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.
I know we’ve taken a look at using cetyl esters in a rinse-off conditioner, so let’s take a look at incorporating other esters into the mix! Ethylhexyl palmitate is a good inclusion in hair care products if you’re trying to avoid silicones (for a few more silicone replacement ideas, please click here). It’s considered a...
If you’re a greasy haired girl, you’ll avoid oils like I avoid Brussel sprouts on Christmas Day. But don’t avoid esters – PEG-7 olivate and other water soluble oils aren’t out to increase your greasiness and spoil that good hair day. Using it in small amounts can offer some emolliency and shine to your hair,...
You know how much I love my foamy and lathery surfactants, so let’s add some PEG-7 olivate to a body wash to enjoy the reduction in irritation, slight increase in thickening, and increase in moisturization! We’re all on a quest to find body washes that don’t leave us feeling all dry and stiff after a...
PEG-7 olivate (or indeed, the other water soluble esters like sunflower, jojoba, macadamia nut, and so on) are great additions to facial products. They offer increased emolliency and moisturization and a reduction in irritation, which are always great qualities, and those of us with oily skin can often enjoy the benefits using oils without feeling...
Raymond and I are taking a much deserved camping holiday on the Oregon coast, leaving today and we might be back on Thursday or Friday (we haven’t decided yet). It’s going to be a little cold, but I understand Portland is a mecca for us crafty types, so there’s much fun to be a had....