30 Days to Become a Better Cosmetic Chemist 2nd edition 
What are claims ingredients?
There are some ingredients that you include in cosmetic formulas to provide a benefit to consumers. These we call functional cosmetic ingredients. There are other…
Formula adjustment ingredients for cosmetics
When creating cosmetic products in a lab it is easy to have control over the final characteristics of your formula. Under this setting you get the…
Humectants – Cosmetic Formulating Basics
This month we are focusing on cosmetic raw materials. In this post we continue our look at functional cosmetic ingredients specifically on humectants. During much…
What are emollients in cosmetic formulas?
This month we are focusing on cosmetic raw materials and in this post we’ll talk about emollients. In a previous post we talked about the…
Naming cosmetic ingredients – part 2
In the first part of this cosmetic ingredient naming series we covered how the ingredients got their official names and some of the regulatory framework…
Guide to naming cosmetic raw materials – part 1
In the US and most places around the world, it is a requirement that you include a list of ingredients on any cosmetic product that…
Is bacteria the next big thing in cosmetic ingredients?
Here’s a novel idea in cosmetic ingredients…bacteria. According to this report, scientists have found that they could improve the condition of skin by topically applying…
Top Sources for Reliable Cosmetic Ingredient Information
Somehow many consumers, DIYers, and even formulators stumble on to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Unfortunately, they have no way of knowing that…
Preservative free cosmetic formulating – How to make them
There was an interesting question posed on the cosmetic science forum the other day. The forum member wanted to know whether they could still call…
Penetration of Cosmetic Ingredients
When you are meeting with a cosmetic raw material supplier, they often talk about how their ingredient will penetrate the skin. Even cosmetic marketers use…
Cosmetic ingredients that can be harmful
There is so much ridiculous fearmongering about the dangers of cosmetic ingredients that people often ignore cosmetic ingredients that can actually be harmful. Here is…
Is Coffee the Next Big Skin Cosmetic Ingredient?
Here was a recent report on research published in the jorunal Cancer Research demonstrating that coffee consumption could lower your chances of developing the most…
How do you switch sources for Cosmetic Raw Materials
This question was asked on the cosmetic science forum and I thought would make for a good discussion here on the blog. How do you…
Formulating Easter Raw Materials into your Cosmetics
When I was a kid, Easter used to be a much bigger deal holiday than it has become. We used to get baskets of candy,…
Cosmetic Label Dissecting – Burts Bees Baby Shampoo
Here’s another in our continuing series on dissecting the cosmetic label. By reviewing these labels it is our hope that you will develop the skills…
Are vitamins effective in cosmetics?
On a number of occasions we’ve mentioned the use of vitamins in cosmetic products. The typical spin is that vitamins are put in cosmetics to…
Thanksgiving Ingredients in your Cosmetics
As a cosmetic formulator, you can find some fun stuff by looking through the INCI dictionary. In honor of the US Thanksgiving holiday, today we’re…