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.
SwiftCraftyMonkey 
Hey everyone! Happy June! I’ve spent the last few weeks going down huge rabbit holes, reading all kinds of publications and learning about new trends, as I finish up my skin care science certificate from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and to say I’m a bit surprised by a few things would be an understatement!...
Welcome to part twenty of this series on learning chemistry. In today’s post, we’re looking at alkynes (triple bonds), oxidation and rancidity, hydrogenation, and partial hydrogenation. We also have a worksheet for parts 19 and 20 on alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and alcohols you can find by clicking here – Chemistry Thursday worksheet parts 19 &...
Every year I beg you not to make your own sunscreen – read the most recent post here – but this year, it’s all about making bug repellents, which is pretty scary. (And again this year as well. Sigh…) We don’t make sunscreen at home as it’s considered a drug for which you must go … Read more
Welcome to part nineteen of this series on learning chemistry! In part one, we looked at the resources and materials we need to study chemistry. In part two, we learned the parts of an atom – protons, neutrons, and electrons! In part three, we learned about ions and valence shells. In part four, we learned...
We first met this emulsifier in 2022 in my e-book, Beyond Emulsifying Wax, part three: More natural emulsifiers you will love, but it’s time I shared it here on the site! On Monday, June 4, 2025, we met this awesome emulsifier, Montanov™ L (INCI: C14-22 Alcohols (and) C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside) , a naturally compliant, green,...