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.
In the Patreon January Q&A, Becky asked: I tried a face scrub from Posh last night, and it got me thinking about an ingredient that I haven’t seen mentioned yet…charcoal. What are its benefits? Or is its usefulness a myth? It just made me curious because a lot of brands are coming out with products that...
In the January Q&A, Marta asked: What is the recommended pH for a facial product containing fruit acid complex or willow bark extract? You have discussed concerns about a pH being too low in formulations containing (straight) alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acid. Yet, should one be reducing the pH in a product containing fruit acid...
In the January Q&A for Patreon subscribers, Emmi asked: I have been experimenting with lotion bars. Though I do like the butter/wax/oil bars, they are a bit too greasy for me, and not so glide-y. I’m thinking of trying next with some butter/jojobawax/caprylic capric triglycerides. I’m not sure if the triglycerides improve the glide enough, so...
In the January Q&A for Patreon subscribers, Emmi asked: I have been experimenting with lotion bars. Though I do like the butter/wax/oil bars, they are a bit too greasy for me, and not so glide-y. I’m thinking of trying next with some butter/jojobawax/caprylic capric triglycerides. I’m not sure if the triglycerides improve the glide enough, so...
In the January Q&A from Patreon, Camirra asked: I want to use Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides and/ or squalene in a facial serum. I already have Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides but have not tried squalene before. I want a light moisturizing facial oil that I can use in the morning. What is the difference between them? They both seem pretty...