Product

Microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifier

Opacifiers developed specifically for mild personal care, homecare and I&I products.

What are microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifiers?

Microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifiers are developed specifically for mild rinse-off formulations. They’re derived from natural-origin, renewable feedstocks, not the styrene/acrylates latex (SAL) copolymers that have traditionally done this job, which means they’re fully biodegradable once they wash away. In functional terms, these sit in the opacifying agent category, used to scatter light and deliver a smooth, creamy white appearance in your finished product. They don’t clean, foam or condition.

These opacifiers are vegan-friendly by nature, with no animal-derived material anywhere in the supply chain.

What are these opacifiers used for?

Microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifiers are formulated into rinse-off personal care products which need a creamy, opaque appearance, including shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps and facial cleansers. In shampoos and shower gels, a rich, opaque finish is one of the strongest visual signals of a well-formulated product. In facial cleansers, they deliver that same visual density without working against the mild, sulfate-free profile the rest of the formulation is built around.

Because they’re designed and tested specifically for mild surfactant systems, they hold their performance across sulfate-free formulations that are increasingly replacing conventional SLES bases.

Key product benefits: Microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifiers

Built for mild systems

Developed and tested specifically in sulfate-free bases, so the opacity and stability you see on the data sheet is what you get in your formulation.

Effective at low dosage

Delivers strong, stable opacity from 0.5% to 3.0%, giving you room to fine-tune the finished appearance without pushing dosage or cost higher than it needs to be.

Consistent, stable appearance

Opacity holds without drift or separation, so your product looks the same on the shelf as it does the day it leaves your production line.

Documented sustainability credentials

Vegan-friendly, microplastic-free, biodegradable and RSPO Mass Balance certified, with a high renewable carbon index.

Why source your microplastic-free, sulfate-free opacifiers from MegaChem?

Reformulating away from an SAL-based opacifier or building a new sulfate-free product both carry formulation risks. Our technical team can talk you through dosage, addition sequencing and the viscosity requirements specific to your formulation base.

We supply through a global network with pack sizes to support development trials through to full production volumes. Samples are available if you want to test these opacifiers in your formulation before committing. We also provide full compositional documentation, including batch traceability and certification evidence, so you’ve got what you need to build your regulatory and claims evidence bases for the markets you sell into.

Frequently asked questions

Are these opacifiers certified microplastic-free?

Yes. Unlike conventional SAL opacifiers, they’re fully biodegradable and contain no synthetic polymer particles.

What dosage should I use?

Typical use sits between 0.5% and 3.0%, depending on the level of opacity you’re targeting and the rest of your formulation.

Do these opacifiers work in conventional, sulfate-based systems as well as sulfate-free ones?

These opacifiers are developed and tested specifically for mild, sulfate-free systems, and that’s the environment they perform best in.

Is there a minimum viscosity requirement?

Yes, your base needs a minimum viscosity of around 4000 mPa.s for the opacifying effect to hold as intended.

Where in the process should it be added?

After pH adjustment and before NaCl, to protect the stability of your finished formulation.

Is it suitable for vegan-positioned products?

Yes. It’s vegan by nature and comes with RSPO Mass Balance certification, giving you documented sourcing credentials to support your claims.

Get in touch

If you’re reformulating away from an SAL opacifier or building a sulfate-free product from scratch, our team can help you work out whether these opacifiers are the right fit. Request a sample to trial it in your formulation base.