Chemistry: Fatty alcohols, like cetyl or cetearyl alcohol (part 16)

Welcome to part sixteen of this series on learning chemistry! I will warn you that this is a huge post because I’m not sure where I need to separate it into other posts, so I’m just leaving it here. Please don’t be overwhelmed by it. Part of the size is the summary of what we’ve...

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Chemistry fun: How to read a molecule! (Updated May 14, 2025)

On this site and in my e-books,  I’ve been sharing diagrams of molecules to show you how their shape or composition affects the viscosity, surface tension, melting point, and other properties. I’ve realized I haven’t shared how to interpret these if you haven’t taken a chemistry class or if it’s been ages, so let’s do...

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“The Neck’s Best Thing (Lifting & Firming for the Chic Hen)” – part one, selecting the actives, vitamins, humectants, film forming & tightening agents! 

The neck’s best thing collage of two lotions. Version one and version two.

Natalie Skiller, known as the awesome formulator for Sweet Little Crumb (Facebook, Instagram, and her new Patreon, This Formulating Life!) has very generously shared two amazingly-named formulas for a gorgeous, luxurious neck cream with all kinds of actives and cosmeceuticals to make you look your most awesome! Today, in part one, she’s selecting the actives,...

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Emulsifiers you will love: What’s the deal with methyl glucose sesquistearate (TEGO® Care PS MB), an emulsifier found in Brazilian Bum Bum cream?(Updated May 12, 2025)

In the monthly Q&A, Kristina asked, Me again ;), I’ve decided to go back to “basics” for a minute. I have hit a wall and have gone back to product studies to try and ferret out some mysteries (which isn’t a very scientific word I know 😂). Question: Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate – this is an...

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Demythifying the myths: Are Germall Plus and Germaben II preservatives banned?

Six plastic bottles containing preservatives sit atop a metal plate on a digital scale

You may have heard Washington state, USA, has banned Germall Plus (liquid and powder, Germaben II, and TRIstat D2, so let’s get into what all of this means. Before we start… You can learn even more in the massive preservatives section of this site, found under the “ingredients” tab in the menu bar. I’ve written...

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