Welcome to the home of SwiftCraftyMonkey Formulating Inc.! Join Susan as she obsesses about cosmetic chemistry and other things (some possibly related to monkeys)! Here you’ll find over 5,000 posts and formulas written over the past 16 years for everything from lotions, creams, and body butters to hair care products to fancy facial products filled with actives and cosmeceuticals! Enjoy the site without distractions – no ads, pop ups, sponsored posts, affiliate links, “one weird tricks” – all supported by readers like you.
Chia seed oil (Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil) is a light to medium, non-greasy oil derived from the seeds of the salvia hispanica flower, a member of the mint family. Is it wrong that all I can think about it is “Ch-ch-ch-chia!” when I’m formulating with this oil? It contains 5% to 8% palmitic acid 1%...
In this post, Adapting your products for summer, Taryn asked: I make body products and this will be my first summer. What can I do to better safeguard my products from turning into liquid pools while at markets and in the mail? I am just starting out and I am worrying that I may have to take...
Loads and loads of questions on making conditioner bars, so let’s take a look at those! Here’s my base recipe so you can follow along! SOLID CONDITIONER BAR FORMULA 60% Incroquat BTMS-50 (INCI: Behentrimonium methosulfate (and) cetyl alcohol (and) butylene glycol) 10% cetyl alcohol (you can use stearic if you want a harder bar, but...
In this post, Using polysorbates in our products, Jennifer asked: In making a room spray &/or bug spray I can’t figure out the ratio to help my product not be so milky. I’ve been using a 1:1 ration essential oils/polysorbate 20. Does anybody have a suggestion on a better ratio for a more clear product?...
In this post on Natrasorb Bath, Lisa asked: Can Natrasorb bath be used in face moisturizers for oily skin to absorb sebum? Is Natrasorb Bath the same as Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane? The answer to the last question is no, it isn’t the same as tapioca starch polymethylsilsequioxane. The INCI for Natrasorb Bath is Tapioca starch....