The home of SwiftCraftyMonkey Formulating Inc.! Join Susan as she obsesses about cosmetic chemistry and other things (some possibly related to monkeys). Often strange, occasionally useful, and always worth a stop as a point of interest on your journey through the Intertron.
Yesterday, we met a new powdered surfactant – sodium coco sulfate or SCS – and used it in a potential duplication for Lush’s Jumping Juniper shampoo bar. In both posts, I mentioned repeatedly that we need to reduce the pH to be more acidic as alkaline products – those over pH 8 – are just...
Earlier today, I shared with you a duplication of Lush’s Jumping Juniper shampoo bar in which I used sodium coco sulfate. What is this surfactant and why would we use it in a shampoo bar? Sodium coco sulfate (SCS) is closely related to one of the most disliked surfactants, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), so what...
I’m sharing this with everyone as I’m finding it very strange that everyone wants to use sodium coco sulfate as the base of a shampoo bar when the pH is far too high – over pH 9, which is alkaline, when we want to be pH 6 or lower – and can damage your hair...
We’ve spent the last week looking at various ways we can “improve radiance” and “brighten skin”. On Monday, we took a look at using hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to increase hydration and reduce dryness. On Wednesday, we created a hand & body lotion for more humid climates, and Thursday, we created one for more arid...
Liquorice root (or licorice root, if you’re American – INCI: Glycrrhiza glabra) is supposed to work as an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-irritant, demulcent, skin whitening, and wound healing ingredient when applied topically. Let’s take a look at what gives liquorice its awesome qualities. Liquorice root contains amino acids, flavonoids, phytosterols like ß-sitosterol and stigmasterol, coumarins,...