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.
Does being scared keep you from crafting? Have you read so much about lotions that the mere idea of buying emulsifying wax has you terrified? Do you long to make an amazing shampoo, but you can’t step into the workshop without fears of failure? I remember seeing a lotion recipe and deciding I would try...
So Susan posted a challenge to duplicate Lush’s shower jellies, and I tried it. It didn’t go well. I am fairly sure the carageenan is the key – but I can’t find any! I’ve been to beer making shops and health food stores, and no one carries it. I did find agar, but Susan recommended...
This is Swift’s first attempt at the shower jelly challenge… What was the logic of this recipe? I know two things about this product (I haven’t been able to try one from the store, so I’m going on what others say!) – it’s meant to clean and it’s in jelly form. For the cleaning, we...
Susan wrote this in response to my request for more product duplication challenges: My daughter loves the bath jelly from Lush and I am going broke. Could you have a go at the recipe? I can’t say no to a fellow Susan (by the way – want to join the Association for Changing the name...
It’s here! It’s here! Petra and I have both found our final recipes…and we unveil them to you!If you want to see our attempts from the beginning, please click here.SUSAN’S ATTEMPT #4 and final recipe40% berry sugar (finer grain than white sugar)30% baking soda (Arm & Hammer brand)18% coconut oil8% SCI2% cream of tartar2% fragrance...