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...
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...
We can all use a little exfoliation, so it doesn’t hurt to have a few different scrub recipes lying around the house. The scrub bar is great for throwing into a make-up bag for travelling and the oil based one is great for bath time exfoliation and moisturization, but we can always use more scrubby...
I do love my manicure scrub – and yes, I have made more since the original post, but I keep forgetting to take pictures! (Click on the link to see my manicure scrub idea…) The basic idea behind an oil based scrub is to combine some oils together, add a generous helping of salt as...
If you can make a lotion bar or bath melt, you can make a solid scrub bar. This recipe is rated E+ for everyone – beginners who are a little more adventurous, those who don’t wish to use preservatives, and those who are seeking an all natural product. The shelf life of this product is...