What does Chat GPT mean for beauty and cosmetic chemists?
No doubt you have heard about Chat GPT which seems to have taken the world by storm. AI is a fast growing and ever developing…
Category: Science
First Aid Beauty Bump Eraser Body Scrub and the science behind its TikTok success
Love it or hate it TikTok is one of the fastest growing digital platforms and has become an essential marketing platform for beauty brands. In…
Chemistry concepts most important for cosmetic formulators
Whenever we do a webinar, we find that about 30 - 40% of people interested in formulating cosmetics don’t have a background in science. In…
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…
What is in a cosmetic ingredient
Formulating cosmetics can be a challenge. You’ve got to make a product that performs well enough for your consumers, is easy to make for your…
Why are some oils solid while others are liquid?
Fats, oils, waxes and butters are natural materials that find use in improving the look and feel of skin and hair. They can provide shine,…
How to be convincing
When I participate in discussions about cosmetic ingredients, I’m usually disappointed in the quality of arguments people put forth in support of their positions. It…
10 Things Surfactants Do In Cosmetics
In the first part of our cosmetic surfactant series we talked about what surfactants are and how they behave in a cosmetic mixture. In this…
What are surfactants? A Formulators Guide
Of all the ingredients you could use to formulate cosmetics, surfactants are perhaps the most important. They are used for a wide range of applications…
What is an emulsion? Back to Basics
You may have heard the term emulsion, but still don’t quite understand what it means, especially if you are not a chemist. Well, I thought…
Cosmetic Science - What is known and unknown
One of my Facebook friends posted a question looking for advice about which sunscreen she could use for her child. It turns out her daughter…
The Importance of UV Protection Ingredients in Cosmetics Formulations
There was a time when having tanned skin and laying out in the sun’s rays was considered healthy. However, the dangers of UV rays are…
Sun Damage in the Dark – Yes, in the Dark
Here is some surprising research that suggests a new angle to explore in the formulating of skin care and sunscreens. Contributing authors - Meaghan Lee-Erlandsen…
Biochemistry Terms that Cosmetic Chemists Should Know
When I was in high school I learned about cloning and thought it would be a great idea to clone myself. I wasn’t particularly serious…
How do moisturizing ingredients work?
This is a pretty good summary of how skin moisturizers work on dry skin.
Weekend science - surfactants
Here’s a nice video I found on Youtube that explains the chemistry of surfactants in a solution. It’s a nice way to spend 5 minutes…
How stem cell technology can really work
Right now there are a bunch of cosmetic brand that claim to use stem cells to provide benefits. For example, there is the Swiss Botany…
Are people using cosmetics wrong?
People apply color cosmetics hoping to improve the way they look. But according to this research published in the The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, most…
Weekend chemistry
On the weekend I like to look through Youtube and find cool chemistry videos. Here’s one from a series called Chemistry Life Hacks which gives…
The science of cosmetics
Here’s some good weekend reading about cosmetic science. They cover some good information but unfortunately, the non-science based EWG gets referenced at the end. It’s…