OldPerry
Forum Replies Created
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@chelsea78 - it might be worth it for you to sign up with Prospector.com There are lots of supplier starting formulas there. If you have problems signing up let me know and I can help.
Please don’t be discouraged by what might seem like negative responses here. People genuinely do want to help solve formulation problems and mentor others. It’s just that some questions are posed in a way that suggests the questioner didn’t do any basic research and are taking advantage of others on the forum.It’s difficult to know where that line is which is why I try to answer all questions. But I understand why some of the experts here who are freely giving their time and advice can get a little impatient.I hope this doesn’t dissuade you from posting in the future. -
The tanks sounds like it is a reasonably good deal.
For the water and oil phase you could test a single phase production method in the lab then if that works, use the single phase method for your production batches. -
You can search through this source for a free starting formula.
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It seems a fine enough idea to me.
Of course, you could also weigh the bottle that contains your EO and pour it directly into the batch rather than using a weighing container. To do this you would have to have a good idea of how much pouring is equivalent to the amount you want in your batch.
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It is certainly possible to have 4 shampoos marketed to 4 different hair types using all the same ingredients.
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Welcome to the forum! Please feel free to start a discussion with a question you would like answered. Or share a news story you think is relevant to cosmetic chemists.
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While people have been using Lauryl Glucoside as a cleansing surfactant it is a non-ionic surfactant and not very good for cleansing or foaming. I suspect it is a better emulsifier than most other traditional shampoo surfactants.
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Just because someone can sell a product doesn’t mean it works.
If you are serious about preventing bug bites, the choice is clear at least as far as scientific research goes. -
Researching things on the Internet is tricky since there is so much published that is just wrong. If you don’t have a science background then at the very least you should be researching what scientists have to say. This means going through peer reviewed journals.
There is no scientific evidence of which I’m aware that suggests vodka is “good” for skin. There is also scant evidence that denatured ethanol is bad for skin. I’ve looked in peer reviewed research journals and found nothing that should concern formulators.But I’ll even go a step further…using witch hazel, and essential oils will not be a very effective bug repellent.Here is a link to a systematic review of effective bug repellent ingredients / strategies.The conclusion. DEET is the most effective. Essential oils are not recommended. -
Interesting result. I have not used that ingredient so can’t say I’ve had the same experience.
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A small amount of ethanol is not going to be much of a preservative. You need to use 15 - 20% before it starts to become effective.
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Yes, it seems like there should be some Citric Acid in there. The product doesn’t list ingredients properly so it’s likely that there is just a mistake in the label.
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Yes, some companies use decyl glucoside as their main detergent.
For example… -
A micelle is a spherical structure created by the surfactant molecules in a aqueous surfactant solution. When surfactant molecules are put in water they arrange themselves so that the oil-loving portion of the molecules align. The lowest energy structure that can be created when this happens is a sphere with the oil-loving portions pointed towards the interior of the sphere while the water loving portion of the molecule points outward towards the water.
The Critical Micelle Concentration is just the concentration of surfactant needed to create these structures. As you can imagine a single molecule is not enough to create a micelle. Two or three molecules won’t work either. -
Yes, that is a common problem with citrus oil. We just used less of it since it was a claims ingredient and that solved the problem.
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1. What do you mean by improving the quality? What characteristic do you want to be different? If clarity is your issue you probably need a solubilizer like Polysorbate 20 or Oleth 40 to mix with your fragrance before adding it.
2. Keep your batch mostly covered when making it. And run it through a mesh filter when your finished. And only make it in a clean environment.3. Using the solubilizer as stated above.4. I doubt there is much difference between commercial salt and table salt except table salt probably is Iodized which may not be good. Commecial grade salt should not be that expensive.That’s all I’ve got. Anyone else? -
I used to make a clear soap with glycerin and sodium stearate I think. I wonder if I still have the formula.
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What @David said. What else is in your formula?
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Thanks @AuroraBorealis!
I’d like to add there is some great information about equipment needed to set up a cosmetic lab in the following discussion. -
I think something people don’t realize is just how unsophisticated the field of cosmetic testing is. It would be great if there were a “skin ingredient penetration” machine but we have a hard enough time quantifying the level of moisturization an ingredient might provide. Cosmetic product testing remains complicated and not very good in my opinion.
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This is why I don’t think companies should bow to unsubstantiated fear mongering. You are going to end up with a product that doesn’t work as well, costs more, is less environmentally friendly, and may even be less safe.
There is zero evidence that using materials that contain PEG represent a significant health risk. -
Interesting information. I always wondered why plastic prices were not affected much by oil price changes.
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Thanks for the follow-up
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I’d hold out to get Harry’s 8th edition instead.
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In my formulating work I did both (add missing water weight or not). It never seemed to matter.
In production, we never added back missing water weight. Of course, the compounders always managed to weigh out exactly the right amount of everything…go figure.