Welcome to the home of SwiftCraftyMonkey Formulating Inc.! Join Susan as she obsesses about cosmetic chemistry and other things (some possibly related to monkeys)! Here you’ll find over 5,000 posts and formulas written over the past 16 years for everything from lotions, creams, and body butters to hair care products to fancy facial products filled with actives and cosmeceuticals! Enjoy the site without distractions – no ads, pop ups, sponsored posts, affiliate links, “one weird tricks” – all supported by readers like you.
Hi, everyone. Sorry, the cold process emulsifier post isn’t ready as I have to go to the cancer agency in another town for a check up this morning. Everything feels fine, but I need to go twice a year to make sure I stay that way. I admit I stress out about it for a … Read more
You may have noticed my new series on making less expensive products with less expensive ingredients, and I’d like to hear your opinions! I want to make a facial moisturizer using less expensive ingredients for that series, then we’ll look at adding the most cost effective actives, like hyaluronic acid. What kind of facial moisturizer … Read more
Holy cow, did 2025 go by fast! I feel like I’m not ready for September and it’s January 2026! Wow, this year was a super productive and creative year for me. I did the stats – okay, I don’t hate spreadsheets as much as I used to – and I shared 678,225 words between the … Read more
It’s Christmas morning here at the Barclay Nichols’s household, and I’ve been absolutely spoiled by Raymond and my friends! Sasja is wearing her new Christmas dress, and we’re eating apple turnovers while watching the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Christmas marathon. Liked couldn’t be better. We hope you’re having a wonderful day full of happiness, joy, … Read more
Welcome to December – the best month of the year! This month has so many of my favourite celebrations – my mum’s birthday (today), Sasja’s gotcha day (16th), my dating anniversary with Raymond (19th, 32 years), my birthday (21st), Christmas (25th), and New Year’s Eve (31st), which is also the day I was adopted, something … Read more