How HASE Thickeners Solve Four Key Challenges in Cosmetic Formulations?

In shampoos, body washes, sunscreens and even foundations, there is an invisible yet crucial player — the rheology modifier, commonly known as a thickener. It not only determines the viscosity of a product but also affects the suspension stability of ingredients, pourability, and skin feel. Today, let’s first understand a class of technology known as HASE thickeners from an educational perspective, and then see how one specific product puts these properties into practice.

What Is a HASE Thickener? What Are the Advantages of Low Viscosity Emulsions?

HASE stands for “Hydrophobically Modified AlkaliSwellable Emulsion”. Such polymers exist as low viscosity emulsions under acidic conditions, making them easy to handle; when the pH is raised (neutralized by alkali), the polymer chains expand to form a three dimensional network, thereby thickening and generating suspension power. Among them, non associative HASE thickeners do not rely on hydrophobic modification — they work through a simple alkali swellable mechanism.

In formulation production, what does a low viscosity thickener emulsion mean? It means easy pumping, fast mixing, and no need for pre heating or complex dispersion equipment. Meanwhile, if it is a water-soluble thickener, it can be directly incorporated into the water phase, offering wider applicability — even for transparent systems.

Four Application Challenges in Cosmetic Formulations — How Can HASE Help?

Based on industry experience, formulators often face several typical challenges. The right HASE thickener can provide solutions.

Challenge 1: How to Suspend Insoluble Ingredients (Silicone, ZPT, Powders)?

Silicone droplets in shampoos, zinc pyrithione (ZPT) in anti dandruff shampoos, or pigment powders in foundations — these are all water insoluble solids or droplets. Without an effective suspending agent, they will quickly settle and separate. An excellent HASE thickener should possess excellent suspending ability. That is exactly the strength of many non associative acrylate copolymers.

Challenge 2: How to Achieve Thickening, Stabilizing, and Co-Emulsifying Simultaneously?

Many single thickeners only address viscosity but offer limited help in emulsion stability. Ideally, one ingredient can provide multiple functions: increase viscosity, stabilize the emulsion, and assist the emulsification process.

Challenge 3: Is It Applicable for Transparent Cleansing Products?

Nowadays, transparent shampoos and body washes are quite popular. If a thickener causes turbidity, it cannot meet the requirements of clear formulations. Therefore, being applicable for transparent systems is an important screening criterion.

Challenge 4: Can It Work in Formulations Containing Alcohol or Polyols?

Many sunscreen sprays, toners or special cleansing products contain alcohol, glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol or isopropanol. Some thickeners may lose efficacy or precipitate in these solvents. Therefore, compatibility with solvents is critical.

SQ‑Susper 40T — A Non‑Associative HASE Thickener Based on Real Specifications

SQ‑Susper 40T is  is a non‑associating rheology modifier, can be directly used in the following four categories ：

1.Pearly Shampoo, Pearly Body Wash and Other Cleansers

In these cleansing products, formulations often contain pearlescent agents, silicone droplets, anti‑dandruff ingredients (such as ZPT) or powders. SQ‑Susper 40T provides excellent suspending ability for silicone, ZPT, powder and other insoluble ingredients, preventing them from settling and separating. At the same time, it also provides stabilizing, thickening and co‑emulsifying functions, and is applicable for transparent systems — meaning it can be used even in clear shampoos or body washes that contain no pearlescent agents.

2. Foundation Cream / Lotion

Foundation products require even dispersion of pigments and powders to avoid color patches or sedimentation. SQ‑Susper 40T is used in foundation creams/lotions precisely because of its ability to suspend powders and its thickening and co‑emulsifying functions, helping to maintain the stability and uniformity of the foundation system.

3.Sunscreen Cream / Lotion

Sunscreen products often contain inorganic sunscreens (such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) or organic sunscreen beads — these insoluble ingredients also need to be stably suspended without settling. SQ‑Susper 40T works in sunscreen creams/lotions by virtue of its ability to suspend insoluble ingredients and its stabilizing and co‑emulsifying functions, helping the sunscreen emulsion remain uniform and non‑separating.

4.Formula with Alcohol, Glycol, Isopropanol, Propylene Glycol and Glycerol

Many special cleansing products, sprays or serum‑type formulas contain alcohol, glycol, isopropanol, propylene glycol or glycerol. These solvents can easily cause ordinary thickeners to lose efficacy or precipitate. SQ‑Susper 40T can be used in formulas containing alcohol, glycol, isopropanol, propylene glycol and glycerol, allowing it to maintain thickening and suspending functions in such systems.

As a China HASE thickener supplier, Shengqing Materials focuses on exporting chemical raw materials. If you are looking for a non‑associative HASE thickener with clear characteristics and wide application fields, SQ‑Susper 40T is worth including in your evaluation.