Forum Replies Created

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  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 29, 2023 at 7:52 am in reply to: Shampoo formulation

    Another question is, why everytime i make formula that consist SLES (Texapon) and HEC, the final product always separate after 1-2 days?

    Probably because the HEC is not properly hydrated.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 29, 2023 at 7:46 am in reply to: Balm behaving the opposite of what I’d expect..

    A freeze/thaw test cycles between hot storage/RT/cold storage/RT. It is meant to mimic what might happen in shipping. So that’s why you may be able to reproduce the results.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 28, 2023 at 1:39 pm in reply to: Why has shampoo/conditioner gotten so expensive?

    When I was working on the VO5 shampoo brand you could get a bottle of 16 ounces of shampoo for $0.99. That price remained steady throughout the 1990’s and into the 2000’s. I just looked it up today. Here in the US at Walgreens you can get VO5 shampoo for $1.00 for 15 ounces. It doesn’t seem like the prices have changed that much. And if you adjust for inflation, the price has gone down!

    https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/alberto-vo5-revitalizing-shampoo/ID=300435158-product?ext=gooFY23_GOO_RET_RETAILDEMANDGEN_Performance%2BMax%2B-%2BBeauty_REV_SRC_PMAX_PMAX_NA_PMAX_ENG__pla_local&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7GnBhDXARIsAFLvH4l0J9D8YBVn8Y9sRBnbSGzs82mZat3TeOFngVz2fNbF1_qHiR48xUAaAmLDEALw_wcB

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 24, 2023 at 2:50 pm in reply to: Difference between foundation and concealer (Makeup)

    The primary function of both foundations and concealers is to even out skin tone and provide coverage, but they are a little different. Here’s a breakdown:

    1. Purpose:

      • Foundation: The primary goal is to create an even base. It can be sheer, medium, or full coverage, but it’s typically spread over the entire face. A foundation’s main objective is to make the skin tone appear consistent and smooth, but it might not necessarily cover every imperfection.
      • Concealer: Specifically designed to hide blemishes, dark spots, and other imperfections. It’s often thicker and provides more coverage than foundation.
    2. Pigment Concentration:

      • Foundation: Contains pigments, but typically at a lower concentration than concealers. This allows for buildable coverage, so users can decide how much they want to cover their skin.
      • Concealer: As you observed, concealers generally have a higher concentration of pigments, and often more opacifying agents like Titanium Dioxide. This gives them the ability to effectively cover dark circles, redness, and blemishes. The higher concentration of Titanium Dioxide makes the product more opaque, thus offering better coverage.
    3. Texture & Consistency:

      • Foundation: Available in a variety of formulations – liquid, cream, powder, stick, etc. The consistency varies based on the type of foundation but is generally formulated to be easily spreadable over the entire face.
      • Concealer: Typically thicker in consistency than foundation. This allows it to stay in place over blemishes and provide lasting coverage.
    4. Application:

      • Foundation: Applied to the entire face to create a uniform base.
      • Concealer: Applied only to specific areas where more coverage is needed.

    It’s worth noting that there’s a trend in the makeup industry towards multi-use products and customizable coverage. As a result, the line is getting a little blurry between foundations and concealers. However, the traditional distinction between the two, especially in terms of pigment concentration and coverage, remains as described above.

    Your observation about the higher Titanium Dioxide concentration in concealers makes sense when you think about the product’s intended use. Titanium Dioxide is used for its opacity and whitening properties, making it excellent for covering imperfections.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 23, 2023 at 2:40 pm in reply to: Hair perfume - formulating

    It depends on the claims you want to make and environmental regulations. In California, for example, I think you are compelled to include some water in a product like that. I don’t know all the VOC regulations there but if I recall you likely can’t have more than 55% VOC so water is required. In an ideal world, the Alcohol alone formula would deliver the fragrance and evaporate off the most quickly without negatively impacting hair.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 23, 2023 at 2:38 pm in reply to: Balm behaving the opposite of what I’d expect..

    It’s hard to say without knowing all the ingredients. I’d suggest you at least list those.
    But there are a couple of possible explanations. First, if the balm experienced melting and then reforming during shipment, it’s possible that the top layer became enriched with beeswax, resulting in a harder texture. Make sure to mix the balm thoroughly during production and maybe instruct the customer to check the balm consistency deeper into the container. Another thing is that it could have cooled too quickly. If this happened and the wax and oils crystallized at different rates, this might result in a firmer texture. You could see if either of these is the case by doing a freeze/thaw stability test.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 17, 2023 at 7:22 am in reply to: What’s your preference for materials database, ulprospector? etc

    ULProspector is my default choice but I use knowde and specialchem

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 15, 2023 at 1:07 pm in reply to: Hair gel formula starts to smell rancid after 3 weeks

    I see no acid in there. What is the pH? Those organic acid don’t work as preservatives above around a pH of 5.0

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 14, 2023 at 10:34 pm in reply to: Formulating different pH bioactives together

    You probably can’t. It might help to know what ingredients are in your whole formula

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 11, 2023 at 7:43 am in reply to: Microbiology test failed twice

    My guess is that your preservative system is not good. Sodium anisate/dosium levulinate is not a proper preservative. At best it is a preservative “booster”. That you passed previous challenge tests means you were lucky or your testing wasn’t suitably challenging. Almost any material can have contamination, not just sodium hyaluronate. I’d recommend putting in a proper preservative.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 7, 2023 at 8:23 am in reply to: Body mist

    It depends on the formula, fragrance, other ingredients, and the cost you are willing to have. More water means it takes longer to dry. More alcohol means it will cost more and may be in violation of VOC regulations.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 7, 2023 at 8:22 am in reply to: Azelaic acid 10% and urea 10%+

    Mostly, that is just too much acid to be putting on a person’s face! Skin irritation could be a big issue. Also, Lactic acid works best below a pH of 4.0 whereas Azelaic acid works best at a pH of 4.9. So, adjusting the pH to a mid-point would just make both ingredients less effective.

    I wouldn’t recommend doing this.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 7, 2023 at 8:14 am in reply to: Peg-40 Sorbitan Peroleate in body oils

    This is a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsifier, which helps to mix oils and water in the formulation. It enhances the product’s spreadability and user experience by making the oil more comfortable to apply and less heavy or greasy on the skin. It also makes it easier to remove when you are washing your skin later.

    As far as replacements go, you might try Sorbitan Oleate.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 7, 2023 at 8:01 am in reply to: Hair Removal Cream

    The discoloration and inactivity of hair removal creams could be due to a variety of reasons such as oxidation, degradation of active ingredients, microbial contamination, or improper storage conditions. Though pH and texture might remain unchanged, other properties of the formula can shift over time. It’s important to thoroughly investigate to pinpoint the exact cause and formulate a solution.

    To fix it you first need to figure out what is the exact cause. Stability testing or a knockout experiment could help. If oxidation is the issue, incorporating antioxidants into your formula could help. If degradation of the active ingredient is causing the problem, then adjusting its concentration or stabilizing it with appropriate compounds could be a potential solution.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 4, 2023 at 6:35 pm in reply to: Oil / Beeswax balm cracking on top surface.

    The issue you’re experiencing with cracking or crystallization might be related to the cooling process after your product is melted and combined, or it could be an issue with the formulation of the ingredients themselves.

    Here are some suggestions to prevent cracks and crystallization:

    1. Cooling Process: After melting and combining your ingredients, the rate at which they cool can affect the final texture of your product. Rapid cooling can sometimes cause a product to crack or become grainy. To prevent this, try allowing your product to cool slowly at room temperature.

    2. Beeswax and other ingredients: The issue might be related to the composition of the beeswax you’re using. Not all beeswax is created equal, and impurities in the wax could potentially be causing issues. You could try sourcing your beeswax from a different supplier or use refined beeswax to see if it makes a difference.

    3. Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter: Adding a butter like shea or cocoa could potentially help improve the texture of your product and prevent cracking. Butters are often used in balms and salves to give them a smooth, creamy texture.

    4. Experiment with ratios: If none of the above solutions work, you might need to experiment with the ratios of your ingredients. Beeswax can sometimes cause a product to become hard and crack, particularly if it’s used in high amounts. Try reducing the amount of beeswax in your formulation to see if it helps.

    Remember, creating the perfect formulation often requires a lot of trial and error. It might take several iterations before you find the perfect blend of ingredients for your product.

    Finally, make sure you are storing your product in a cool, dry place, as heat and moisture can affect its texture and stability.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 3, 2023 at 1:12 pm in reply to: Ideal skin pH to accept products

    Is there a scientifically proven ideal pH of the skin in order for it to most effectively accept products such as moisturizers and serums?

    No.

    There are lots of reasons but mainly

    1. We don’t know what it means to be “most effective.”

    2. Everyone’s skin is genetically different.

    3. Everyone has a different microbiome which may or may not have an impact on product performance

    Also, skin itself is a solid and has no pH. What people mean when they say skin pH is the pH of the solution made by scraping off the stuff on top of skin and mixing it in water.

    For the most part, discussion of pH when it comes to skincare is just science washing. It’s meant to dazzle consumers but has very little impact on product performance.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    July 19, 2023 at 8:04 am in reply to: potassium sorbate at a slightly higher pH (~5.2)

    I’d guess it would be unlikely to succeed. There is not enough salt in the acid form at pH 5. Why not go lower than that?

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 29, 2023 at 7:49 am in reply to: Why has shampoo/conditioner gotten so expensive?

    And those people are wrong. The price of a bottle of shampoo has almost nothing to do with the quality. In fact, some companies may take exactly the same formula and sell it under a cheap brand and an expensive brand. Same formula, different branding, position & price.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 24, 2023 at 3:43 pm in reply to: Preventing Grains From Shea Butter

    I’m just curious why there are radishes and cilantro in the product!

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 24, 2023 at 11:39 am in reply to: Body Cream Filling

    Yeah, evaporation happened!

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 14, 2023 at 7:10 am in reply to: Microbiology test failed twice

    Agreed. It is standard practice (or at least should be) to do a microbial check on pretty much every ingredient you use.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    August 9, 2023 at 7:59 am in reply to: Hair Removal Cream

    Testing AI. Good eye

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    July 31, 2023 at 3:49 pm in reply to: What kind of silica using in sugar body scrub?

    I fixed it.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    July 30, 2023 at 8:09 am in reply to: Being a Cosmetic Chemist or Formulator.

    I agree academic background doesn’t matter much in terms of being able to successfully create formulas. However, where it matters a whole lot is when you’re trying to get a job. Being a great formulator without a degree won’t help you getting a job at P&G, L’Oreal, Unilever, or most any other big company in the cosmetic industry.

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    July 19, 2023 at 10:28 pm in reply to: potassium sorbate at a slightly higher pH (~5.2)

    Which active ingredient?

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