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 July Q&A, Melanie asked: I know you don’t do a lot in the area of basic soap, but my question is really about preservatives. I have tried making a batch of my own melt and pour base. I like to be able to whip up a bar of soap to match lotions etc....
In the July Q&A, After doing ingredient studies on some of my favorite high end organic products (Tata Harper, Eminence, Tracie Martin), I’m finding that, more often than not, several different emulsifiers, thickeners and preservatives are used in the same formulation. This mystifies me! Why don’t they pick one? I understand using several different humectants, emollients,...
In the June Q&A, Kuni asked: I would like to try your Lavender & Chamomile Toner for my 12 year old daughter, but I don’t have honeyquat and germall plus (could not find it in my country). Could I use Softisan GC8 (Glyceryl Caprylate) up to 2% as hydrating agent, anti acne and anti microbial support...
We first met this preservative in this post – Why did this lotion fail? part one – and I mentioned it again in the rose water & chamomile facial cleanser, so let’s take a look at what Euxyl PE 9010 is all about! This preservative – INCI: Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin – can be used at 0.5%...
As I’m trying to work with more ECOcert ingredients this year, I thought I’d share my thoughts on Geogard ECT, (INCI: Benzyl Alcohol & Salicylic Acid & Glycerin & Sorbic Acid), an ECOcert, COSMOS certified, NPA accepted broad spectrum preservative. It might also be found as Neopres ECT. Geogard ECT is a water soluble, low...