Parabens declared safe for use by EU
In case you were curious, the EU is in the process of updating its regulations regarding the use of parabens in cosmetics. According to the…
Category: Formulating
Cosmetic formula testing - Triangle Test
As a cosmetic chemist, one of the most basic things you need to be able to do is to evaluate formulas and new raw materials.…
Why more cosmetic chemists aren’t doing research?
On another post about wrinkle treatment breakthrus, Louise asked this excellent question which I thought would make a good post because people just starting out…
Optimizing cosmetic raw material levels
As a cosmetic chemist, you will frequently be called on to evaluate a new raw material or to optimize its level. But unless you’ve done…
7 reasons to do a stability test on a cosmetic
One of the primary tests that you will run on your cosmetic formulations is a stability test. You can read this other post for a…
On Formulating a Greener Shampoo
Next week I’m giving a talk on cosmetic sustainability at the Southwest SCC monthly meeting. It should be fun. This is a hot topic in…
The Pressures Against Innovative Cosmetics and how to overcome them
As a cosmetic formulator, you have a tough task. You have to make great new formulas that consumers love, your marketing department loves and they…
SCC Technical Symposium
Today, I am giving a talk about how cosmetic chemists can use the Internet to become better cosmetic chemists. It should be a fun talk…
What color will your cosmetic products be in 2012?
This article is Happi reports that Pantone, the global authority on color, has released it’s predictions for the top 10 colors for women’s fashion in…
Electronic Devices in Dermatology
I saw this article about electronic devices being more important in cosmetic treatments. It seems that dermatologists are using these gadgets more frequently to deliver…
Why does salt thicken shampoos?
When I first got into the cosmetic industry I worked on hair care products, specifically, shampoos. One of the things that I found fascinating about…
Formulating Multifunctional Cosmetic Products
One of the biggest challenges a formulator faces is creating products that are different than their competitors. Unfortunately, most cosmetic chemists have to do this…
Conditioning Agents for Hair and Skin
Some years ago I co-edited a book about the different types of conditioning agents that are used by cosmetic chemists for hair and skin products.…
8 Types of Cosmetic Ingredients in Formulas
As a beginning cosmetic formulator you will most likely not be given the responsibility to create your own formula from scratch. More likely, you will…
Viscosity Tips for Cosmetic Products
On another discussion group someone asked how to determine the correct viscosity range and spindle for your formulas. Specifically, they wanted to know what parameters…
Cosmetic Formulating Around the Halo Effect
It’s happened to me on numerous occasions. I spend weeks testing different ingredients and improving the performance of my cosmetic formula. I get evidence from…
Alternative Cosmetic Preservatives - What are your options?
We’ve previously written about cosmetic preservatives and for the most part, there are ingredients that are effective for almost any standard condition a cosmetic product…
Cosmetic Formulation Philosophy
I recently traded emails with one of our Complete Cosmetic Chemist training program students about a cosmetic formulation she was working on. Without getting into…
How to Reduce the Cost of a Cosmetic Formula
In your career as a cosmetic chemist, you will undoubtedly have the following experience. After months of prototyping and testing you create the most…
How to test Cosmetic Raw Materials
As a cosmetic chemist you will likely be inundated with new raw materials and sales people encouraging you to try out their latest and greatest…