Forum Replies Created

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  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    November 12, 2023 at 1:40 pm in reply to: Filling cosmetics bottles to the top: bad idea?

    You fill it to the declared weight/volume on the front panel of the label, not visually. You can easily calculate a check weight. In Commercial manufacturing, we will perform check weights every X number of times for QC.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    November 9, 2023 at 8:36 am in reply to: filtering particles in the bulk produced product

    The standard response would advise discarding the batch. I once had a client who attempted this before seeking our help and ended up having to recall the entire product.

    A more crucial aspect to consider is the sanitation of your equipment before manufacturing. I recommend taking a closer look at this process within your facility.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 31, 2023 at 11:13 am in reply to: Ceramic Coating

    You likely won’t get an answer for two reasons;

    Firstly it’s a specialized Formulation in an entirely unrelated market.

    Secondly, it is specialized knowledge that a consultant should rightfully get reimbursed for.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 30, 2023 at 12:47 pm in reply to: Beneficial % of Vitamin E acetate and Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate in serums

    Nanocarriers? Having interned with Ciba Geigy in the TransDerm Nitro QC line, I don’t think it is quite that simple.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 28, 2023 at 11:09 am in reply to: Being a Cosmetic Chemist or Formulator.

    Recently I was able to ask an Attorney who has worked in Fair Claim Trade complaints. In his opinion, using the term “Chemist” clearly communicates an educational requirement and could lead to a plaintiff requesting credentials. “Formulator”, in his opinion, was more of a Vocational function and did not have the liability attached. If we avoid any “redrafting and redefining” of the term, the answer is simple.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 24, 2023 at 6:28 pm in reply to: Piroctone Olamine % in this Head & Shoulders shampoo?

    Likely 1%. I will warn you, before you try just adding the active, do some research. It’s not as simple as adding it. There are several threads regarding this I would search first. It’s a tricky Formulation.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm in reply to: Preservative Free Lotion

    If you’ve ever worked in sterile processing, you would see that sterile conditions would be impossible to maintain in A Cosmetic Setting. It sounds like they have read a couple of articles on the Hurdle Technique. I would be interested in seeing any testing results. Hopefully, MOCRA will urge people to be more conservative in their risk assessments.

    “Pseudo-preservatives?”

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 20, 2023 at 1:13 pm in reply to: New to shampoo formulating, any help appreciated

    The bulk of your actives are not going to have enough contact time to have any real effect. I would reduce them greatly.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 14, 2023 at 3:40 pm in reply to: C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

    You vortex it in with prop mixing for 15-20 minutes. There are other methods as well. Keep in mind it still needs to be neutralized and once neutralized can’t be mixed under shear. Lubrizol has multiple pdf’s walking you through the process.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 13, 2023 at 9:58 am in reply to: What airtight containers do you use for stability testing?

    We order a glass jar from SKS. As Perry said this is more for product stability. Once the client obtains packaging, we then run compatability.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 12, 2023 at 9:06 am in reply to: Niacinamide Crystals?

    It’s not your Niacinamide but there is no need to use it at 5%. The issue is the Azaleic Acid. Search in this forum as it has been discussed at length previously.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 10, 2023 at 7:24 pm in reply to: pH STABILITY OF BETAINE AND ALLANTOIN
  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 9, 2023 at 4:36 pm in reply to: Tap Water and Chelator

    You would need to test and even then I would be reluctant. You could have microissues. I also believe you would have cGMP issues if audited. I know of a company in Tampa that tried this and their auditor was not a fam whatsoever.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 9, 2023 at 10:37 am in reply to: Organic hair gel with gummy residue on hands

    Not to be a nag, but what makes the product “organic?” In the US organic has a legal definition and if you are completely accurate the term would only be used in products or materials registered under the USDA NOP Organic program.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 5, 2023 at 12:50 pm in reply to: Learning Best Formulation Technologies and Techniques

    Go to College. Get a Degree in a related Science Field. Work in the Industry and be mentored by experienced Chemists in a reputable Manufacturing Facility.

    No offense to online learners or DIYers. That’s just the most accurate answer.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 2, 2023 at 8:39 am in reply to: Reduction of tackiness in clay pomade formulation

    Leucidal is known for being a poor preservative and you can find numerous discussions regarding that in the search function. @PhilGeis has expounded on this as well and he wrote one of the leading texts on Cosmetic preservation. We stopped using it early on and had too many PET failures to safely consider using it.

    You can’t OBSERVE a product for contamination. You MUST test for this factor and its a micro test usually sent out.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 2, 2023 at 8:35 am in reply to: What is a better surfactant?

    Your question is far too vague. What is the usage? What parameters are you using for “better.”

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 2, 2023 at 8:32 am in reply to: Benchmarket reproduction fail

    As @ketchito has pointed out, maybe more Formula information would be helpful. That ingredient list is pretty pricey and I imagine substitutions may have been made.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 31, 2023 at 11:11 am in reply to: natural deo stick production

    NEVER share production and food prep spaces. It’s disallowed under every credible standard or text. Its a barrier to overcome not accept.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 26, 2023 at 1:44 pm in reply to: Preservative Free Lotion

    I’m not surprised. Someone in the Forum (??) may have spoken to them in the past in a consult call. That someone passed on the work since they were reluctant to take any advice or direction.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 26, 2023 at 1:38 pm in reply to: natural deo stick production

    Thankfully your list reinforces my advice, “Don’t manufacture in your kitchen or where food is prepared.”

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 18, 2023 at 2:32 pm in reply to: C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

    Definitely a great product. I used it for a project successfully and I need to keep it in mind for a few future projects.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 10, 2023 at 2:42 pm in reply to: tanner coloring

    Honestly, in many cases you will see older emulsifiers. I used Arlacel 165 in quite a few successfully. In my experience, cost trumps any “natural leanings.” You can decrease the stickiness through the use of proper emollients and perhaps some cellulose. I wouldn’t layer it. I’m not a fan of layering and in this case, there are a lot of incompatibilities.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 9, 2023 at 4:32 pm in reply to: Learning Best Formulation Technologies and Techniques

    In my experience, you really need a Degree to get your foot in the door at most Cosmetic Manufacturers. Even with great grades in Undergrad, it was still a learning experience. Troubleshooting on the Production Floor was a valuable experience. I learned so much about Regulatory. I was able to learn process engineering. Again, you have to get your foot in the door first.

  • Microformulation

    Professional Chemist / Formulator
    October 3, 2023 at 9:01 am in reply to: tanner coloring

    Yes, while I can’t reveal the source due to NDA restrictions, one client of mine (a Sunless Tanning manufacturer) has sourced out a combination of dyes that they use in place of caramel. Caramel is much more common due to costs. As I continue to beat on the dead horse, price margins in this market sector are tight. They sell directly to spray tanners and these clients are fixated on the cost per gallon.

    Also, in the higher levels of DHA you may see some streaking as well as the transfer.

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