The home of SwiftCraftyMonkey Formulating Inc.! Join Susan as she obsesses about cosmetic chemistry and other things (some possibly related to monkeys). Often strange, occasionally useful, and always worth a stop as a point of interest on your journey through the Intertron.
In part one of this series, we evaluated the ingredient list for the Farmacy Green Clean makeup Meltaway cleansing balm. In part two, we considered a formula and substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients, like the emulsifiers. In this part, let’s try a few formulas to see what we think. I’ll be leaving out a number of the...
In yesterday’s post, we reviewed the ingredient list for Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm. Today, we’ll take a look at making our own by modifying a formula I shared way back in 2010 for a complicated balm with esters. The key to making a cleansing balm is to include an emulsifier so the...
In the January Q&A, Linda asked: Hi Susan, I am on a cleansing balm frenzy, and I was wondering what ingredient would make this wash off and be a cleanser? Which, they say it does, easily and without using a muslin cloth or anything — and it has tremendous reviews! It’s called the Farmacy Green Clean...
In yesterday’s post, we started a discussion on the pH of our products when using AHAs. Today, let’s take a look at willow bark as per Marta’s question in the January Q&A! I’m a big fan of willow bark extract as it contains all that lovely salicylic acid, but it’s far easier to use in...
In the January Q&A, Marta asked: What is the recommended pH for a facial product containing fruit acid complex or willow bark extract? You have discussed concerns about a pH being too low in formulations containing (straight) alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acid. Yet, should one be reducing the pH in a product containing fruit acid...