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.
In the February Q&A, Sima asked: I am very sensitive to smell and get migraines. I use Kevin Murphy shampoo as it is the only shampoo that I find that doesn’t give me a headache. But I want to make my own shampoo and conditioners so I would love your advice on essential oils and fragrances....
If you’re looking for the things that used to be on the side of the old blog, we’re in the process of moving them into the “resources section” you see in the menu above. Right now we have the FAQ as the main page, the newbie section’s now called “start here“, and the ingredients list...
In the February Q&A, Doris asked: I have a number of friends who are vegan and I would like to find panthenol that is strictly plant-based. Apparently, it can come from plants, honey, or meat. So far, I’ve had no luck finding a supplier for vegan panthenol (there’s no mention of the source at the places...
We met this ingredient a few years ago, but I didn’t go into much detail, which is kind of weird as I often go into too much detail. Let’s take another look at coco caprylate.. Coco caprylate is an ester of “coconut alcohol, caprylic, and capric acid”, in other words, a fatty alcohol derived from coconuts...
Propanediol 1,3 is an interesting humectant, meaning it draws water from the atmosphere to your skin or hair to offer hydration. It has fast become my favourite humectant as it has such a dry, powdery skin feel with no tackiness that can be used in just about any product that contains water. It’s derived from...