What is the worst formulating advice you've seen on the Internet?

PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
in Formulating
Since literally anyone can write anything about anything on the Internet, there has been a proliferation of dubious formulation experts giving dubious advice. 

What are some examples of the worst formulating advice you've seen online?

I'll start...

Using natural oils as SPF ingredients - This is downright dangerous as people may go out thinking their skin is protected while it actually isn't. No, Carrot oil will not help you achieve an SPF 38 to 40!
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Comments

  • EVchemEVchem Member
    Just a general example- people thinking Vitamin E Acetate is either:
    1. a preservative
    2. an antioxidant that will increase shelf-life
  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    @EVchem - yeah, that advice about vitamin E is all over the place and just mistaken. 

    Learn to formulate cosmetics
  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    Emulsify your product with a whisk.  :#
  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    @Graillotion - lol!

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  • RedCoastRedCoast Member
    Heat and hold for 20-30 minutes no matter what. Do it regardless of the emulsifier or co-emulsifiers. Also, add temperature-sensitive ingredients in the hot phase, even for 10-20 minutes, including antioxidants.
    I saw all those "instructions" on one entire post.
    Runner up: to prevent an emulsion from separating, add more antioxidants.
    Graillotion said:
    Emulsify your product with a whisk.  :#
    I've seen this one before, too. I think some people are copying instructions from making chocolates and applying them to formulating cosmetics. xD
  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    @RedCoast - yes, I think a lot of stuff you see about making cosmetics online is adaptations of food making.

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  • ngarayeva001ngarayeva001 Member
    The question was ‘which preservative is suitable for baby products’. Response:
  • ngarayeva001ngarayeva001 Member
    Graillotion said:
    Emulsify your product with a whisk.  

    Well if your product is relying  on sepigel 305 as the only emulsifier you can even emulsify it with a fork 😂
  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    @ngarayeva001 - ah yes, the vitamin E preservative nonsense. ugh.

    Learn to formulate cosmetics
  • abieroseabierose Member
    Perry said:
    Since literally anyone can write anything about anything on the Internet, there has been a proliferation of dubious formulation experts giving dubious advice. 

    What are some examples of the worst formulating advice you've seen online?

    I'll start...

    Using natural oils as SPF ingredients - This is downright dangerous as people may go out thinking their skin is protected while it actually isn't. No, Carrot oil will not help you achieve an SPF 38 to 40!
    I visibly cringe every time I see "to use coconut oil as an spf and sun block" 😖...I've also read you can use coconut oil to whiten your teeth! 😳 There was definitely a minute where people were touting coconut oil as a cure-all...
  • domicanicadomicanica Member
    Could someone please clarify for me the part about Vitamin C Acetate not having anti-oxidant properties?
  • ozgirlozgirl Member, PCF student
    edited May 2021
    Any time any of the following statements are mentioned is definitely bad formulating advice.
    "You don't need a preservative for this lotion/shampoo/<insert other water containing/contact product here>"
    "Preservatives are bad"
    "Use essential oils as preservatives"
    :#
  • abieroseabierose Member
    There are way too many websites proclaiming that essential oils are natural and therefore harmless and that fragrance oils are synthetic and therefore harmful. 🧐
  • jemolianjemolian Member
    edited May 2021
    Speaking about cooking, this kills me :D

    Comments from the natural FB groups always does, so...


  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    edited May 2021
    jemolian said:
    Speaking about cooking, this kills me :D

    Comments from the natural FB groups always does, so...


    All that is missing is.....Bake at 350 for 25 minutes! :)
  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    ngarayeva001 said:
    Graillotion said:
    Emulsify your product with a whisk.  

    Well if your product is relying  on sepigel 305 as the only emulsifier you can even emulsify it with a fork 😂
    The whisk people...have more than likely never heard of Sepi 305. :) 

  • jemolianjemolian Member
    To be honest, i think using a whisk is still fine because we can be slightly short of budget or basic equipment at home. Using a milk frother is worse.  :#
  • ozgirlozgirl Member, PCF student
    @jemolian I must remember to tell our manufacturer to add "a pinch" of EDTA next time :D :D :D
  • PaprikPaprik Member
    jemolian said:
    Speaking about cooking, this kills me :D

    Comments from the natural FB groups always does, so...


    Oh **** :D This cracked me up !!! :D :D :D 
    Pinch of EDTA :D Ninicidmide :D Omg I caaan't :D 
  • jemolianjemolian Member
    edited May 2021
    @ozgirl supposedly a pinch is about 1/16 teaspoon, so it's about 0.35g. I'd assume for EDTA, it's workable up to a 1kg batch for a pinch?  :D

  • ngarayeva001ngarayeva001 Member
    It’s fascinating that a person who measures ingredients in pinches and teaspoons is ok with EDTA, mineral oil and methylparaben.
  • PharmaPharma Member, Pharmacist
    @ngarayeva001 Why? Back in the good old days of alchemy, their measures were even worse but they seemed to feel quite confident using things like mercury, lead oxide, deadly nightshade, and goose droppings in their salves and ointments. On the other hand, why should non-metric measures mean that someone is supporting the free from boom? Wouldn't the USA be all organic and fairtrade if it were so? :smiley:
  • PhilGeisPhilGeis Member, Professional formulator
    preservative free
  • MicroformulationMicroformulation Member, Professional Chemist
    "90 percent of what you put on your skin is absorbed into the body." It is then usually used as the Foundation for a campaign of chemophobia.
    markfuller@microformulation.com Microformulation.com Microformulation Cosmetic Consulting provides Custom Formulations for both large Commercial accounts as well as smaller entrepreneurs. We can provide Naturally compliant Formulations under the NSF, NPA, Whole Foods and USDA Organic Certifications. BS.Pharm Albany College of Pharmacy, Union University.
  • abieroseabierose Member
    "Hypoallergenic"
  • MarkBroussardMarkBroussard Member, Professional Chemist
    You put the Lime in the Coconut, drink them both up
    Chemist/Microbiologist formulating in the Clean Beauty and Naturals arena under Clean At Sephora/Credo Clean Beauty/ECOCert/Natural Products Assn/Whole Foods/National Organic Program/NSF.
     
    Highly functional skincare formulations for Indie Beauty Brands, Dermatologists, Estheticians & Beatuy Entrepreneurs.

    See website for details https://desertinbloomcosmeticslab.com
    Or read the Blog for my insights on Cosmetic Chemistry & Skincare https://desertinbloomcosmeticslab.com/cosmetic-chemist-skincare-blog/
  • RedCoastRedCoast Member
    edited May 2021
    Also, any formula (especially with essential oils) that blatantly ignores the IFRA Maximum Skin Exposure Levels.
  • AbdullahAbdullah Member
    edited May 2021
    "Hyaluronic acid is the best and strongest moisturizing ingredient" this ingredient costed me a lot of money and didn't do anything beneficial or noticable.
    I have eczema and in winter i strongly need to use a potent moisture or a corticosteroid drug for it. The only moisturizer that helped me was petrolatum based lotion with %20 Glycerin. It is not aesthetically pleasant but it workes and you can feel the moisturizing benefits from first use.
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