[ozgirl]

Not my first job interview but at an interview I got asked this question.

You are driving along an isolated road and get a flat tire. When you get out to change the tire you drop the wheel nuts down a drain and can’t retrieve them. (There are no cell phones) What do you do?

I answered something about considering my options of whether it was better to try and walk to the closest town to get help or wait for someone to drive by. I asked my sister the same question and she answered that she would just take a wheel nut off each of the other wheels and use them to put the tire back on and continue on her way.

This type of question is supposed to show the interviewer how you think. So be prepared for unusual questions.

[ozgirl]

Some great and varied stories. Thanks for sharing.

My story isn’t all that exciting but it seems that like others I certainly never set out to be a cosmetic chemist.

I have always had an aptitude for science and maths and really developed my love of chemistry in high school under the guidance of a couple of excellent teachers. When I was in my early teen years I received a book about homemade beauty treatments (cucumber and honey face masks and lemon juice hair lightening) and I really enjoyed making these homemade treatments but certainly didn’t think of it as cosmetic science.

I went on to university to study chemistry along with a bit of physics, mathematics and some business. I continued on to complete a PhD in chemistry with my research focusing on novel methods for metal extraction from mineral ores. My PhD research lead me to a job working for a very large mining company in their research labs for a number of years. Unfortunately the research arm of the company was closed down and I was left applying for any job that sounded like it involved chemistry.

I landed myself a job at a cleaning chemical manufacturer working in their research department developing new products (mostly floor polishes and eco- friendly detergents). Due to the economic crisis this job didn’t last long and I found myself unemployed again. Fortunately I found myself a development chemist role at another cleaning chemical manufacturer but this one also had a range of personal care and cosmetic products in addition to their cleaning products. I had to learn quickly about creating lotions, shampoos, conditioners and body wash products and now I am really enjoying developing these types of products.

……..and that’s how I became a cosmetic chemist.

[ozgirl]

Not sure about availability in the UK. We get ours (in Australia) through IMCD group who is a distributor for Akzo Nobel. IMCD had offices in the UK (http://www.imcdgroup.com/worldwide/united-kingdom) so you could try contacting them to see if they distribute this product in the UK. I am not sure how much you are looking to buy but if they are the UK distributor but you only want small (personal use) amounts they might be able to suggest smaller suppliers/resellers.

Hope this helps

[ozgirl]

The Cetiol PGL and dicapryl carbonate (Cetiol CC) products are made by BASF and my experience (in Australia at least) is that they are unwilling to supply small volumes (<500kg/year) so it makes it difficult for small cosmetic ingredients suppliers to meet these minimums and make them available to individuals. Even small cosmetics companies have trouble meeting these minimums. 

[ozgirl]

You can definitely add liquid surfactants to the powders using a process like Bobzchemist described above. There is no need to use only powdered surfactants.

[ozgirl]

Here are two reliable websites to get you started.

http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com.au/search?q=lip+stick

http://www.soapqueen.com/category/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/

There are many suppliers in the US that supply lip safe ingredients to home crafters and small businesses. Maybe others who are actually in the US will be able to give you more ideas but I have read that Brambleberry is a good place to start.

http://www.brambleberry.com/Default.aspx

Hope this helps

[ozgirl]

I remember seeing an old dishwashing liquid formulation with similar raw materials but I think it contained less benzene sulphonic acid (maybe 5 - 10%) and also had cocamide DEA.

Try looking for dishwashing liquid formulas.

[ozgirl]

Check out companies like Stepan for formulas for fabric softeners.  

[ozgirl]

Although it is possible to make your own powder at home it is unlikely that you will get the performance of commercially available powders because you will not have access to the optical brighteners, enzymes and anti-redeposition agents that are used in these products.

Here are some formulations that might give you an insight into what is in commercial laundry powders.

http://www.airproducts.com/~/media/files/pdf/industries/i-i-formularies-laundry-commercial-powders-110-12-021-us.pdf

The Economy Powder for low temperature Laundry on page three is probably the closest formulation that you would probably be able to make at home.

Also check out the book Advanced Cleaning Product Formulations, Volume 1 By Ernest W. Flick. You can get lots of starting formulations in this book. You can view large sections for free on google books.

You might be able to buy sodium carbonate from the supermarket under the name washing soda rather than making it.

The surfactants used in laundry powders are usually non-ionic as they are lower foaming than anionic surfactants. Do not mix DDBSA with your sodium carbonate as this will just cause a neutralization reaction.

For at home you only really have the option of the blending process.

[ozgirl]

I suggest Dissolvine GL (Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate).

http://sc.akzonobel.com/en/personalcare/Pages/product-detail.aspx?prodID=6647

[ozgirl]

I came across this list the other day on the IFRA website. It is a list of chemicals reported to be included in fragrances.

http://www.ifraorg.org/en-us/ingredients#.VLWrAC6zExJ

With over 3000 chemicals included on the list it is no wonder we see such different behavior from different fragrances even when used in the same base.

[ozgirl]

Here is a starting formulation that might help you get an idea of quantities to use. These are basically leave-on products because you don’t rinse them off so the concentrations of surfactants are very low.

http://www.colonialc…formulation.pdf

Also don’t forget to include a preservative.

Hope this helps.

[ozgirl]

That’s what I was thinking. I just started to overthink it and started to doubt myself!

Thanks

[ozgirl]

If you can provide an ingredients list of the cheap lotion that is made in your country we may be able to help you identify what they are using as emulsifiers.

Is it possible for you to order ingredients from an international supplier that will ship to your country.

[ozgirl]

Check out this blog (swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com) for some basic lotion recipes and plenty of useful information.

Unfortunately you will find that it is not necessarily cheaper to make your own lotion. Large companies have the advantage of being able to buy raw materials in bulk at much cheaper prices.

[ozgirl]

I agree that one of the fragrance ingredients is most likely the culprit. However, the two moisturizers that cause a reaction both contain shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii. This might be causing the effects you are experiencing. 

[ozgirl]

Thanks for a great forum! Looking forward to lots of interesting discussions in 2015!

[ozgirl]

Thanks for sharing!

Dihydrogen monoxide is dangerous stuff!

[ozgirl]

Check out swiftcraftmonkey’s blog for some great starting formulations and loads of information on formulating shampoos etc.

http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com.au/p/hair-care.html

[ozgirl]

Metal ions can interfere with the efficacy of some preservatives. I would be very careful about adding this even with a chelating agent.

[ozgirl]

Thanks. I will give that a go and see if it works.

[ozgirl]

Thanks milliachemist!

Would something like PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate or Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters work in this application?

Any other suggestions are appreciated.

[ozgirl]

Can you substitute some of the French Green Clay with the lower pH Kaolin? This might reduce the irritancy.

[ozgirl]

I have only ever seen Zirconium in combination with Aluminium (Aluminium Zirconium Tetrachlorhydrex gly).

I have seen a couple of non Aluminium antiperspirant actives that were based on a sage extract. I did a quick test with one but didn’t get great results in terms of antiperspirant action. I think the one I used was from Greentech.

Where are you located because the only antiperspirant actives approved in the US all contain aluminium (Antiperspirants are considered OTC drugs in the US).

[ozgirl]

Beeswax and Castor Oil can be combined to create a Vaseline type product.

Here is an example

https://www.voyageursoapandcandle.com/Non_Petroleum_Baby_Jelly_Recipe_s/433.htm