Unique Thickener | Delivers a creamy, mousse-like texture with zero sticky feel

Thickening systems are the core carrier for regulating product rheological properties and defining sensory texture and appearance.Traditional water- based polymeric thickeners can build viscosity but often cause tackiness in the semi-dry state. VeThick S25，a sodium polyacrylate-grafted starch—features a unique structural design and superior performance to effectively solve this issue. It delivers a premium, creamy mousse texture and upgrades formulation aesthetics significantly.

01 Graft Modification Mechanism    

In the development of modified starch, grafted starch is also referred to as the third-generation modified starch.The first generation includes acid-thinned, oxidized, and cross-linked starches;the second generation comprises etherified, esterified, and cationic starches.

Sodium Polyacrylate-Grafted Starch is a polymer featuring both thickening efficacy and exceptional water absorption capacity. Similar to plant grafting that combines superior traits, sodium polyacrylate-grafted starch integrates natural starch macromolecules with high-performance polymers. It delivers natural, mild biocompatibility while enabling powder particles to swell upon water absorption, turning into cushion-like "water-absorbent beads" to achieve precise control over product texture and skin feel.

 

02 Product Advantages

• Tactile Feel: Powdery-smooth, non-sticky & non-greasy

Common water-based thickeners (e.g., carbomer, xanthan gum) form continuous macromolecular chains after dissolution. When semi-dry, molecular entanglement causes them to adhere to the skin, resulting in tackiness.In contrast, VeThick S25 exists as swollen particles when dispersed in water. Even in the semi-dry state, it retains a powdery particle form with a dense, creamy texture. It eliminates stickiness at the source and delivers a silky, powdery-smooth tactile feel.

Skin Feel Comparison：

•  Visual: Mousse matte texture    

As an aqueous thickener capable of creating a mousse effect, VeThick S25 forms a proper matte mousse texture through its particle swelling property. It avoids the greasiness or artificial slipperiness caused by conventional thickeners, effectively balancing graininess and fineness to meet consumers’ demand for premium sensory texture.

Mousse Appearance Reference：

•  Adaptive Upgrade

Based on the structural characteristics of sodium polyacrylategrafted starch, VeThick S25 demonstrates excellent adaptability in formulations：

·  Shear Resistance: No concern about texture being affected by stirring intensity during production; the mousse structure remains stable under moderate shear.

· pH Compatibility: Insensitive to fluctuations in formulation pH, compatible with the acid-base environment of most skincare systems.

·  Solvent Tolerance: In line with the general properties of grafted starch, it maintains thickening efficacy in ethanol systems up to 30% concentration, opening more possibilities for alcohol-containing formulations.

03 Safety, Compliance & Processing Guidelines   

•  Safety

VeThick S25 has passed strict safety testing for cosmetic ingredients.Tested by a third-party laboratory in accordance with the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, acrylamide (a carcinogenic risk) was not detected (detection limit: 0.01 mg/kg) in VeThick S25. This level is far below the reference limit of ≤0.5 mg/kg, eliminating the risk of acrylamide residue and providing compliance assurance for formulation development.

• Precautions

·  Pretreatment: It is recommended to wet the powder with polyols (glycerin, butanediol, etc.) first, then add to water and stir evenly to avoid agglomeration and improve dispersion efficiency.

·  Temperature Control: Add below 50°C; high temperatures may damage the particle swelling structure.

·  Processing Note: Homogenization is not recommended, as it will destroy the microstructure of the mousse texture and affect the final skin feel and appearance.

Sample Request

Through grafting chemistry, VeThick S25 elevates thickening beyond simple rheology control. Its particle swelling system delivers a triple breakthrough in skin feel, texture, and stability. If you are interested to VeThick S25, welcome to fill in your information to request a sample.