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.
Terri wrote this comment (and Priya seconded it): My nagging question is how do you account for the loss due to evaporation of ingredients during the heat and hold? Have separate pots with just water and/or other ingredients heating as well to add later? And I never checked, but is there a change in the weight...
Will writes: A weird question for a Friday! I read in a press release where Dial Corp is attributing significant skin benefits in their new products to Vitamin F, aka Omega-3, aka cod liver oil (one of many). Have you ever experimented with cod liver oil in a lotion? I’m curious as heck, but I can’t remember if it...
Will and Patrick did the most important thing you can do in learning this thing we call cosmetic chemistry – they stayed curious – and both went out to the dollar store to buy lotions. Let’s take a look at what each of them found! (And be warned, this is a long post!) Will: I made...
In this post, Patrick asks: I’ve made a hand lotion that our household really likes with Jojoba, FCO, RBO, Soy, Avocado, Shea Butter & Mango Butter. I toss in some fancy additives including panthenol and everything totaled comes to about $5USD for 500g. Not horrible, but a bit much. Anyway, here’s my question: What’s the absolute cheapest...
In this post, Heidi asks…My question is this.They tell us we don’t need preservatives in soaps. Do you believe this is true? And if it is, why do we need a preservative in a solid shampoo bar (syndet)?And how about something without water like a body lotion bar? Great question! Let’s take a look at...