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.
I mentioned this on Facebook and the old blog in the digest for the week, but I want all my writing to be in one place, so I’m sharing it here, too. When you’re making surfactant based products like shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser, bubble bath, and so on, mix very slowly in a zig...
I’ve also been receiving so many questions about surfactant based products, like shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser, and bubble bath, separating, and I don’t think I know what you mean by that term “separate”. I’ve only once had something that appeared to be separation in a body wash, and that was one that had glycol...
I’ve been receiving quite a number of questions over the last few months about adding solid surfactants like sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSa) to liquid products, like bubble baths or body washes. The short answer is that you can’t incorporate these powders well into liquid products as they will either re-solidify...
I’m sorry I haven’t written more this week, but my lower back/hip has been killing me, making it hard to sit up or even balance my laptop on my knees in bed. I had to cancel at class at Voyageur Soap & Candle yesterday as I can’t stand for long periods of time, which was...
In the February Q&A, Sharon asked: Can you give some helpful hints on thickening an oil that is not greasy and would not need an emulsifier? I am look for an anhydrous answer. I have tried shea butter but it is too greasy. Shea butter by its very nature is a greasy ingredient, so anything...