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 this post, Anonymous writes: I am really sad right now, though, because none of my lotions work. I have only made a lotion successfully a few times, and the rest are utter failures. It looks almost emulsified, but then it turns out to be the consistency of applesauce! I use BTMS-25. I heat and...
If you’ve never made a lotion or just want to see the WOW! moment again, check out this little video I made on the moment of emulsification. I never get tired of seeing that! Should you add the water to the oil or the oil to the water? Click here for that answer! If you’d...
It looks like Snapguide is no more so the visual tutorial that was here is gone forever. Please enjoy the guide on this Newbie Tuesday post on making a lotion for the first time. If you’re a complete newbie, I hope this helps you dive in and try it for the first time. If you’ve made...
In this post on making a basic lotion, Courty asks: I tried your summer lotion the other day. (Was it this one?) I love it but have a problem I was hoping you could help with. It rubs in very well when my skin is dry but if I apply it after I get out of...
CAN YOU TURN A LOTION BAR INTO A SCRUB BAR?In this post, Back to the very basics: Defining terms for anhydrous products, Karen asks: I want to ask, is there a reason why a person can’t just add exfoiliates to a lotion bar recipe and have a shower scrub bar? And for the scrub bar, can I substitute...