The Science Behind Surfactants
Surfactants are among the most versatile raw materials in cosmetic formulations. But with that versatility comes complexity. Not all surfactants clean the same way. Some…
Choosing the Right Emulsifier
You can’t make a lotion, cream, or serum without creating an emulsion. And, at the heart of any emulsion is the emulsifier, a raw material…
How to Source Cosmetic Ingredients If You’re Just Getting Started
One of the most common challenges for indie formulators and early-stage brands is sourcing raw materials. You can have a great product idea, but without…
The 5 Types of Raw Material Suppliers Every Formulator Should Know
When we talk about cosmetic formulas, the focus is usually on ingredients. But behind every emulsifier, surfactant, or botanical extract is an ingredient supplier and…
Cutting Through The Confusion Between Natural and Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients
The “natural vs synthetic” debate is one of the most persistent and misunderstood topics in cosmetic formulation. It’s also where marketing often clashes with science.…
What Ingredient Lists Don’t Tell You
You’ve seen it before, a trendy skincare product with rave reviews and ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and peptides highlighted on the label. Sounds impressive.…
Why Understanding Raw Materials Improves Your Formulas
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finished products. But behind every unique texture and performance claim is a web of carefully…
The 3 Types of Cosmetic Raw Materials You Need to Know
Cosmetic ingredient lists can be long and overwhelming but nearly every ingredient in a formula serves one of three core purposes. While there’s some overlap…
Review of InCosmetics Asia 2024
In November, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at In-cosmetics Asia 2024 in Bangkok. Held at BITEC from November 5-7, this year’s show…
Innovation in cosmetics: The haircare conundrum
Innovation is and always has been one of the core foundations of the beauty and personal care industry. Cosmetics products are most likely to see…
Embracing Artificial Intelligence as a formulator’s assistant in the cosmetics industry
Over the past couple of years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun to permeate businesses across the board, spanning numerous regions and industries. A study from…
AI Cosmetic Formulation - A cosmetic chemists guide
AI’s Role in Cosmetic Chemistry In the ever-evolving world of cosmetic science, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cosmetic chemistry is not just a…
What does Chat GPT mean for beauty and cosmetic chemists?
No doubt you have heard about Chat GPT which seems to have taken the world by storm. AI is a fast growing and ever developing…
First Aid Beauty Bump Eraser Body Scrub and the science behind its TikTok success
Love it or hate it TikTok is one of the fastest growing digital platforms and has become an essential marketing platform for beauty brands. In…
Pixi Glycolic Body Wash - Formula Review
Next up in our series of evaluating ingredient lists is Pixi’s Glycolic Body Wash. As we have written about before, when you analyze a cosmetic…
Clinique Cleansing Balm - Formula Review
Understanding how to decipher cosmetic ingredient lists is an essential skill in developing your formulating skills while also making you a more informed consumer. By…
Solving cosmetic formulation problems
One the cosmetic science formulation forum we often get people looking for advice on how to improve their formulas. While each question and formulation is…
Chemistry concepts most important for cosmetic formulators
Whenever we do a webinar, we find that about 30 - 40% of people interested in formulating cosmetics don’t have a background in science. In…
Environmental Impact of the cosmetic industry
When I started formulating cosmetics back in the late 1990’s, one regulatory movement was to reduce the VOC (volatile organic compounds) of cosmetics. What this…