Portable skincare is gaining strong momentum. Ready-to-spray skincare sprays and botanical extract suspension sprays have become key focus for beauty brands. Consumers set higher requirements for spray products: stable loading of active ingredients and powders without delamination or sedimentation during shelf life; fine atomization and low risk of nozzle clogging.

 However, there are many challenges in the formulation development process: common rheology modifiers are caught in a dilemma between suspension and atomization. Increasing the viscosity to achieve suspension results in high pump head resistance, poor atomization, and easy nozzle clogging; reducing the viscosity to improve atomization leads to system sedimentation and stratification, and failure of shelf stability. At the same time, traditional carbomer has poor  electrolyte tolerance ability and is prone to viscosity collapse; after spraying, the liquid forms a runny film and the film dries and becomes rough and coarse. Multiple problems have raised the development threshold for popular spray products.

Anhui Newman Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., as the global 2nd-largest manufacturer of carbomer and acrylates copolymers, has been deeply engaged in polymer modifier rheology for over 15 years. In response to the application shortcomings of traditional rheology modifier such as "unable to balance suspension and atomization, poor electrolyte tolerance, and poor spray skin feeling", it has launched a new product specifically tailored for spray systems - Newman Carbomer NM-Carbomer 70.

1. Spray-Specific Carbomer: A Rheology Solution Designed for Spray Systems

Unlike traditional carbomers such NM-Carbomer 960, 970, and 990, and other improved carbomer such as NM-Carbomer 20, carbomer 21,

NM-Carbomer 70 has been structurally optimized for the core needs of spray formulations—low viscosity, high suspension, and easy atomization. In addition to the efficient thickening and suspension functions of traditional carbomers, it delivers the following advantages:

• Low addition, high suspension, stable shelf stability

 Newman Carbomer NM-Carbomer 70, due to its special cross-linked three-dimensional network structure, can establish an effective yield value with an extremely low usage. Only 0.1–0.3% is needed to achieve long-term suspension of powders and oil droplets, without the need for high viscosity to maintain suspension stability. It completely eliminates the embarrassing formula predicament of "thick but unstable, thin but stratified".

• Reversible Thixotropy — A Full Atomization Experience

Owing to its excellent thixotropy, NM-Carbomer 70 exhibits shear-thinning behavior with rapid viscosity recovery. Under the shear of the spray nozzle, viscosity drops instantly, enabling fine, uniform atomization—perfectly resolving the industry-wide pain point of poor spray performance. Once the spray leaves the nozzle, the system's viscosity recovers quickly, reducing run-off and optimizing film formation on the skin, making it suitable for facial, body, and other spray applications.

• High transparency texture, suitable for high-end spray formulations

After neutralization, the system is clear —no turbidity, no milky haze—making it an ideal fit for premium products such as transparent hydrating essence sprays and luxury skin-care sprays.

• Self-Wetting Property

NM-Carbomer 70 self-wets and disperses within minutes; the wetting time is less than 5 minutes with 0.5 wt%, making it easy to handle.

• Moderate Salt Tolerance

Suitable for systems containing moderate levels of surfactants, it imparts electrolyte tolerance and a distinctive feel to formulations, while delivering efficient thickening across a broad pH range of 4.0–12.0.

2. Formulation Application Guide

✔ Best-Fit Applications

Transparent hydrating sprays, powder-suspension care sprays, botanical-extract essence sprays, and setting sprays.

✔ Formulations Scene adjustment is required.

High salt, high ionic surfactant, high electrolyte system: Since Newman Carbomer 70 itself has limited salt resistance, it is recommended to combine it with a small amount of HASE hydrophobic modified thickener such as NM-Carbomer 60, to achieve a balance between suspension, atomization and electrolyte tolerance stability.

3 Practical Reference for Formulation

Oil-Bead Atomizing Serum

4 The core logic of spray rheology

An excellent spray product is never "the thicker, the more stable", nor "the thinner, the better for spraying". Instead, it should be stable when it needs to be stable, and flow when it needs to flow.

The spray-specific NM-Carbomer 70 precisely resolves the core contradiction between suspension and atomization. With a controllable thixotropic rheological structure, it replaces the traditional single thickening logic, helping formulators save a lot of time on repeatedly adjusting viscosity, rectifying stability, and optimizing the spray feel, significantly reducing the risk of formula failure and production and after-sales problems.