Episode 14: Mark Richards Interview
In this episode of the podcast we speak with Mark Richards from Alluralab. He is the CEO of a company that helps chemists and other entrepreneurs create their own cosmetic brands.
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Interview begins at 14:00
Cosmetic News
Parabens safe to use in cosmetics, says European safety committee
This was some big news out of Europe. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) which is the main regulatory body of the EU, has released its opinion that parabens are safe to use as cosmetics preservatives. They also indicated that levels of some of the compounds should be reduced.
If you don’t know, parabens are one of the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics. They have recently been the subject of attacks by consumer & chemical fearmongering groups who claim parabens have a disruptive effect on hormone systems.
The SCCS recently examined the data on butl- and propyl parabens and found that there was insufficient data to characterize the effects on hormonal systems. They opted for a conservative use level of 0.19 percent. This is a slight lowering from the 0.4 percent level that was previously allowed.
The new guidelines actually reflect what manufacturers were already using so from an industry standpoint, there is not much change.
They also confirmed that manufacturers can continue to use methylparaben and ethylparaben at levels of 0.4 and 0.8 percent.
Not all the parabens were positively judged. The SCCS said there wasn’t enough data to say isopropyl-, isobutyl- and phenyl-parabens were safe to use. Of course, manufacturers don’t use these ingredients so that’s not much of a problem.
This is good news for formulators. Now you’ll have some support to continue to use a preservative that has been used safely for decades. Of course, this will not likely stop people from raising paraben concerns. Nor will it stop “all natural” folks from touting the dangers of parabens. To some people it is impossible to prove an ingredient is safe. To those people I ask, why use cosmetics at all? If people are really afraid of getting sick from cosmetics, they should not use them. They are not a requirement for a healthy life. Fortunately for cosmetic chemists, many people think they are a requirement for a happy life.
Cosmetic Science
6 Steps to Create a Cosmetic Formula
Formulating is one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a cosmetic chemist. This is when you get to blend all the cosmetic science you’ve learned with your creative inspirations. It’s how you can make your mark as a formulation chemist.
The following 6 steps will help you take your ideas and convert them into functioning cosmetic products.
Step 1 — Define your product
Before you get started, you need to think about what you are going to make. Figure out what functions you want your product to achieve. Is it a cleansing product, a moisturizer, a coloring product, or maybe a combination of factors? Also think about the aesthetic characteristics like color, thickness, clarity, etc. and the cosmetic product form. Write these parameters down so you’ll know when you done whether you’ve been successful.
It is always helpful to have a target product with characteristics that you are trying to match. Be sure to get a sample to look at and feel.
Step 2 — Find a starting formula
Next you need to figure out a good starting formula. Starting formulas can be found from a variety of sources. You can look at some of the most useful cosmetic science books. You can also look at online formularies like the one from Happi.com or Chemidex.com. Raw material suppliers like Croda and Rhodia also have formularies that you can use. Another useful source is patents. You can use Google patents or the USPTO.gov website to find formulas. Of course, you can also talk to a colleague who may be able to share one of her starting formulas with you. Finally, if you work at a big company, they will have a big archive of old formulas that will give you a great starting basis.
Remember, starting formulas are not meant to be finished formulas
Step 3 — Prepare for your batch
Once you have your starting formula, you’ll want to determine how much you want to make and create a spreadsheet which lists out how much of each ingredient you need. Then you’ll need to list the specifications that you will test when the batch is finished. After that you’ll have to gather up all the raw materials and processing equipment needed to make the batch. Next, put on your safety glasses & start making your batch.
Step 4 — Making the batch
Making a cosmetic product is much like cooking. You weigh or measure out your ingredients, mix them together as dictated in the procedure and heat & cool as required. During the entire process you should be writing detailed notes and observations in your lab notebook. These will come in handy when you need to make refinements for future prototypes.
You almost never make a perfect batch on your first try
Step 5 — Test your batch
Once you’ve finished your formula, you’ll want to test it to see how successful you were. After letting the sample equilibrate to room temperature, take appropriate measurements like pH and viscosity to see if you are within specifications. Also, weigh the batch to see how much water weight you lost during the heating and cooling process. If you’ve lost more than a few % of water you may want to add water to make up the difference. In addition to specification tests, you should also do some performance tests to see how well the product functions. At the very least try the product on yourself. If the formula meets your satisfaction then you’ll want to do a stability test.
If you won’t use the product you made, why should anyone else?
Step 6 — Revise formula and Repeat
After you’ve tested the product and determined where it doesn’t quite measure up, you’ll need to make adjustments to see if it can be improved. I’ve found that knockout experiments are the most helpful way to figure out the effect that every ingredient has on the final formula. Once you know what the ingredients do, you’ll know which ones to increase or decrease to improve your formula.
After a dozen or so revisions, you should have a formula that meets your needs.
Cosmetic formulating is as much an art as it is a science. As you gain more experience, you’ll find ingredients that you like to work with and others that you avoid. You’ll develop your own style and ideally make products and formulas that are genuinely unique to you. I always liked to add a “signature” in my formulas by using some ingredient at a % that included the number 44. It didn’t usually have much affect on the formula but it did make me feel like the formula was my own creation. And it was.
Interview
Mark Richards is an entrprenuer who has started multiple successful companies. He is currently the CEO of Alluralab which helps create and manufacture custom formulated cosmetic & personal care products. He is also the owner of PolyClean USA and The Richards group. He specializes in creating “Blank Sheet of Paper” concepts, New Product Development and Ideation.
Contact Mark through his website Alluralab.com
Announcements
Perry will be speaking at the Long Island SCC meeting and the Connecticut SCC meeting in January. The meetings are on January 18 and January 20. Please attend if you are in the area.
If you have a question, comment or other suggestion about the podcast, leave a message in the space below.
Chemists Corner is a podcast about cosmetic science and is broadcast to help educate, entertain, and inspire current and future cosmetic scientists. The information and opinions discussed on Chemists Corner are those of the hosts and the guests alone. They do not necessarily reflect those of any past, present or future employers.
