Old Technology in New Cosmetic Formulas
There was an interesting discussion going on in the cosmetic science forum about a formulation that one of the chemists was working with which included…
Category: Formulating
Making Cosmetics the scientific way
Making cosmetics can be done by almost anyone whether you have scientific training or not. Certainly, it is easier for cosmetic chemists to create new…
Olay Oil Minimizing Toner - Dissecting the Label
One of the most simple products that a formulator might be called on to produce is a toner. This Olay Oil Minimizing toner is one…
Where can you get Natural Cosmetic Formulation training
We often get questions about formulating and frequently those are centered on Natural cosmetic formulating. Here is a recent question sent in by someone who…
7 Types of Cosmetic Story Ingredients
Cosmetic formulators have to make great performing formulas. You have to get the functionality right, the formula has to be stable, and it has to…
What does percent solids tell you?
This question came in via the cosmetic science discussion forum and it was something that we hadn’t covered before. The question specifically was “what is…
Cosmetic Science Basics - Silicones
The vast majority of cosmetic raw materials are based on hydrocarbons. Oils, polymers, waxes and more involve bonds of carbon and hydrogen. But a notable…
Salt Curve Analysis - How to control cleansing cosmetics
When you formulate an anionic surfactant based cleansing formula, you don’t normally have to include a separate thickening system. This is because salt will thicken…
Does it matter if your formulations are sustainable?
You can’t get around this trend in the cosmetic industry. Natural, green, organic, sustainable, etc. They are here to stay and will affect your formulation…
Microbial Enumerations Tests - What Every Cosmetic Chemist Should Know about USP 61
This is a guest post by Rachelle Baker, Lab Manager, Cosmetic Test Labs Microbial contamination of cosmetic and personal care products is a frequent concern within…
My first patent 8,277,790
One of the coolest things about being a cosmetic chemist is that you get to be an inventor. You invent new formulas, new processes, or…
Most significant challenges for natural formulators
One of the biggest trends in cosmetic formulating is the trend towards making “natural”, “green” and sustainable formulations. This represents a challenge for cosmetic chemists…
Cosmetic Challenge Testing: Why Even Well-Known Preservatives Need Testing
This is a guest post by Rachelle Baker, lab manager at Cosmetic Test Labs. A popular trend in the cosmetic and personal care product industry…
Are Stem Cells a Revolutionary Cosmetic Ingredient?
A significant trend in the cosmetic industry is one loosely called “customization”. A number of consumers claim that they want products that are customized to…
The science of Powdered Cosmetics
When I was a kid, I didn’t give much thought to cosmetics. When someone said the word cosmetics, I automatically figured they were talking about…
Sunscreen Simulator Formulation Tool
Here is a pretty useful sunscreen formulation tool created by BASF. I put together a video to show a formulator exactly how she might use…
Is sunscreen effective at preventing cancer?
Here was an interesting article published on Boing Boing about sunscreens. The basic premise is that we do not know whether sunscreens actually prevent cancer…
Cosmetic claims substantiation - Olay Wrinkle Smoothing Cream
Proctor and Gamble is arguably the biggest company in the beauty business. They also spend the most money on research and development which results in…
Are Cosmetic Chemists Going to be Replaced?
You may not have noticed but there is a small but significant DIY (Do it yourself) trend in the cosmetics arena. Well, a group out…
Penetration of Cosmetic Ingredients
When you are meeting with a cosmetic raw material supplier, they often talk about how their ingredient will penetrate the skin. Even cosmetic marketers use…