Why slime doesn’t work: what to do if the slime doesn’t thicken and becomes liquid

Let's look at non-standard situations and tell you what to do if the slime, prepared seemingly exactly according to the instructions, does not thicken. I would like to understand the reasons to avoid failure. There are a number of rules that must be followed when making slimes. Otherwise, the toy will not work. In addition, there are some secrets. By remembering them, you can always correct an undesirable result and obtain the desired consistency from the liquid mass.

Reasons for failure

What are the reasons why a homemade slime turns out to be too hard or, on the contrary, spreads a lot? Problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

low-quality or expired raw materials;
incorrect selection of the consistency of the base of the toy;
violation of the recipe in terms of ingredients, their quantities and mixing rules.

To reduce failures to a minimum, you need to carefully approach the essentially simple process of making slime, first checking the expiration dates and studying the instructions.

There are situations when the slime does not work out due to the fact that the wrong recipe was chosen. You can find a large number of instructions on the Internet, many of which look interesting and promising, but in fact the result obtained will be unsatisfactory. It is best to choose recipes that have been tested by friends, be guided by reviews, or find another trusted source of information.

Beneficial features

In addition to directly combating free radicals and oxidative stress, vitamin C:

slows down the process of collagen destruction and participates in the formation of new fibers, that is, it serves as a good prevention of wrinkles;
strengthens capillaries and improves microcirculation;
stimulates the synthesis of ceramides, which play an important role in the skin’s protective system;
controls melanin production, preventing hyperpigmentation;
has a renewing and brightening effect;
participates in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid in the skin.

Vitamin C serum has a multifaceted effect on the skin.

Features of the composition

The main ingredient in vitamin C serums is usually ascorbic acid. They help her:

antioxidants are the best friends of vitamin C, which enhance its effect and also protect it from oxidation;
exfoliating components that accelerate cell renewal;
soothing ingredients are an integral part of formulas for sensitive skin;
low molecular weight hyaluronic acid for moisturizing and smoothing effect.

How long to wait for the result? With daily use, the effect of radiance, elasticity and smoothness of the skin is noticeable within a month. This is a standard course of using vitamin C serum. In any case, you must follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Choosing the Right Glue

If the toy is made using glue, it is important to choose the right one. For slime, you can use stationery, construction, silicate or homemade glue, but most often PVA is used. It has gained popularity due to its versatility and low toxicity.

There are different variations of PVA in stores, differing in purpose, packaging, and manufacturer. What should you pay attention to when choosing PVA? The characteristics of some varieties make the glue unsuitable for slime production.

Firstly, you cannot use PVA intended for paper. There is a risk of failure with such raw materials.

Secondly, PVA of either too liquid or too thick consistency is not suitable. Liquid glue may not thicken as a result. Too thick will give the effect of cottage cheese, when interacting with a thickener it will not turn into an elastic mass, but into a lumpy and greasy one to the touch.

Sugar - slime activator

Unfortunately, sugar can thicken the slime only for a short time; in the heat the slime will melt, so it won’t make long-lived slimes.

Add shampoo or liquid soap to the sugar. For 2 tablespoons of shampoo, take a teaspoon of granulated sugar and mix until it is completely dissolved. To make the mass homogeneous faster, it is better to use powdered sugar. After this, put the container in the refrigerator for several hours. To speed up the process, you can use the freezer.

The mass becomes thick, you can take it with your hands. But, as a rule, it melts quickly, the slime loses its shape and spreads.

With the help of powdered sugar, wonderful edible slimes are prepared, which craftswomen use to decorate desserts.

To do this, take marshmallow, melt it in the microwave, and then knead it with the addition of powdered sugar. The result is an elastic mass that stretches and wrinkles in your hands.

If you add a lot of powder, you get a thick mastic, reminiscent of plasticine, from which you can sculpt cake figures.

About the expiration date

When making a toy, all ingredients must be fresh. Expired glue will not give the slime the required viscosity. It is best to use glue no older than two months. In this case, a new tube must be opened immediately before you start making slime; a package that has been left open has worse characteristics.

The same applies to shaving gel and other components, the properties of which ultimately ensure the production of a high-quality toy. Therefore, when selecting ingredients, you need to carefully look at the expiration date.

Thickener for slime at home: gel for washing and washing

Do you want to know how you can thicken slime if you don’t have tetraborate or don’t want to use it? Use Fairy dishwashing gel or Persil washing gel as a thickener.

Recipe 1 . Mix a package of PVA glue (125 ml) and a teaspoon of Fairy detergent. Mix well. The mass quickly takes shape and is easily kneaded with your hands. The result is an original mother-of-pearl slime.
Recipe 2 . Mix a bottle of PVA glue with 2 capsules of washing gel. To ensure the mixture is homogeneous, knead it thoroughly with your hands or use a blender. After this, leave the slime to rest for 30 minutes. After half an hour it will be ready for use.

This recipe is not suitable for people prone to allergic skin reactions.

Compliance with quantities and proportions

It often happens that the finished slime is not viscous enough due to a lack of thickener. The reason for this may be non-compliance with the quantity of ingredients or the properties of the substances themselves. For example, different types of glue behave differently, which directly affects the structure of the finished toy. The degree of thickness can usually be adjusted using simple methods.

Thickening control

Depending on the original components of the slime, different substances are used to control thickening. It is important to add the product little by little, carefully monitor how the mass thickens, stirring thoroughly, and stop in time.

For example, if the slime is based on shaving foam or shower gel, the lack of thickness is combated with the help of boric acid. The substance is introduced into the finished mixture a little at a time, continuously kneading. For 100 ml of combined ingredients, up to two tablespoons of acid will be needed.

Adding in drops

A thickener such as sodium tetraborate is added not in spoons, but in drops, since it has a stronger effect. Instead of two tablespoons of boric acid, one toy will require only two or three drops of the drug. A thickener will quickly help if the slime turns out to be too liquid or has become so over time. When adding sodium tetraborate, you must carefully monitor the amount of added product. Excess thickener will ruin the toy.

Second thickener

If the slime does not thicken, you can add additional thickener. The choice of product depends on the ingredients used for the base. Slimes made from glue can be thickened with baking soda in addition to sodium tetraborate. Pour the powder little by little with a teaspoon, starting with half, while continuously kneading.

If you need to achieve a thicker consistency, increase the amount of product.

How to make an activator with your own hands

If you experiment with different recipes, it may happen that some of them do not work. The mixture will not thicken, or even turn out to be liquid like water. In such cases, a universal thickener will come in handy, adding which you can try to save the unsuccessful slime. You can prepare it in reserve and keep it on hand just in case.

How to soften slime if it breaks and does not stretch

To prepare the activator, you will need a liter bottle of water, into which you need to add 50 ml of tetraborate. Shake the liquid.

If necessary, a few spoons of this solution can be added to the remaining ingredients.

Correctable situations

The easiest way to correct the consistency of slime is one made using soap compounds mixed with starch, soda or salt. If the slime is too liquid, simply add powder and mix thoroughly. You can save an overly thick toy by adding detergent. If the slime made from a mixture of glue and tetraborate turns out to be a bit runny, you can try to correct the situation by adding the following products:

film mask;
washing gel;
lens liquid;
liquid or dry starch.

Washing gel or dishwashing liquid

If you don't have sodium tetraborate, or you don't want to use it, you can thicken the slime with laundry gel (for example, Persil) or dishwashing liquid (Fairy is best suited).

In order to get slime, you need to mix two capsules of washing gel with a bottle of PVA glue (125 ml) and mix thoroughly until smooth. You can beat the mixture with a blender. Then the slime should stand for 15-20 minutes. After this, it is completely ready for use.

This recipe is not recommended for people with sensitive skin.

Stirring and cooling

When making slime, it is important to add the ingredients in the correct order and mix them thoroughly. If you break the sequence, the chemical reaction necessary to form the structure will not occur, and the toy will not turn out.

For example, if a slime is prepared from shaving foam, shampoo and salt, then first of all, combine the liquids and stir them thoroughly. Powder added too early will prevent the foam and shampoo from interacting properly, which will affect the consistency of the slime. If the ingredients are not stirred, the structure will turn out lumpy.

Cooling is necessary if the recipe requires heating the starting components to evaporate excess liquid. This way you can make slimes from shower gel or shampoo. After removing the moisture, the composition is cooled for half an hour, only in this case the toy will acquire the necessary thickness.

What is a slime activator?

A slime activator is also called a thickener. This is a substance that is added to other ingredients so that they change their properties. Due to a chemical reaction, the liquid mixture coagulates and becomes thick and plastic.

Does the weather affect your mood?

What kind of holiday do you prefer?

Most often, the role of an activator is played by various liquids of suitable composition. But sometimes these substances come in the form of a powder or gel.

Why different types of slimes may not work out?

An anti-stress toy, depending on its components, appearance and characteristics, may turn out differently. In addition to the usual standard slimes, edible, magnetic, rainbow, transparent and other slimes are prepared at home. When making each type of toy, they face different problems. Multi-color layered slime must rest in the box for several days before use. Otherwise, you won’t be able to achieve the effect of multi-colored stripes.

Glossy slime, or glossy slime, will not turn out shiny if you add one type of glue during the manufacturing process.

The effect of a glossy surface will be achieved only by using PVA and transparent office glue together. “Glass” slime will not turn out transparent if you use white PVA glue to make the toy. To avoid cloudiness, you need transparent glue, such as stationery glue. A slime that uses two or more colors will not turn out beautiful if the shades do not combine with each other.

Factors on which the quality of homemade slime depends

Similar toys were invented back in the 70s and were made from guar copper, minerals, and borax. Both then and now, “slime” is a slimy and viscous jelly-like substance, bright and pleasant to the touch, which does not stain objects and is very popular with children (unlike most parents).

To ensure that the result of making “slime” is a beautiful, safe and attractive toy for your baby, you should:

Choose only high-quality materials (based on the selected recipe).
Strictly observe the proportions (regarding all ingredients prescribed in the recipe).
Carry out the entire algorithm of actions step by step , without disrupting the manufacturability of the process.

If all these points are performed correctly, the “slime” will be homogeneous, without lumps or inclusions, it will easily separate from the container in which it was mixed, and will not stick to your hands or spread.

Slime
Otherwise, you may end up with a lumpy sticky mass - too tight or, on the contrary, liquefied, with excess liquid. If the slime doesn't work out, don't rush to throw it away; perhaps it can still be saved. Let's take a closer look.

Moisturizing facial skin after 30 years

After reaching the age of 30-35, women's skin needs regular moisturizing. Moisturizing elixirs improve the barrier functions of the epidermis and saturate its tissues with moisture. This serum is especially needed for those with dry and sensitive skin. By receiving enough moisture and restoring the ability to retain it, the skin becomes velvety and well-groomed.

It is desirable that the cosmetic product contains NMF (natural moisturizing factor). NMF is a complex of hygroscopic molecules that is localized in the stratum corneum of the epidermis and creates a kind of water shell around its scales. When the body produces little NMF, the skin loses its elasticity and ages quickly. The use of a moisturizing serum with the NMF complex allows you to restore the water-retaining functions of the skin. Natural moisturizing factor attracts water molecules to itself like a magnet. After using the serum with the NMF complex, the skin becomes tightened, fresh and radiant. The first signs of wrinkles disappear without a trace.

The best anti-aging facial serums according to customer reviews

Reviews

Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Micro-Sculpting Serum renews the outer layer of your skin one cell at a time. It helps quickly regenerate your complexion and strengthens your skin's moisture barrier. This serum provides intense hydration to dry and mature skin, leaving it firmer and visibly firmer. Its regular use helps reduce lines and wrinkles without the need for clinical treatment.

pros

Suitable for normal to dry skin
Ideal for daily use
Quickly absorbed
Non-greasy formula
Dermatologically tested
Non-comedogenic
No parabens
Travel-friendly packaging

Multi-molecular hyaluronic complex Niod

Reviews

Multi-molecular hyaluronic complex is more than just a serum. This is an advanced formula that is a mixture of 12 forms of hyaluronic compounds. It contains peptides that penetrate deep into your epithelial cells to retain moisture and improve skin synthesis. Read our review of the best hyaluronic serums for the face.

pros

Improves the overall texture and health of your skin
Lightweight formula
Penetrates your skin easily
Alcohol and fragrance-free

Minuses

Can be drying for several skin types

Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum

Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum contains hyaluronic acids derived from plants, which makes this product unique. It works on contouring loose and sagging skin, plumping it up and increasing your skin's moisture levels. It also contains salicylic acid, which acts as a gentle abrasive that unclogs pores, and CoQ10, which stimulates collagen production and helps combat photo damage.

pros

Prevents skin aging
Makes your skin soft
Contains salicylic acid

Facial serum with hyaluronic acid Dr. Dennis Hyaluronic

Reviews

This is a serum that is as good as any professional product - a time-release concentrate that helps infuse and seal moisture into the deepest layers of your skin. Your skin becomes noticeably firmer, smoother and softer due to adequate hydration. It gets its hydration from hyaluronic acid, of course, but also watermelon and centella asiatica, which smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Follow this up with your regular skin care routine.

pros

Cruelty-free product
Extremely moisturizing
Ideal for mature skin

Minuses

Has a strong smell

Rejuvenation in adulthood

The use of facial serum is especially recommended after the age of 50 years. Women who have crossed the psychological threshold need skin tightening. Anti-Age (anti-aging) serums have the ability to restore the skin's hydrolipid mantle (epidermal skin barrier) and strengthen intercellular connections. They stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, which ensure the strength and elasticity of the skin, in addition, they saturate the tissues with microelements.

Two-phase serums labeled “serum in oil” on the packaging will help women in their late teens effectively rejuvenate their faces. This modern beauty product has 2 directions of action. It has a rejuvenating effect and nourishes tissues. The elixir reduces the depth of wrinkles, tightens the oval of the face, reduces dullness and sagging skin.

Anti-aging products contain rosehip seed oil, black currant, cocoa, macadamia, evening primrose and shea butter. The linoleic acid they contain is rich in valuable Omega-3 fatty acids.

The complexes contained in NMF anti-aging products are enriched with peptides. Peptides penetrate into the deeper layers of the epidermis and transport hygroscopic molecules into them. Thanks to the combination of NMF and peptides, deep hydration of the epidermis occurs, which is so necessary after the age of 50.

Anti-aging products are enriched with innovative products. Some contain blue lotus stem cells or antarcticin. Antarcticin is a high molecular weight glycoprotein. It is obtained from bacteria living in the glaciers of Antarctica. The unique properties of Antarcticin are due to the ability of bacteria to survive in extremely low temperatures. Even its small content in a living cell does not allow intracellular fluid to freeze at sub-zero temperatures.

Antarcticin stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, and also accelerates regenerative processes in skin tissue.

The cream should also be used together with serum for those women for whom it causes skin tightness. This combination of products will eliminate the unpleasant sensation and enhance the effect of the serum, sealing it in the layers of the epidermis. The cream will cover the healing composition with a film and will not allow it to evaporate.