How to give sugar scrub a jelly-like consistency

[Roxabox]

I've just started making sugar scrubs and I want to be able to give the base a jelly-like consistency. I know silica gel powder does that but the prices for cosmetic grade silica gel are a little high. Does anyone else have any ideas on how to mimic this effect?

 

[BattleGnome]

Gelatin, pectin, or xanthum gum work to give jelly consistency in foods and are easily obtainable at any grocery store (at least by me).

I’ve never used them for cosmetics so you’ll have to do some research. I imagine you’ll need an extremely good preservative and possibly store it in the fridge

 

[Cellador]

I have been wondering this myself, but I am stumped. You could use Aristflex ACV or Septimax Zen as emulsifiers, but they rely on water to hydrate. You could try gums or hydroxyethyl cellulose, but, again, it has to be hydrated.
There is an emulsifier from Making Cosmetics called GelMaker EMU- it is a liquid-gel consistancy before water is added, but it's pricey. I'm also not sure how well it would hold a scrub together.