AccessTHIX 880

High-Efficiency Thickener for Crystal-Clear Gels & Lotions

INCI Name: Carbomer

AccessTHIX 880 is a versatile and highly efficient polymer thickener used to create textures from thin lotions to thick, crystal-clear gels. As a benzene-free carbomer, it reliably builds viscosity and stabilizes emulsions, making it a go-to for hydroalcoholic hand sanitizing gels, serums, and professional-quality creams.

Perfect For These Applications

Other cosmetic uses possible—contact us for formulation guidance.

Hydroalcoholic Hand Sanitizers

Creates stable, clear gels with high alcohol content (60–70%) without losing viscosity, providing a smooth, non-sticky feel.
Facial & Body Gels

Forms crystal-clear, refreshing gel bases for cooling gels, aloe gels, and hydrating masks that deliver water-based actives.
Creams & Lotions

Acts as a stabilizer and thickener at very low concentrations, improving texture, stability, and sensory profile of emulsions.
Serums & Essences

Builds light viscosity for controlled, elegant application and enhanced spread of water-based actives.
Suspension Products

Effectively suspends beads, glitter, or exfoliants to keep them evenly distributed without settling.
Oral Care Products

Provides viscosity control and gel structure in toothpaste and other gel-based oral care formulations.

How to Use AccessTHIX 880 in Your Formulations

Understanding AccessTHIX 880

AccessTHIX 880 is a powerful thickener that gives your water-based products the perfect texture. In its powder form, it’s made of tightly coiled molecules. When you mix it into water, it disperses and hydrates. But the real magic happens when you neutralize it—that is, when you raise the pH of the mixture. This causes the molecules to uncoil and stretch out, forming a complex network that traps water. This network is what turns your thin, watery liquid into a thick, stable gel or lotion.

For the more technical-minded, AccessTHIX 880 is a high-molecular-weight, cross-linked polyacrylic acid polymer (Carbomer). Neutralization deprotonates carboxylic acid groups along the backbone, creating electrostatic repulsion that expands the polymer and rapidly increases viscosity. A key advantage of AccessTHIX 880 is that it is polymerized without the use of benzene, meeting modern safety and regulatory standards for cosmetic ingredients.

Formulation Tips

Dispersion: Evenly disperse the powder into your water phase before adding other ingredients. Sprinkle slowly into a strong vortex or sieve while mixing to prevent clumps (“fish eyes”).

Hydration: Allow full hydration (a few minutes to ~30 minutes). The mixture will be slightly viscous, cloudy, and at a low pH (around 3.0).

Neutralization: Add a base gradually to a target pH of ~6.0–7.5. Common neutralizers include a 10% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution or Triethanolamine (TEA). Viscosity will build instantly and the gel will become clear.

Use 0.1–0.3% for thin serums, 0.4–0.8% for lotions and creams, and 1.0–1.5% for thick gels. Carbomers can be sensitive to electrolytes (salts) and certain botanical extracts; if your formula contains these, you may need a slightly higher use level. For hydroalcoholic gels, pair with suitable neutralizers and adjust for final alcohol content.

Key Formulation Benefits:

High Efficiency: Builds strong viscosity at very low usage (as low as 0.1%), improving cost-in-use.
Crystal-Clear Gels: Produces brilliantly clear gels ideal for serums, sanitizers, and water-gel bases.
Excellent Suspension: Stabilizes and suspends beads, pigments, or exfoliants with no settling.
Smooth, Elegant Texture: Delivers a light, non-tacky skin feel compared to many natural gums.
Benzene-Free: Manufactured without benzene for modern, clean, and compliant formulations.
Versatile Application: Performs across gels, lotions, creams, serums, and hydroalcoholic systems.

Heading #1
Benefits	Clean & Natural, Emulsion Stability, Formulation Versatility, Long-Term Stability, Smooth Spreadability, Texture & Sensory
INCI Name	Carbomer
Usage Rate	0.1%-1.5%
Functional Type	Polymer Thickeners, Suspension Agents, Thickeners & Rheology Modifiers
Phase Compatibility	Water Phase
Application Area	Body, Face, Hair, Oral Care
Product Type Suitability	Cleansers, Creams & Lotions, Gels, Hair Styling, Oral Care Products, Serums & Essences
Certifications	Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Physical Form	Powder

Frequently Asked Questions About AccessTHIX 880

It’s a thickener that turns watery liquids into smooth gels, lotions, or creams. It provides body, texture, and helps keep products stable.

You likely need to neutralize. After dispersing and hydrating the powder in water, add a base (e.g., 10% NaOH or TEA) slowly until pH ~6.0–7.5. Viscosity will build instantly.

Start low. Use ~0.2% for thin serums, ~0.5% for standard lotions/gels, and 1.0–1.5% for very thick gels. Adjust based on formula demands.

Sprinkle powder slowly into a strong vortex while mixing. Do not dump all at once. Sifting or pre-wetting can also help minimize “fish eyes.”

It refers to the manufacturing process. Older carbomers used benzene as a solvent. AccessTHIX 880 is produced without benzene for safer, cleaner formulations.

Yes. It produces clear, stable gels even with 60–70% alcohol when properly neutralized, making it ideal for sanitizers.

Common choices are a diluted Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution or Triethanolamine (TEA). Add slowly, checking pH until the gel develops (~6.0–7.5).

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