Let’s make a 10 minute rinse-off conditioner with all kinds of humectants, botanicals, conditioners, proteins, and more: Part two, how do cationic emulsifiers work, adding XYLISHINE™™, and a new formula with this ingredient! 

by

Let’s create an awesome conditioner into which we can add all kinds of wonderful ingredients, including the awesome new-to-us humectant XYLISHINE™ (INCI: Xylitylglucoside (and) Anhydroxylitol (and) Maltitol (and) Xylitol (and) Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract). In part one, we looked at what a conditioner is, why we’d use certain ingredients, chose our conditioning emulsifier, then we created...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Welcome to August 2025!

by
A photo of a green bean plant with green beans on it from my front yard

Welcome to August 2025! I hope this summer/winter is treating you well. Our little farm is producing beans at an alarming rate – we’ve had almost three servings so far, with much more to follow. Our potato plant has turned into a tree, but the celery is wilting under the mid-summer sun, so we keep … Read more

Innovation level subscribers: The July 2025 e-book is here – Waterless beauty: Creating body oils

by
A clear dropper bottle filled with amber liquid cradled by moss, leaves, and ferns.

Woo hoo! Welcome to this coupon page for this month’s e-book – Waterless beauty: Creating body oils! In this massive e-book, you’ll learn how to make all kinds of anhydrous moisturizers with information on how to customize them for your preferences, skin type, and oils you have in your workshop. We’re also using the gorgeous...

This content is for Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Chemistry Thursday: Polyunsaturated fatty acids – alpha-linolenic, gamma-linolenic, punicic, and stearidonic acids (C18:3 – C18:4), part 27

by

Welcome back to this introduction to cosmetic chemistry series! I hope you’re enjoying it so far. I know I am! Let’s talk more about carboxylic acids, specifically the fatty acids we encounter over and over again in our liquid oils, solid oils, butters, and waxes. This week, we’re getting into polyunsaturated C18:3, and C18:4 fatty...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here

Let’s make a 10 minute rinse-off conditioner with all kinds of humectants, botanicals, conditioners, proteins, and more: Part one, what’s a conditioner, which one will we use, and a base formula

by
A photo of a formula in progress. A container with white conditioner - already emulsified - sits on a counter. It has an immersion mixer and thermometer in it. There's a second container, which contains the cool down phase of the conditioner, beside it in a plastic beaker.

Let’s create an awesome conditioner into which we can add all kinds of wonderful ingredients, including the awesome new-to-us humectant XYLISHINE™ (INCI: Xylitylglucoside (and) Anhydroxylitol (and) Maltitol (and) Xylitol (and) Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract). We’ll be choosing our conditioning emulsifier, then some awesome actives, proteins, botanical extracts, emollients, and other ingredients, customizing it for our hair...

This content is for Foundation, Formulation, and Innovation members only.
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here