Types of surfactants in cosmetics
In our cosmetic surfactant series we’ve talked about what surfactants are and what they do in your formulations. In this entry we’ll give a brief…
10 Things Surfactants Do In Cosmetics
In the first part of our cosmetic surfactant series we talked about what surfactants are and how they behave in a cosmetic mixture. In this…
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 is an emulsion? Back to Basics
You may have heard the term emulsion, but still don’t quite understand what it means, especially if you are not a chemist. Well, I thought…
What is Chemists Corner About?
Chemists Corner was started a number of years ago and my initial vision was for it to be a website for people who have degrees…
Controlling Cosmetic Product Quality
A question was posed to us recently about creating consistent cosmetic products and formulations. Basically, the reader wanted to know how you do it. The…
Top 10 Interesting Cosmetic Stories from 2014
This year we look back on some of the more interesting stories in the cosmetic industry. Thanks to cosmetics design for continuing to publish all…
Cosmetic delivery system of the future
Are nanoparticles the cosmetic delivery system of the future? They may be if this research can ever be completed and commercialized. According to scientists at…
Summary of Journal of the SCC July – August
What could be more fun on a cold Saturday afternoon than going through the latest issue if the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists?…
Scientific Activism for Cosmetic Chemists
I was at the Lake Erie SCC meeting the other night and the talk was given by Dr Joe Schwarcz regarding cosmetics, chemicals and the…
Chemical Reactions in Cosmetic Science
In college, most chemistry classes were focused on creating chemical reactions. We were constantly challenged to figure out what reaction would happen when you mix…
Why a cosmetic chemist should learn about toxicology
I recently got a request from a website to write an article about the dangers of parabens. At first, I declined because I do not…
How do you know if a cosmetic raw material works?
I saw a science article that indicated in a mouse study that a compound in apple peals (ursolic acid) was good for helping build muscles.…
Is there really such thing as a cosmetic?
According to the FDA statute first written in 1938, cosmetics are products used for beautification and enhancement of the appearance of skin or hair. By…
A Cosmetic Chemists Guide to Ingredient Lists
In the United States (and most other places around the world), beauty product manufacturers are required to list the ingredients used to make their products…
What is a Cosmetic Product?
Innovation from the cosmetic raw material companies always makes me smile. I remember when one particularly “innovative” company would come in for a visit and…
10 Science Topics for Cosmetic Chemists That Were Barely Covered in College
Review of the 10 most important science topics every cosmetic chemist needs to know to work successfully in the cosmetic industry. These are also fre…
HLB – The Easiest Way to Create An Emulsion
As a cosmetic chemist you will undoubtedly be asked to make products that require you to combine materials that aren’t easily compatible. Fortunately, there…
How Do Cosmetic Raw Materials Get Their Names?
I must confess. One of my favorite things about being a chemist is getting to say long words and knowing what they mean. I loved…
Knockout Experiments for Cosmetics – The Fastest Way to Become an Expert Formulator
There are many different routes you can take to learn to become an expert formulation chemist but few are more powerful than conducting your own…