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.
Let’s start out with some bad news. You cannot make your nails grow faster by using cosmetic products. (You can make them grow faster by living in a warmer climate, using them by doing things like typing, and by being younger.) You can, however, make your nails more flexible by keeping them hydrated – and...
Today was an accident prone day, the kind of day when I should really stay home because I’m a serious menace to anyone who might come near me. I’m not really sure why I have these days, when I drop my iPod touch on concrete, walk into closed doors, or spill Slurpees all over the...
The normal nail contains four major parts – the nail plate, which is the visible external part of the nail; the nail matrix, which is the living part of the nail at the root; the lunula (or half-moon) that is the visible front part of the nail matrix; and the eponychium (or cuticle) that forms...
I’m finally getting around to playing with my esters and other light oils from the Personal Formulator, so I thought I’d share another recipe with you using those ingredients! (If you want to see the balm with esters, click here. I’m really loving the light, non-greasy feeling of these ingredients!) This is a basic body...
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of posts on anhydrous products. These recipes are great for beginners or those who wish to avoid using preservatives. And if you’re a veteran, why not try your hand at these products again? I know I’ve been reminded of how decadent a rich, whipped butter can feel or how...