BUTTER-C
Face care
Moisturizing gel OEM/ODM manufacturing
Moisturizing Gel · OEM/ODM
A moisturizing gel is the answer for oily skin, acne-prone skin and hot, humid climates: it hydrates without adding oil, feels cool on application and dries down within seconds. Unlike a cream, a gel has no oil phase to emulsify; the entire texture comes from the gelling polymer, and its transparency means every flaw shows immediately: a single air bubble, a trace of haze or slight discoloration is visible through the jar wall. The remaining challenge is keeping skin hydrated long enough when the formula contains almost no occlusive ingredients. Butter-C offers turnkey OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development to labeled finished goods and the notification dossier.
Formula base
Water, polymers and water-binding ingredients
A moisturizing gel formula consists of a gel network, a humectant group and a soothing group. The three groups below are the directions Butter-C works with.
Gel network
Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum. Each gives a different clarity, body and water-release feel.
Humectants and water binders
Hyaluronic acid in multiple molecular weights, glycerin, betaine, trehalose, sodium PCA, ectoin. These do the main work of the product.
Soothing agents and barrier lipids
Centella, panthenol, allantoin, niacinamide; ceramides added to a clear gel need a nano-dispersed or pre-solubilized form to avoid haze.
Points to weigh when choosing
Clear or translucent gel; the polymer's electrolyte tolerance; tackiness at high humectant levels; and pilling when layered under sunscreen.
Key technical points
Four factors that decide gel quality
Clarity and air bubbles
The polymer must be fully hydrated before neutralization, and mixing is done under vacuum to remove air. Extracts and fragrance are filtered and fully solubilized so the gel stays clear.
Electrolyte tolerance
Salts from actives (sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, niacinamide, extracts) thin out carbomer gels. We choose salt-tolerant polymers or combine two polymers to hold viscosity.
Hydration without oil
Humectants with different mechanisms are combined with polymers that form a thin film on skin; a small amount of squalane or a light silicone can be added in a translucent gel for skin that needs more occlusion.
No tackiness, no pilling
Glycerin and high-molecular-weight HA levels are capped so the gel is not sticky; polymers are chosen so the gel does not roll into strands when layered with other products.
Three formulation directions
Three common gel textures
Clear gel
Oil-free, breaks into water when spread. Aimed at oily skin, acne-prone skin and younger users.
Translucent gel with lipids
Small amounts of ceramides and squalane turn the gel milky. Aimed at combination skin and dehydrated oily skin.
Multi-purpose soothing gel
High levels of centella or aloe vera in a large size, for face and body, after sun exposure.
Packaging designed with the formula
A clear jar shows off the gel texture but also reveals any color change; a spatula is recommended. Tubes or pump bottles are a better fit when hygiene is the priority.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D lab measures on every sample
These are the parameters Butter-C monitors during formula development and scale-up to production. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- Appearance & clarity
- Color, odor, clarity and air bubbles, compared with the approved reference sample under the same lighting.
- pH
- Measured directly at 25°C; pH determines the viscosity of carbomer gels, so it is checked on every batch.
- Viscosity
- Measured with a rotational viscometer, at room temperature and after accelerated aging.
- Stability
- 40°C, freeze–thaw cycling and light exposure; monitored for discoloration, haze, gel thinning and water separation.
- Skin feel
- Spreadability, dry-down time, tackiness and pilling when layered with other products.
- Moisturizing performance
- Stratum corneum hydration measured at a testing facility when a basis is needed for label claims.
- Active content
- Key actives assayed by a suitable method when the label names the active.
- Microbiology & preservative efficacy
- A high-water gel in an open-mouth jar makes a preservative efficacy (challenge) test to ISO 11930 mandatory; testing at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory.
- Packaging compatibility
- Filled into the actual jar to be used; checked for seal integrity and weight loss from water evaporation.
Claims
Writing claims within cosmetic scope
Gels for oily, acne-prone skin often carry English phrases such as "Calms Acne" or "Reduce Redness". When moving to the Vietnamese supplementary label and the notification dossier, these lines need to be reworded.
Hydrates, leaving skin soft and plump
Instead of: treats dry skin, repairs damaged skin.
Soothes skin, suitable for acne-prone skin
Instead of: treats acne, reduces acne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory.
Helps skin look less red
Instead of: reduces inflammation and redness, treats rashes, treats irritation.
Oil-free
Claim only when the formula truly contains no oils or esters; a translucent gel with squalane cannot carry this claim.
"5X Ceramide" and other numbers
State clearly that it is a complex of five ceramides; do not let readers take it to mean five times the amount.
Hydration duration
State hours of hydration only when backed by measurements on human subjects.
Manufacturing specifications
Current capabilities
- Texture
- Clear gel, translucent gel or gel-cream; colorless or lightly tinted on request.
- Pack formats
- Jars, tubes or pump bottles. Fill weight agreed when packaging is selected.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order, depending on the formula direction and pack format chosen.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, with a certificate of analysis delivered with every batch.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and notification dossier prepared by Butter-C.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Reference product
Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Gel
A sample made by Butter-C, shown here to help you picture a specific product direction. Your brand can take a completely different direction; this is only a starting point for discussion.
Hyaluronic acid
The main hydrating active, featured in the product name.
Ectoin and centella
The soothing group, aimed at oily, acne-prone skin and skin that reddens easily.
Five-ceramide complex
Adds barrier lipids in dispersed form while keeping the gel clear.
45 g jar
Thick-walled, clear pale blue jar that shows off the gel texture inside.
Customization options
What you can specify
Within the same product type, each brand targets a different customer group. Tell us your requirements in the areas below, and our team of pharmacists will develop a matching formula.
Clarity
Water-clear, clear with a color tint, or translucent gel.
Body and feel
Firm gel that holds a peak, soft gel, or water-release gel that breaks when spread.
Additional actives
Hyaluronic acid, ectoin, niacinamide, centella, panthenol, ceramides.
Target skin type
Oily, acne-prone skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, or a family-use product.
Fragrance and color
Fragrance-free or lightly scented; colorless or lightly tinted to match your brand identity.
Ingredient direction
Oil-free, vegan, alcohol-free, paraben-free; please state these from the start so suitable raw materials can be selected.
Further reading
Related topics
Caring for acne-prone skin
Why oily, acne-prone skin still needs moisturizing, and which texture to choose (in Vietnamese).
Dry skin vs. dehydrated skin: differences, causes and care
Dehydrated oily skin, the main customer group for moisturizing gels (in Vietnamese).
Moisturizing cream OEM/ODM manufacturing
A richer option for normal and dry skin.
HA hydrating serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
Multi-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid in serum form, used before the gel step.
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
Head office: Huu Le village, Dai Thanh commune, Hanoi · Factory: Thanh Oai Industrial Cluster, Binh Minh commune, Hanoi, Vietnam
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