Episode 34: Chemists Corner - Ginger King
Hello and welcome to Chemists Corner. I’m your host Perry Romanowski and this is a podcast about the wonderful world of cosmetic chemistry and cosmetic…
Why the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is bad for formulators
This article about the upcoming ban of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo has me concerned. We cosmetic chemists are being attacked and told by people…
Human Skin - The Ingenious Creation of Nature
This article was written by Vitaly Solomonov In this article, we take a short trip deep in our skin in order to understand clearly how the…
The Chemistry of Fireworks explained
It’s not quite cosmetic chemistry but I always found the chemistry of fireworks interesting. It’s a bit like formulating but instead of making creams, liquids…
9 Topical Cosmetic Compounds That Work
Last weekend I had the opportunity to speak at the Face and Body show in San Jose. It was a great show and I was…
Why do people buy cosmetics?
You work hard as a cosmetic formulator. You research the ingredients, you optimize the levels, and you do it in an affordable way. Then you…
Strategies for formulating green products
Previously, we talked about how sustainability will effect the formulating efforts of cosmetic chemists. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the different formulation strategies…
Why a cosmetic chemist should learn about toxicology
I recently got a request from a website to write an article about the dangers of parabens. At first, I declined because I do not…
7 Tricks for Saving a Bad Body Wash Batch
This will happen to you at some point in your career as a cosmetic chemist. You’ll either get a call from the QA people telling…
How to Decipher Cosmetic Claims - Hair Conditioner
In the United States cosmetic companies are not prevented from making almost any claim they want. However, there is a significant rule they must follow.…
How do you know if a cosmetic raw material works?
I saw a science article that indicated in a mouse study that a compound in apple peals (ursolic acid) was good for helping build muscles.…
Is there really such thing as a cosmetic?
According to the FDA statute first written in 1938, cosmetics are products used for beautification and enhancement of the appearance of skin or hair. By…
Thickening Agents for Cosmetic Formulations
One of the requirements of most cosmetic products is that they have an appealing rheology. This means that you as a cosmetic formulator you are…
5 Reasons There are not Better Cosmetic Raw Materials
It seems every year one of the big cosmetic raw material companies introduce a new ingredient that will “revolutionize” the cosmetic industry. But in the…
How can a cosmetic chemist remain a scientist?
The other day I stumbled on this story about a group of scientists questioning the need for people to take Vitamin D supplements. These independent…
Essential Cosmetic Lab Equipment
If you want to be a cosmetic chemist and make cosmetic products, there is certain essential equipment that you’ll need to get. Here is a…
MAY – The Sun be with you or against you?
As the month of May is officially known as Skin Cancer Awareness month, I thought it fitting to share some interesting facts about Skin Cancer,…
Cosmetic Chemists Guide to Working with Vendors
As a cosmetic chemist you are going to have to deal with suppliers and vendors to get anything done. Here is an explanation of the…
How to Determine Cost of a Formulation
This video shows you how to figure out the cost per pound (or kg) of a formula using ingredient costs & percentages. A free downloadable spreadsheet …
Formulating Chemist Job - Big Company or Small?
Getting a degree in chemistry will teach you a lot about science but not much about having a chemist job. We’ve previously talked about what…