[CedarS]

You might take a look at the pH for best bioavailability on both of those, before you formulate with both in a shared emulsion. 

[CedarS]

Hi Vic22k, it’s been ages since I used climb chalk! But I suspect it’s not a hidden ingredient, it’s about how the magnesium carbonate was treated and milled. You can get huge differences just from the fineness of grind. 

[CedarS]

Here in Texas we often use JEdwards. 

[CedarS]

My initial reaction is that it’s a lot of oils and butter for a leave-in on hair. I suspect it will leave the hair feeling greasy. Also, the fragrance is high for a leave-in formulation. 

[CedarS]

It could be oxidization and it could be Serratia marcescens (bacteria). 

[CedarS]

Yes, we did. You have to be careful adding it, as it will lump up badly. Then just mix slow and steady until it’s all in. We didn’t try to homogenize, worrying over foaming. 

[CedarS]

If you decide to go with the 70%, it is not easy to get into solution. Plan on it taking at least 5 hours in production, and yes, foam will be a problem. 

[CedarS]

I was surprised, and sometimes a little shocked, at the miniscule level of claims ingredients in client formulas. I came to cosmetics from pharma, and analysis of active ingredients to ensure there was the proper amount. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the justification of storytelling with ingredients. 

[CedarS]

I suspect if you feel like there is adequate cleansing, and you have used it for more than one wash, and continue to feel good about it, then it should work. For a better trial, you would want to find more people to try it and give you feedback. 

[CedarS]

Looking at one I have on my desk, I see 
Chemical Name: Emulsion
Mixtures
Composition comments: The components are not hazardous or are below required disclosure limits. 

Prop 65 usually appears in section 15. Regulatory Information 

[CedarS]

From experience on working on a scale up currently, you really can’t always say ‘use x’ because sometimes your raw materials will vary. I had a surfactant that would pass when it came in at 8.8 but then a batch came in at 6.5 (still within CoA specs) and we had to adjust based on that, which was a change. 

So it varies! 

[CedarS]

Have you talked to the suppliers of these actives? I’ve gotten excellent technical advice by reaching out with questions like these. 

[CedarS]

Generic in the body, not specific. 

[CedarS]

The CAS number can be useful if you want to verify you are getting the exact same chemical that you want/need, if you are confused by similar chemical names. It’s not too useful for cosmetic raw materials, as they are often blends, with multiple CAS numbers, or have no assigned CAS as many botanical extracts do not. 

[CedarS]

I had reached out to a supplier for Lactic Acid and was told they were neither sampling, nor taking orders for it. Another distributor told me that there was limited stock from their sources. I’m still trying to find a supply today… 

[CedarS]

You ought to be able to create a butter, a heavier emulsion, but then it would not be anhydrous. Must it be completely anhydrous? 

The other option, as Mayday mentions, would be to source goat’s milk butter (you can make butter from goat milk, I have, although it’s not as straightforward as cow’s milk as it is naturally homogenous) and use that. 

[CedarS]

Hi! Where are you located? That may be helpful to finding a formulator. 

[CedarS]

I just came across this link today, not sure of the source. Preservatives for Cosmetics: Chemistries & Selection Tips (specialchem.com)

[CedarS]

You should not dilute the product. The only reason to do so would be if you were trying to analyze a solid, and even then the results may not be accurate. Always measure the emulsion as-is. 

[CedarS]

Quite possibly, you can always try that. Milk powder, though, is more than just the proteins. I’ve worked with it in a formula, but not at a high enough percentage to see a difference. At a higher percentage you’d expect it to contain sugar (lactose), lipids, and proteins. 

[CedarS]

You might look into indigo, if you don’t want to produce it for sale and just want it for personal use. 

[CedarS]

Congratulations, Perry! And a note of thanks - I just fell into this career as a cosmetic chemist and your forum, blog, and books have been a tremendous resource as I’m learning how to translate chemistry into cosmetics. 

[CedarS]

Let’s see, on my deck right now I have: 

Formulations by Tharwat F Tadros 
Multifunctional Cosmetics ed by Randy Schueller and Perry Romanowski

I’ve been consulting both as I work on some client formula ideas. I have more on my ‘library’ shelf, but those two are the ones that wind up living on my desk for some reason. 

[CedarS]

So to follow on from Mark, wrinkles mean we’ve just broken this face in, and it’s comfortable now, thank you! 

[CedarS]

So the shampoo I use most often has dimethicone in it. The other shampoo is a clarifying shampoo I use every other week or so, and it has neither in it.