Agar Agar Powder
Agar Agar Powder
Agar Agar Powder (Plant-Based Gelling Agent)
Our Agar Agar Powder is a seaweed-derived gelling and stabilising ingredient made from red algae. It is a plant-based alternative to gelatine, used to make firm, clear gels and smooth, stable textures in water-based products.
Makers use it in jelly masks, shower jellies, gel soaps, crafts and other water-based formulas where a firm, vegan-friendly gel is wanted. It is sold for cosmetic and craft use.
|
Seaweed-derived Plant-based gelling agent |
Firm, clear gels Jelly masks and soaps |
Gelatine alternative Vegan-friendly |
100 g to 1 kg Four pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) and craft use only. Keep out of reach of children and avoid breathing in the dust. See Safety below.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Agar Agar Powder |
| INCI | Agar |
| Type | Seaweed-derived (red algae) gelling agent and stabiliser |
| Appearance | Fine, off-white to pale powder |
| Behaviour | Dissolves in hot water and sets to a firm gel as it cools |
| Typical use rate | About 0.5-2% depending on the firmness you want. Test your own recipe |
| Suitable for | Jelly masks, shower jellies, gel soaps, water-based gels, craft projects |
| Vegan | Plant based (seaweed) |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg |
| Storage | Sealed, cool and dry, away from moisture and sunlight |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, preservation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Sold for cosmetic and craft use, not as a food |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Jelly masks | Sets water, hydrosol and plant extracts into a soft, spoonable mask |
| Shower jellies and gel soaps | Sets a wash base into a wobbly jelly. Test your own recipe |
| Water-based gels | A firm gel for water-based products. Test your own recipe |
| Craft projects | Used as a plant-based gelling agent in non-food craft projects. Test small batches |
| Texture and stabilising | Adds body to water-based products. Test the feel |
| Vegan formulations | A plant-based alternative to gelatine in cosmetic recipes |
How to Make a Simple Agar Gel
- Weigh. Weigh the water or hydrosol and the agar. For a soft gel, start at about 1% (1 g in 100 g of liquid).
- Disperse. Stir the agar into cold water or hydrosol so it does not clump.
- Heat. Heat gently while stirring until it boils and the agar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear. This usually takes a few minutes.
- Add the extras. Take off the heat and cool slightly. Stir in heat-sensitive ingredients and your preservatives once it is cool enough.
- Pour and set. Pour into clean containers and leave to set. Agar sets as it cools to a firm gel.
- Test. Check the firmness the next day and adjust the amount in the next batch.
Tip: Agar sets quickly as it cools. Work fast once it is dissolved, and add heat-sensitive ingredients before it begins to set.
Using It in Gels, Masks & Jellies ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft jelly mask | About 0.5-1% | Dissolve in hot water or hydrosol and let it set. Test the softness. |
| Firm gel or jelly | About 1-2% | Increase for a firmer set. |
| Shower jelly | As set by your recipe | Combine with a gentle surfactant base and test. |
| Gel soap | As set by your recipe | Test small batches. |
| Craft gels | About 1-2% | Test your own recipe. |
Agar gels set as they cool and re-melt when heated. The gel melts again at a high temperature, so heat-test finished products.
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Gel is too soft | Not enough agar | Increase the agar a little in the next batch. |
| Gel is too firm or brittle | Too much agar | Reduce the agar. |
| Lumps in the gel | Agar added to hot water | Stir the agar into cold liquid first, then heat. |
| Gel sets before pouring | Cooled too fast | Work quickly and keep the mix warm. |
| Gel weeps water | Syneresis is common in agar gels | Use fresh, and use a slightly higher amount. |
| Gel spoils | Water-based products can grow mould and bacteria | Use clean tools, a suitable preservative and store the product cool. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Fine powders can irritate the airways, so wear a dust mask when weighing or pouring and avoid creating dust clouds. Patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Hot agar solution can burn. Heat it carefully and never leave it unattended. Gels are water-based and need a suitable preservative.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What is agar agar?
It is a gelling agent made from red seaweed (algae). It is a plant-based alternative to gelatine.
How much do I use?
About 0.5-2% depending on the firmness you want. Start at about 1% for a soft gel.
Does it dissolve in cold water?
No. It needs to be heated until it boils to dissolve fully, then it sets as it cools.
Is it vegan?
It is plant based. Please check your own formula and ingredients before making a vegan claim.
Is it sold as a food?
No. We sell it for cosmetic and craft use.
Does it need a preservative?
Yes, for any water-based gel.
How should I store it?
Sealed, in a cool, dry place away from moisture and sunlight.
Is it for internal use?
No. It is sold for external cosmetic and craft use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $8.00 | $8.00 |
| 250 g | $14.00 | $5.60 |
| 500 g | $23.00 | $4.60 |
| 1 kg | $42.00 | $4.20 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with hydrosols, aloe vera gel and vegetable glycerine, and add lavender essential oil or Roman chamomile essential oil. Use with xanthan gum or sorbitol. For soap see our soap additives. Preserve with Geogard 221 or phenoxyethanol. Browse emulsifiers and thickeners. |
 Product Documents
|
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Agar Agar Powder (Plant-Based Gelling Agent)
Our Agar Agar Powder is a seaweed-derived gelling and stabilising ingredient made from red algae. It is a plant-based alternative to gelatine, used to make firm, clear gels and smooth, stable textures in water-based products.
Makers use it in jelly masks, shower jellies, gel soaps, crafts and other water-based formulas where a firm, vegan-friendly gel is wanted. It is sold for cosmetic and craft use.
|
Seaweed-derived Plant-based gelling agent |
Firm, clear gels Jelly masks and soaps |
Gelatine alternative Vegan-friendly |
100 g to 1 kg Four pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) and craft use only. Keep out of reach of children and avoid breathing in the dust. See Safety below.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Agar Agar Powder |
| INCI | Agar |
| Type | Seaweed-derived (red algae) gelling agent and stabiliser |
| Appearance | Fine, off-white to pale powder |
| Behaviour | Dissolves in hot water and sets to a firm gel as it cools |
| Typical use rate | About 0.5-2% depending on the firmness you want. Test your own recipe |
| Suitable for | Jelly masks, shower jellies, gel soaps, water-based gels, craft projects |
| Vegan | Plant based (seaweed) |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg |
| Storage | Sealed, cool and dry, away from moisture and sunlight |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, preservation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Sold for cosmetic and craft use, not as a food |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Jelly masks | Sets water, hydrosol and plant extracts into a soft, spoonable mask |
| Shower jellies and gel soaps | Sets a wash base into a wobbly jelly. Test your own recipe |
| Water-based gels | A firm gel for water-based products. Test your own recipe |
| Craft projects | Used as a plant-based gelling agent in non-food craft projects. Test small batches |
| Texture and stabilising | Adds body to water-based products. Test the feel |
| Vegan formulations | A plant-based alternative to gelatine in cosmetic recipes |
How to Make a Simple Agar Gel
- Weigh. Weigh the water or hydrosol and the agar. For a soft gel, start at about 1% (1 g in 100 g of liquid).
- Disperse. Stir the agar into cold water or hydrosol so it does not clump.
- Heat. Heat gently while stirring until it boils and the agar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear. This usually takes a few minutes.
- Add the extras. Take off the heat and cool slightly. Stir in heat-sensitive ingredients and your preservatives once it is cool enough.
- Pour and set. Pour into clean containers and leave to set. Agar sets as it cools to a firm gel.
- Test. Check the firmness the next day and adjust the amount in the next batch.
Tip: Agar sets quickly as it cools. Work fast once it is dissolved, and add heat-sensitive ingredients before it begins to set.
Using It in Gels, Masks & Jellies ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft jelly mask | About 0.5-1% | Dissolve in hot water or hydrosol and let it set. Test the softness. |
| Firm gel or jelly | About 1-2% | Increase for a firmer set. |
| Shower jelly | As set by your recipe | Combine with a gentle surfactant base and test. |
| Gel soap | As set by your recipe | Test small batches. |
| Craft gels | About 1-2% | Test your own recipe. |
Agar gels set as they cool and re-melt when heated. The gel melts again at a high temperature, so heat-test finished products.
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Gel is too soft | Not enough agar | Increase the agar a little in the next batch. |
| Gel is too firm or brittle | Too much agar | Reduce the agar. |
| Lumps in the gel | Agar added to hot water | Stir the agar into cold liquid first, then heat. |
| Gel sets before pouring | Cooled too fast | Work quickly and keep the mix warm. |
| Gel weeps water | Syneresis is common in agar gels | Use fresh, and use a slightly higher amount. |
| Gel spoils | Water-based products can grow mould and bacteria | Use clean tools, a suitable preservative and store the product cool. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Fine powders can irritate the airways, so wear a dust mask when weighing or pouring and avoid creating dust clouds. Patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Hot agar solution can burn. Heat it carefully and never leave it unattended. Gels are water-based and need a suitable preservative.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What is agar agar?
It is a gelling agent made from red seaweed (algae). It is a plant-based alternative to gelatine.
How much do I use?
About 0.5-2% depending on the firmness you want. Start at about 1% for a soft gel.
Does it dissolve in cold water?
No. It needs to be heated until it boils to dissolve fully, then it sets as it cools.
Is it vegan?
It is plant based. Please check your own formula and ingredients before making a vegan claim.
Is it sold as a food?
No. We sell it for cosmetic and craft use.
Does it need a preservative?
Yes, for any water-based gel.
How should I store it?
Sealed, in a cool, dry place away from moisture and sunlight.
Is it for internal use?
No. It is sold for external cosmetic and craft use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $8.00 | $8.00 |
| 250 g | $14.00 | $5.60 |
| 500 g | $23.00 | $4.60 |
| 1 kg | $42.00 | $4.20 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with hydrosols, aloe vera gel and vegetable glycerine, and add lavender essential oil or Roman chamomile essential oil. Use with xanthan gum or sorbitol. For soap see our soap additives. Preserve with Geogard 221 or phenoxyethanol. Browse emulsifiers and thickeners. |
|
Product Documents
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