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.
Hi everyone! Hope you’re enjoying some of the last weekends of the summer and aren’t finding it too hot, too cold, or too anything else! Thought I’d share a quick update with you on what’s happening on the blog. I’ve been having some difficulties with my hands and arms the last few weeks – for … Read more
Hexyldecyl stearate is a clear, liquid, slower spreading Guerbet ester with a light but rich, “intense”, non-greasy skin feel. It can be used as a dimethicone substitute in hair care products as it increases shine and works as an emollient. You may also find this as isocetyl stearate. I’ve found it under the brand names...
Quick note before we begin*: Maggie from Formulator Sample Shop just let me know that they have a deal on this ingredient, FSS Hyalurosome (INCI: Polydimethylsiloxane/Polymethylsilsesquioxane Copolymer & Phospholipids & Hyaluronic Acid), Hyaluronic Acid that’s released over time in our products. It’s normally as high as $167 a kilogram, but they’ve reduced it to $67 a...
I was gifted this lovely cold pressed, unrefined strawberry seed oil by Simply Ingredients after we enjoyed an afternoon on her Instagram Live talking about our favourite ingredients, and I wanted to share this really interesting oil with you. Strawberry seed oil is an upcycled product, one made from ingredients that might have previously been considered...
There’s a serious shortage of ingredients out there. As I mentioned in this month’s new substitution request page, it’s not only the busiest time of year for our suppliers as people buy supplies for Christmas markets and presents; we’re also in the middle of a pandemic that has disrupted the entire supply chain from the...