Xanthan Gum help?

[Guest guest]

I am making a simple gel type cleanser using Decyl Polyglucose,

extracts (glycerin, alcohol and water based), honey, and some other

water soluable ingredients. I am thickening it with xanthan gum.

My problem is, I can't seem to get the xanthan gum to disperse! I add

it to the water based ingredients and it clumps together and no

matter what I do it won't break apart. Could the alcohol or glycerin

in the extracts be the problem? Should I be adding the gum before the

extracts or after? should I heat it more? Or is there a better

natural gum I should be using? I tried Acacia, but it seemed to take

way too much gum to get a gel texture. Do I need to disperse this

using a stick blender or should I be stirring it? I don't want to

make the product all foamy by agitating it too much. Please help! I

am tired of sifting out the clumps of gum from my failed attempts. I

have started calling it " cleanser glop " which for some reason doesn't

sound like the best selling product of the future, LOL!!

Thanks,