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…
Category: Formulating
Why companies might change a product formula
As a new cosmetic formulator you might be surprised to learn that you won’t get many opportunities to create completely new formulas. It is rare…
Why beauty products are going waterless
Water (aqua) is usually at the top of most ingredient lists - and for good reason. It’s an effective and inexpensive solvent. Still, waterless beauty…
Places to find ingredient lists for cosmetics
In the days before the Internet became what it is now, it was tough to find lists of ingredients. Even back then analyzing cosmetic ingredient…
Cosmetic product analysis - How do you do it?
Someone wrote in and asked the following. “If you were given a formulated scrub containing pulverized avocado seed/peel. What steps would you take to evaluated…
How to analyze a cosmetic ingredient list
An important skill for every budding cosmetic chemist or formulator to develop is the ability to analyze a cosmetic ingredient list. By honing this skill…
The Colorful History of Synthetic Organic Pigments Used in Color Cosmetics
Azo chemistry is one of the most widely used methods of making synthetic dyes and pigments. The term azo refers to a nitrogen double bond…
The Challenges of formulating natural cosmetics
Clean Beauty is all the rage these days and it can be directly related to the difficulties in formulating natural cosmetics. Although there are not…
Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Are they really free from cruelty?
Hello and welcome to Hot Topics from Chemists Corner, the show where I pick some topic about the cosmetic industry that caught my eye and…
The Problem With Cosmetic Ingredient Research
I was scanning through the various science magazines I follow and stumbled on this interesting article about a couple of essential oils and their effect…
What Silicones Are In Cosmetics
Silicones are definitely controversial ingredients in cosmetic products. The misinformed reasons people suggest avoiding them include things like being unsafe for the environment, causing acne,…
What is the best preservative to use?
One of the most common questions we get here on Chemists Corner about formulating is what is the best cosmetic preservative to use. Before I…
Lotion Serum Cream - What do they mean
Formulating cosmetics can be challenging, but convincing people to buy products can be even harder. The biggest challenge in getting consumers to pick your product…
Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid when formulating
It’s getting harder to be a cosmetic formulator these days. It used to be you could mix together any reasonable ingredients to get the performance…
Expiration Date of a Cosmetic Formula
One of the more frequent questions received here at Chemists Corner is about the expiration date of products. Formulators, and beauty product consumers alike, want…
Creating a cosmetic - what is a concept
Learning the chemistry of cosmetics and how to formulate products is not actually the first step required in making a cosmetic product. The first thing…
Cosmetic testing - in vitro - in vivo - ex vivo - and more
When evaluating cosmetic products there are some terms you’ll here in reference to specific types of testing. These include in vitro, in vivo, and ex…
Should you learn to make cosmetics?
I’ve been a cosmetic chemist for over 25 years and have come to love the process of creating personal care and beauty products. It appeals…
New formulation club by the in-cosmetics Group announced
This may be useful for all the cosmetic formulators out there. 24 May 2018 - Its events are a trusted source of formulation know-how for thousands of…
Color Selection for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Part 1: Stability of Certified Colors An important consideration in the color additive selection process is stability. Once the regulatory requirements for the market(s) where…