Why do you need multiple preservatives in your cosmetic formula
We received this question here at Chemists Corner central and thought it would be a good one to write an article about. “Why do the…
Category: Formulating
Organic Formulating - Tales from the front
I am health. I am wealth. I am stealth. Ok, maybe not stealth, but it rhymed so well… I am ORGANIC. At least this is…
Longer lasting formulas are more sustainable
Living in America, I was raised to wash my hair every day. In 2005, while developing a new shampoo and conditioner formula for the mass…
An example of how to test a hypothesis
Yesterday, I wrote about what makes a good scientific study and how you can prevent fooling yourself. The key was to remain skeptical and create…
How to determine the level of cosmetic ingredients
In yesterday’s post we talked about cosmetic claims ingredients and why they are used at low levels. In today’s post we’ll describe a process by…
Why natural extracts are not put in cosmetics at high levels.
One of the things that people find surprising when they first enter the cosmetic formulating business is that many of the feature ingredients have very…
Merry Cosmetic Chemistry Christmas
Well, I don’t have much today but I never like to take a day off so I’ll write a Christmas cosmetic chemistry poem. Cosmetics Humectants…
Jergens Natural Glow - Dissecting a cosmetic label
On one of my other blogs (The Beauty Brains) we do a series where we look at the ingredients on a cosmetic label and write…
On Becoming an Organiceutical Formulator
Today we feature a new writer here on Chemists Corner. Natural. Green. Organic. EcoCert. EWG. COSMOS. NPA, etc., etc., etc. Do these ever nagging terms…
Buzz words for the natural formulating chemist
One of the biggest trends in the cosmetic formulating business is the Naturals or Green product trend. Terms get thrown around and it is often…
Varieties of Cosmetic Emollients
There are a variety of cosmetic emollients that cosmetic chemists will use to formulate skin and hair care products. The type you use will depend…
See an aerosol production line
This is an interesting enough video for anyone who wonders how aerosol hairsprays, sunscreens, or deodorants are made. [youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf7UMaj1IDM’] This is an example of…
How to convert a formula from ounces to percentages
Someone sent me a question about how to convert their formula from ounces into percentages. This is an important skill for cosmetic chemists to learn…
How to get useful cosmetic information sent to you
The Internet has really changed the way you should be doing cosmetic formulating. In the past, you used to rely on your suppliers, trade shows…
The senses of a cosmetic chemist
We’ve previously talked about the importance of trying all of the products you are working on. But this article about the ability for people to…
Weekend science shopping
I’m not really much of a shopper but after this morning’s round of golf, my father in law and I went to American Science and…
Thanksgiving Ingredients in your Cosmetics
As a cosmetic formulator, you can find some fun stuff by looking through the INCI dictionary. In honor of the US Thanksgiving holiday, today we’re…
What makes a good cosmetic ingredient study?
On the cosmetic science forum, user PMA asked an excellent question about the effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid in skin care products. Specifically, the question was,…
Will this viscosity device replace Brookfield viscometers?
According to this story, researchers have developed a new viscometer that can take viscosity measurements by simply flowing liquid through it. They say that it…
The most useful smart phone apps for cosmetic chemists
If you have a mobile smart phone (an iPhone for example) there are a number of apps that a cosmetic chemist will find useful. Here…