Let’s analyze an absolutely atrocious article on glycerin to learn more awesome chemistry, then talk a little about reputable sources and formulating faves! 

This article has been making the rounds recently and I wanted to analyze it because it is so absolutely magnificently wrong in so many ways, I thought it could be an interesting exercise in analyzing an article and having loads of chemistry fun while doing it! Article: HOW DOES GLYCERINE REACT WITH WATER? Related posts...

You are not logged in. This content is for $3 Level, $5 Level, and $10 Level members only. Please login if you are a member.
Log InSubscribe

Chemistry: The chemistry of humectants – water binding, hydrogen bonding, polarity, osmosis, and so much more!

Before we meet a new humectant, AQUAXYL™, let’s take a look at how humectants work! Before we start… Take a look at my humungous humectants section of this site, found under the “ingredients” tab in the menu bar. What does it mean that humectants have “water binding” ability?  Humectants are hygroscopic, meaning they draw water...

You are not logged in. This content is for $3 Level, $5 Level, and $10 Level members only. Please login if you are a member.
Log InSubscribe

The big post on hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids! (Updated March 20, 2024)

Welcome to what I think of as the big post on hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids, the post in which I try to address all the things you might want to know about these ingredients! We use a lot of hydrolyzed proteins around here. and I figured it was time to put together all the...

You are not logged in. This content is for $3 Level, $5 Level, and $10 Level members only. Please login if you are a member.
Log InSubscribe

Demythifying the myths: Stearic acid is not an anionic emulsifier

I can’t stress this enough – stearic acid is a non-ionic fatty acid that thickens anhydrous products and emulsions. It is not an anionic (negatively charged) emulsifier.  Sight, I thought we’d demythified this one years and years ago, but here it is, out in the wild, messing things up again. Out there in the world...

You are not logged in. This content is for $3 Level, $5 Level, and $10 Level members only. Please login if you are a member.
Log InSubscribe

Chemistry fun: How to read a molecule!

On this site and in my e-books,  I’ve been sharing diagrams of molecules to show you how their shape or composition affects the viscosity, surface tension, melting point, and other properties. I’ve realized I haven’t shared how to interpret these if you haven’t taken a chemistry class or if it’s been ages, so let’s do...

You are not logged in. This content is for $3 Level, $5 Level, and $10 Level members only. Please login if you are a member.
Log InSubscribe