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.
Hi everyone! I’m up to mid-September in the comments, and I continue to work through them. Thanks for your patience. A few thoughts: Why does everyone think it’s so hard to melt sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI)? If you pick the right version and couple it with the right surfactant – disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, cocamidopropyl betaine, … Read more
There’s a YouTube video I’m seeing referenced quite a bit in the syndet shampoo bar group I mod on Facebook in which someone is saying we shouldn’t use Incroquat BTMS-50 in our shampoo bars, and I’m writing this post to go through what’s being said and share my thoughts. As a note, so as to … Read more
In the monthly Q&A, Kristina asked, What do you think about using clays (French green Clay, Pink Clay etc) in solid shampoo bars? I wonder if they can affect the colour of blond colour treated hair? Thank you! Great question! First off, they won’t change the colour of your hair as they aren’t the kind...
In the June Q&A, Andrea asked, Another question about ingredients: in the list below what the heck is coconut acid? A proprietary and moisturizing blend of sodium cocoyl isethionate, stearic acid, coconut acid, water/aqua/eau, coco glucoside, sodium isethionate, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil, panthenol (pro-vitamin b5), camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extracts, humectants, sucrose cocoate, glycerin,...
In the November Q&A, Sarah asked, Have you ever used Varisoft EQ 65 in a shampoo bar or conditioner bar? Is there any reason why it could not be used this way? Is there a pH concern for this ingredient? For a shampoo bar for fine hair (that I do not want to over-condition), could I replace...