Figuring out the 1% line
A fun activity for any cosmetic chemist is to look at a list of ingredients (LOI) and try to determine where is the 1% line.…
Category: Formulating
What are cosmetic product specifications?
When you create a formula in the lab it’s rather easy to create batches that are consistently the same in terms of their physical and…
Surfactants - Does the counterion matter?
There was an interesting discussion on LinkedIn about whether Magnesium Laureth Sulfate was more gentle than Sodium Laureth Sulfate. It’s a pretty good question and…
So you want to formulate sulfate free?
Somewhere along the line surfactants which contain the name “sulfate” got a bad name. It’s difficult to say exactly how this negative reputation was developed…
Cosmetic Formulating - Working with Base Formulas
When you start out as a cosmetic formulator you will not be asked to come up with your own formulas. There may be some exceptions…
The Three Types of Cosmetic Raw Materials
Did you know that there are only 3 main categories of cosmetic raw materials? Really all of the ingredients used in cosmetics can be put…
Where to find the list of ingredients for a cosmetic
It’s a requirement in the United States and around most places in the world that cosmetic products have their ingredients listed on their label. We’ve…
Thickening cosmetic products
Here’s a pretty good article which outlines the different methods for thickening cosmetic formulas. Cosmetic product thickening In the future we’ll do a more in-depth…
Why Cosmetic Chemists Must Remain Skeptical
In a recent discussion on our cosmetic science forum about functional cosmetic ingredients a commenter complained that my positions were too demoralizing. I suspect my…
What does Natural Cosmetics mean to consumers?
Many cosmetic entrepreneurs are interested in producing all natural and organic cosmetics. We frequently get emails here on Chemists Corner that say something like “I…
Proper Preservation for your Cosmetic Formulation
There have been a few stories in the news recently about product recalls due to bacterial or microbial contamination of cosmetic products. This one about…
Cosmetics are not a consumer danger in the US but dietary supplements are
As a cosmetic formulator I’m often annoyed by chemical fear mongering of NGOs and other non-scientists who claim that cosmetics represent a significant health concern.…
Cosmetic delivery system of the future
Are nanoparticles the cosmetic delivery system of the future? They may be if this research can ever be completed and commercialized. According to scientists at…
Becoming an excellent cosmetic formulator
I saw this infographic titled “how to excel as a formulator” which lists 9 things you need to achieve that goal. The 9 tips from…
The hardest things a cosmetic chemist has to do
There are some aspects of cosmetic chemistry that are easy but there are others that can be a but difficult. This list refers to the…
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…
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…
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.…