Shower Gel - Crystal Clear (5 Gallon Bucket)

Crystal Clear Shower Gel Base is a surfactant-based liquid wash formulated to maintain a transparent appearance in its unscented state. Its clarity is one of its most useful features for makers — a clear base allows color to show true, creates a clean and professional finished product appearance, and holds up visually in clear or translucent packaging.

The base is built around sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate as primary cleansing surfactants, with cocamidopropyl betaine as a secondary surfactant and foam booster. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant widely used in personal care formulations and is thought to contribute mildness and conditioning properties alongside its cleansing function.

Notable ingredients in this base include:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) — the primary cleansing surfactant; produces abundant lather and rinses cleanly
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) — a secondary anionic surfactant that contributes to foam volume and cleansing performance
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine — a coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant that boosts foam, contributes a conditioning feel, and is thought to help reduce overall formula irritation potential
• Cocamide MEA — a foam stabilizer that helps maintain lather consistency
• Citric Acid — used to adjust pH for skin compatibility

Full INCI: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Ethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Methylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride

One of the key strengths of this base is its versatility across product types. Makers commonly use it as the foundation for:

• Shower gel — the primary application; pairs well with a wide range of fragrance profiles and colors
• Liquid hand soap — works in pump dispensers and fits naturally into a coordinating bath and body line
• Bubble bath — produces the slippery, creamy bubbles the base is known for when added to running bath water

Using a single base across multiple product types simplifies your supply chain and makes it easier to maintain a consistent scent or color story across a coordinated line.

This base accepts fragrance oils and essential oils at a maximum usage rate of 1%, provided the 1% is within IFRA guidelines for rinse-off products. Always review IFRA standards before finalizing your fragrance selection and usage rate.

Cosmetic-grade liquid dyes can be added to achieve your desired color. Because the base is clear, color results are clean and predictable — a small amount of dye goes a long way. Note that if bubbles are intended to be white (as in a bubble bath application), keeping color addition minimal will preserve that effect.

Some fragrances may cause the base to thin slightly. If this occurs, Crafter’s Choice Bubble Wash Thickener can be used to restore desired viscosity. Browse our fragrance oils collection and natural colorants for compatible options.

Maintaining the clarity of this base after adding fragrance or essential oils requires attention to ingredient compatibility. Fragrance oils and essential oils contain oil-soluble compounds that can cause cloudiness or separation when introduced directly into a water-based gel.

To prevent this, a FO/EO Modifier is recommended when working with fragrances that may cloud the base. The modifier acts as a solubilizer, helping fragrance and essential oil compounds blend evenly into the water phase of the gel without creating cloudiness or unwanted floating particles.

Additional tips for maintaining clarity:

• Test each new fragrance in a small batch before scaling to confirm clarity is maintained
• Add fragrance at room temperature when possible; warming the base slightly to facilitate mixing is acceptable but avoid overheating
• Keep colorant additions minimal — heavy dye concentrations can affect the transparent quality of the finished product

Crystal Clear Shower Gel Base is well suited for clear or translucent packaging that showcases the color and clarity of the finished product. It flows easily at room temperature and can be gently warmed to approximately 110°F to make filling into bottles easier — do not overheat.

Compatible packaging includes pump bottles, squeeze bottles, and disc-top closures. Browse our bottles and containers collection for packaging options sized and styled for shower gel and liquid soap products.

The 5-gallon bucket is the right choice for makers producing consistent volume across multiple SKUs or filling larger batches in a single production run. It reduces per-unit cost compared to smaller sizes and minimizes the number of orders needed to maintain a steady supply of base.

For makers with even higher volume needs, Crystal Clear Shower Gel Base is also available in a 50-gallon drum. Whether you’re producing a single shower gel SKU or building a coordinated bath and body line across multiple product types, this base scales cleanly from small-batch to production volume.

What is shower gel base used for?

Shower gel base is a ready-to-customize liquid wash foundation used to create finished shower gel, body wash, hand soap, and bubble bath products. It handles the formulation work so makers can focus on scent, color, branding, and packaging.

What is the difference between shower gel base and body wash base?

Shower gel bases tend to have a thinner, more fluid consistency and often maintain a clearer appearance. Body wash bases may be formulated with additional moisturizing ingredients and a slightly thicker texture. The best choice depends on your target product feel and how you plan to market the finished item.

How do you add fragrance to shower gel base?

Add fragrance oil or essential oil at a maximum of 1% of the total base weight, within IFRA guidelines for rinse-off applications. For fragrances that may cloud the base, use a FO/EO Modifier to maintain clarity. Some fragrances may thin the formula; a Bubble Wash Thickener can be used to restore viscosity if needed.

How do you keep shower gel crystal clear when adding fragrance?

Use a FO/EO Modifier to solubilize oil-based fragrance compounds before adding them to the water-based gel. Test each fragrance in a small batch before scaling. Add fragrance at room temperature or with minimal warmth, and avoid overheating the base.

Can shower gel base be used as bubble bath?

Yes. Crystal Clear Shower Gel Base is formulated to work as shower gel, hand soap, and bubble bath. When added to running bath water it produces slippery, creamy bubbles. To preserve white bubbles in a bubble bath application, keep colorant additions minimal.

What is cocamidopropyl betaine in shower gel?

Cocamidopropyl betaine is a coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant used in personal care formulations to boost foam, improve lather quality, and contribute a conditioning feel. It is thought to help moderate the potential for irritation associated with primary anionic surfactants like SLES and SLS when included at appropriate levels.

How much fragrance oil do you add to shower gel base?

The maximum fragrance load for Crystal Clear Shower Gel Base is 1%, provided that 1% is within IFRA guidelines for the specific fragrance and product category. In practice, as little as 0.5 to 1 oz of fragrance per gallon of base may be sufficient for a noticeable scent. Always review IFRA standards for rinse-off applications before finalizing your formulation.