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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.

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Sepimax ZEN

Sepimax ZEN (INCI: Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6) is a pre-neutralized polymer we can use to create thick gels without having to do a lot of mixing.

It works well with electrolytes, so we can use it to make gels from aloe vera and surfactant mixes easily. It can handle acidic pH levels, so we can use AHAs and glycolic acid at up to 4%. As it’s anionic or negatively charged, we can’t use positively charged or cationic ingredients, like honeyquat, polyquat 7, or Incroquat BTMS-50 in it.

Click here to learn more about this awesome rheology modifier! 

Related Articles:
  • Chemistry: Rheology modifiers – Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids
  • Oh, the weather outside is frightful: Formulating a chamomile & allantoin occlusive hydrating spray for winter 
  • Member exclusive Q&A: What’s a cosmeceutical? What’s an active? And how much can we use of these things in combination? Part four – considering a formula
  • Member exclusive Q&A: What’s a cosmeceutical? What’s an active? And how much can we use of these things in combination? Part six – analyzing another formula (updated)
  • Question from Patreon: Is there a limit to how much carbomer can be used in a lotion?

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