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.
In the February Q&A, Sima asked: I am very sensitive to smell and get migraines. I use Kevin Murphy shampoo as it is the only shampoo that I find that doesn’t give me a headache. But I want to make my own shampoo and conditioners so I would love your advice on essential oils and fragrances....
In the February Q&A, Doris asked: I have a number of friends who are vegan and I would like to find panthenol that is strictly plant-based. Apparently, it can come from plants, honey, or meat. So far, I’ve had no luck finding a supplier for vegan panthenol (there’s no mention of the source at the places...
In the February 2018 duplicating post, Elin asked if we could duplicate the Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil? Sure! In yesterday’s post, we took a look what each ingredient might do in the product. Today, let’s take a look at how we might make a starting formula for this duplication by figuring out how...
In the February 2018 duplicating post, Elin asked if we could duplicate the Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil? Sure! What does this product do? “This one-of-a-kind oil is our secret to hair’s silky perfection. Infused with argan oil, it helps nutrients seep into the hair shaft to protect each strand from styling heat and...
I can’t remember who asked it where, but someone asked me: How can we add a positively charged or cationic ingredient like polyquaternium 7 or Honeyquat to a negatively charged or anionic surfactant blend, like a shampoo or body wash? Great question! Let’s recap a bit of the chemistry for a second. (Check out this...