Let’s plan our next Zoom workshop for April 2026! By popular demand, we’ll be taking a look at pH, including how to measure with strips or meters, how to adjust the pH of a few different products, and how to get your meter ready for use by calibrating it.
Closer to the date, I’ll share the meeting link and password along with the handout you’ll need to follow along here on the site.
Please RSVP before the Zoom workshop to let me know you’re coming by emailing me at swiftcraftymonkey@swiftcraftymonkey.blog.
Please note: This workshop will be open to Formulation and Innovation subscribers only for the workshop, handout, and playback.
If you aren’t a subscriber at this level, you can alter your subscription at any time to join us. Learn more by clicking this link or looking under the “subscriptions” entry in the menu.
You would also get access to the two previous Zoom workshop playbacks for cold process emulsifiers and shampoo bars, so that’s a nice bonus.
And if you’re an Innovation subscriber, you’d also get the e-book of the month. Nice!
What should we make in this Zoom workshop?
We’ll choose a few formulas – probably 2 or 3, depending on how complex they are – and we’ll go through the process of testing, adjusting, testing again, and so on until we get the pH just right.
Share your thoughts in the comments or email me at swiftcraftymonkey@swiftcraftymonkey.blog and let me know what you think!
My first thought is an exfoliating foaming facial cleanser with fruit acids because Raymond has just discovered the joys of these acids. The fruit acids will bring the pH down, so we’ll need to test and adjust it to ensure we aren’t making something too acidic.
We could use decyl glucoside as the pH of that is very high? Or we could use Iselux Ultra Mild because you can see how it thickens at different pH levels? Or we could use ester based ones that can go wonky at below pH 5.
Which meters do you own?
I have a number of different meters – as you can see in a minute – and we can work with almost all of them. Or suggest the meter you have in the comments or by emailing me (info below).
Apera pH60-Z Smart pH tester with Bluetooth (and an app)!
Jenco pH610B pH meter (with app!)
Jenco VisionPlus pH630 pH meter
Where can you learn more about pH and pH meters or strips?
You can learn more about pH and information about meters in that section on the site, always found under “resources”, then concepts in cosmetic chemistry. Check out which ones I’ve used so you can get an idea of what we’ll be doing in the workshop.
Share your thoughts!
Share your thoughts in the comments or email me at swiftcraftymonkey@swiftcraftymonkey.blog and let me know what you think! Does this time work for you? Which meters do you own? Which formulas should we make? What specific questions do you have about pH? Or any other suggestions, ideas, questions, and more about pH, pH meters, pH strips, and everything else!