Published: August 19, 2026
Q: We are a mid-size cosmetic manufacturer. We are struggling with cleaning lip balm oil residues including waxes, coconut, sunflower, soybean, castor oil, and similar components. We are looking for a low foaming detergent. Any suggestions?
A: As we’ve said before, cosmetic residues tend to be the toughest around. They’re designed to stay on skin and other types of dermal tissue, which are naturally resistant to adherent residues. So they can certainly do a number on manufacturing equipment and labware.
For a low foaming solution, we recommend our high-emulsifying yet still low-foaming Halojet® Low-Foam High Emulsification Cleaner. Halojet detergent is the newest addition to our arsenal for critical cleaning of challenging residues. Starting at 3% in warm-to-hot solutions, you should see great results. Halojet detergent can also be used in manual and clean-out-of-place (COP) settings such as scrubbing, soaking, and sonication.
For those particular COP applications where a high-foaming, high-emulsifying detergent can also be considered, Detonox® Ultimate Precision Cleaner is an excellent option. In such circumstances, where a foaming detergent can be employed, it may very well be worth evaluating both Halojet and Detonox products.
Other high pH products can be included especially when high temp aqueous cleaning cannot be employed.
As every application, setup, instruments, and conditions are different, it’s worth evaluating your specific situation and discussing with our experts.
Reach out any time!
Halojet is a low foaming, high emulsifying detergent for efficient removal of metal oxides, soils, buffing compounds, oils, particulates, chemicals and solvents, and mold releases in automated, manual, or ultrasonic cleaning. Corrosion inhibited and free rinsing for reliable results and no interfering residues. Biodegradable and does not ship as a hazmat. Dilute 3:100. pH ~10
Detonox is a non-caustic detergent for exceptional removal of botanical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical polymers, sticky extracts, resins, creams and lotions. Concentrated, highly emulsifying and penetrating formula is free rinsing, and leaves no residues.
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