Bobzchemist
Forum Replies Created
-
The classic technique would be to melt the wax, mix it with activated carbon, and then filter the carbon out while the wax was still liquid.
This would be (relatively) easy to do on an industrial scale. Separating hexane from paraffin using distillation sounds like more trouble/expense than it’s worth.
-
“By adding Tween 80, I expect to disrup the corneum stract and ease the way to the actives in the sheet mask that I intend to infuse with the serum.”
Disrupting the stratum corneum is not safe. Liability concerns prohibit me from commenting further, sorry.
-
Don’t do it without a Master’s or preferably a Doctorate in microbiology.
-
This is not a simple problem. You need a carrier liquid that is not hygroscopic but is water-soluble/water-dispersible so that it can be applied with a wet sponge, but not so water-soluble that it comes off the face too easily. Emulsions won’t work due to shrinkage. Ointments won’t work due to the wet sponge requirement.
It would be so much simpler to make a traditional pancake or hot-pour foundation. Have you considered this?
-
Couple of pointers:
1) It’s very helpful to keep your TiO2 level constant across your shades.
2) It’s tough to add dry pigment to a finished liquid foundation and have it come out right.
3) Instead, make up monochromatic batches of your formula. Yellow, Red and Black Iron Oxide batches (about 10-20% pigment) should be all you need, along with a colorless (TiO2 only) batch. It’s easier to keep the TiO2 level constant if you have it constant in your monochromatic adjusting batches also, but that’s a personal preference. This way, you can add drops of color and stir for a few moments to alter your shades without having to worry about properly grinding pigment into your batches. -
Belassi has it right. There is no solution to your two mutually incompatible goals.
-
To make an emulsion, you will need to saponify the stearic acid first.
-
You will have to talk to your fragrance supplier for this. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to review all of the FDA regulations regarding fragrance - it’s in there somewhere. If you don’t have the time to look through them yourself, maybe someone else here can help.
-
Usually included in the fragrance blend by the fragrance manufacturer, so no need to disclose on the label.
-
Mica won’t usually suspend in anything that’s thin enough to spray
-
Depends on what you’re doing with your moisturizer. Refrigeration could extend shelf life from 1-3 years. If you’re selling it, this won’t make a difference. But if it’s just for you, it could mean being able to use your moisturizer for a good bit longer.
-
There’s more, too:
Biology: Microbiology, Dermatology
Chemistry: Biochemistry, Surface Chemistry
Physics: Particle Morphology, RheologyLike Perry said, it’s all in how you organize your categories.
-
You should check with your current company about your chances for promotion. I’ve worked for some companies where moving from a technician (hourly) to a chemist (salaried professional) job was difficult to impossible. If that’s the case, any job as a chemist in any field will be better than what you have now.
What you also have to assess are the opportunities you have to learn about the company, the manufacturing process, and the business. For an extreme example, if you’re spending all day long taking pH and viscosity readings, every day, with no access to any information about the samples, then you have zero opportunity to learn. If your situation is anything like that, you need to leave ASAP.
In any case, generally speaking, it will probably be easier to move laterally across fields (organic chemist to cosmetic chemist, etc.) than it will be to move up from a technician to a chemist job, even with the masters degree. Chemists are expected to solve problems and lead projects, while technicians aren’t. Not having that experience puts you at a distinct disadvantage.
There is one exception to think about, though. A good number of salaried chemists are expected to work 1-2 hours of uncompensated overtime a day, simply as a matter of course in their daily activities. Having a position like that could very well make it impossible to complete your Master’s degree, especially if the program you’re in requires an intensive amount of classwork and/or homework. It may be easier on you to stay a technician until you finish your masters degree.
-
The purpose for your product will determine the type and quantity of surfactant needed. Use enough of the right surfactant, and you can make a stable emulsion with only gentle stirring.
-
You kids will need to learn how to run a Google search eventually, but since you have a deadline…
http://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com/products/durosoftr-sf
http://glenncorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Durosoft-PK-SG_Brochure.pdf
http://www.in-cosmetics.com/__novadocuments/37619?v=635260873579430000
-
My thinking is that the Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) preferentially pulls the sodium ions from the Sodium Stearate, yielding Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3), water, and Stearic Acid, which is what’s precipitating out (because Stearic Acid isn’t water soluble).
In practice, tiny bits (0.10% or less) of Sodium Bicarbonate don’t seem to affect enough of the Sodium Stearate to destroy the structure of the stick, possibly because an excess of base is used to formulate most of them. I highly doubt that Arm and Hammer uses much more than that.
Pro tip: If you’re making commercial quantities, it’s a lot cheaper to make your own Sodium Stearate from Stearic Acid and Sodium Hydroxide.
-
Try storing it in a glass jar and seeing what happens.
-
You can’t use more than 0.10% or so of baking soda with sodium stearate sticks.
-
No, never could get the money.
Have you looked for used brookfields on ebay? For example https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brookfield-Synchro-Lectric-Viscometer-/263169794571
-
How about a basic toner formula with some water-soluble silicone added?
-
Where have you looked for one so far?
-
I looked into it a while back, but could never justify the purchase since it will not produce readings identical to a Brookfield, and Brookfields are used everywhere. Once you have more than a few months of Brookfield data, it has always seemed like a waste to toss that aside for a different viscometer, and running side-by-side comparisons was seen as a waste of time also.
-
I don’t think some personal care manufacturers are using the correct grades.