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.
Apparently the exciting sinus infection from which I’ve been suffering since mid-August has set me into migraine mode, which is making me feel horrible and grumpy. (My last migraine was 1996 and before then I’d only had maybe 4 or 5, so it’s a whole new fun experience remembering why they were so awful!) So...
There are a number of ways to fill your bottles, but I recommend you wait until your lotion is cooled or mostly cooled so you don’t get icky condensation on the cap. Here are my usual ways of filling bottles…1. Funnel. For something like the light lotion, a funnel should do nicely. For something thicker,...
Is there a difference between a lotion and a cream? Yes.A cream is defined as an emulsion in a semi solid form that doesn’t flow well. It has a heavier consistency than lotion, so the key differences are viscosity and flow. A cream is generally found in a jar because it’s not easy to pump...
Let’s say you find a recipe online that you like, but you don’t have the required emulsifier. You can substitute Polawax, BTMS, or e-wax for the emulsifier, or you could use the HLB system to create your own! I’m going to use the Hydrating Hemp Hand & Body Lotion recipe from Voyageur as an example(scroll...
I was fortunate to get a sample of Olivem 800 (INCI: Ceteareth-6 Olivate) so I’m trying it out! Lotioncrafter describes Olivem 800 as “natural source non-ionic emulsifying system developed from natural olive chemistry designed to provide optimum stability in low viscosity/super-fluid emulsions with a light silky feel. Created using olive oil in an esterification process...