternatives (liquid) to regular CMEA and has applications as foam booster, viscosity builder in soaps and shampoos. |
| Coco Betaine (35) | Shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, cleansing formulations, hair care and skin care products | It is an excellent viscosity building and foam boosting agent and widely used in personal care formulations. It reduces irritation when formulated with other anionic surfactants and have good tolerance to hard water. |