Cosmetic science and cosmetic brand building blogs:
Our cosmetic science and cosmetic brand building blogs will answer many of your questions about cosmetic formulations and cosmetic brand management - all written and posted by industry professionals to help you get the best free cosmetic learning.
How is the performance of hair care products tested?
You see claims such as:
- Anti-dandruff performance;
- How soft a conditioner makes the hair feel or how easily it detangles;
- The colour protection of a conditioning product; or
- The styling hold of a mousse or hairspray.
But just how are these hair care products and their performance tested? Read on to find out…
How are cosmetic claims proven?
I often get asked: how can claims of clinical efficacy be proven for cosmetic products? The simple answer is through the use of in vivo (on people) testing to prove a significant difference through the use of certain cosmetic products.
For example, we can design tests to evaluate moisture loss, improvements in elasticity, skin hydration, changes to sebum content, changes in wrinkle depth and volume, reduction in redness and visual improvements to ‘whiteness’ of skin. The choice of equipment is based on what you are trying to find out. This blog will look at the various equipment used, and what it can prove, in terms of cosmetic performance.
Hair repair ingredients: what really works
Forget the marketing claims on your product labels, what cosmetic ingredients really help repair the hair?
This blog, written by a Cosmetic Chemist, will take a look at the key hair repair ingredients, and how they should be used in hair repair formulas…
How important is pH in cosmetic formulas?
pH – a measure of acidity or alkalinity – is incredibly important in cosmetic formulas. But why? There are several reasons, and we’ll take a look at them in this blog. We’ve also got some great links at the end of this blog for you to learn how to take pH, how to prepare buffer solutions to adjust pH, as well as why you shouldn’t dilute a product to test pH.
What is HLB in cosmetic formulas?
When it comes to selecting emulsifiers, using a HLB number can help you make the right selection. So, what does HLB stand for, and how do you use this information when selecting emulsifiers? Read on to find out…
Cationic vs anionic cosmetic ingredients – what should be used in your formula?
When we teach cosmetic science, one of the first principles we teach about is the charge on different ingredients, because it is a fundamental element of compatibility. There is a lot of confusion around the use of anionic surfactants and emulsifiers with cationic emulsifiers and surfactants, and also the use of cationic polymers.
In this blog, we will look specifically at cationic vs anionic cosmetic ingredients, and when they should be used together in a cosmetic formula, and when they should most definitely be kept apart.
How to make innovative shampoo formulas: low poo, micellar & 2-in-1s
Years ago, you’d simply buy shampoo that poured from a bottle and foamed in your hair. Now there are so many different types of -poos for your ‘do’, just what is the difference and how are they formulated? Read on to find out…
Foaming formulas with stability problems: what is the cause?
You’ve created a shampoo, body wash or face wash and… oh no! It’s formed a gel layer, has powder on the surface or turned runny during stability tests. What could be the cause of the formula instability, and how can you fix it?
Read on to find out about common stability issues when formulating foaming formulas, and most importantly, what you should trouble shoot to try to fix them.
The A, B, C, E of cosmetic formulation with vitamins
Countless journals and skincare products attest to the benefits of using vitamins in your skin and hair care formulas, but just how much is needed to get the best results, and what compatibility issues do you need to be aware of when formulating with vitamins?
This blog will guide you through the A, B, C, E of cosmetic formulation with vitamins to show you how to get the desired results.
Cosmetic emulsions with stability problems: what is the cause?
You’ve run some stability tests and, oh no! The stability of your cosmetic emulsion has failed.
What could be the cause of the formula instability, and how can you fix it?
Read on to find out about common stability issues when formulating cosmetic emulsions, and most importantly, what you should trouble shoot to try to fix them.
How to formulate customisable skincare
Customisable skincare enables consumers to feel empowered about their skincare selections, particularly since they can research various ingredients for themselves and make powerful purchasing decisions about what they want to use (or avoid) in their skincare products.
Customisable skincare is a great addition to any brand, but it takes careful formulation of a base product (or two) and selection of active concentrates to be added to those bases. Here is our go-to guide on how to formulate customisable skincare for your brand.
Secrets of a Cosmetic Chemist: creating cosmetic formulas with workhorse actives
Cosmetic formulation development can quite typically take 9-12 months from the concept stage through to production and launch of the finished product, and that’s when things go to plan…
Because of the typically long lead time required to create a new cosmetic formula and launch the product in the market place, I often get asked: how do large companies get to market so fast with the latest trending ingredients?
In this blog I will reveal one of these secrets of a cosmetic chemist… so read on to find out how your brand can get to market fast using workhorse actives.
Stem cells in cosmetic formulas
The use of plant stem cells in cosmetic formulas is a rapidly growing trend because of the amazing results that can be achieved. Plant stem cells are also an incredibly sustainable active material based on natural materials – making them an ideal addition to suit ongoing consumer demand. So exactly what are stem cells, how are they sourced and how do they work in skin care? Read on to find out…
Institute of Personal Care Science Quality Statement
The Institute of Personal Care Science was founded in 2007 by Belinda Carli, with the goals of providing professional, quality training in cosmetic science, brand management and regulatory affairs. She consulted widely with Industry throughout the development of the Institute’s curriculum, courses and programs, and still does today. She has always made it an online, accessible program that meets Industry and Government standards for Cosmetic Chemists, Brand Managers and Regulatory Associates.While our training is widely recognized and held in high esteem by the vast majority of industry, it is unfortunate that a small number of people in this field publicly post slander against not only Belinda’s years of high-quality work, but also the Institute, without knowing enough about our training, staff or Director. This post has been written to set the record straight with facts and evidence, to stop such misinformation.
Cosmetics to combat lack of sleep: the sleep-skin connection
There is no doubt we all feel better after a good nights sleep. However, interrupted sleep cycles do more than just impact how we feel – it can impact our skin in many ways. While a previous blog on psychodermatology looked at how the mind can impact skin, in this blog we’ll be taking a look at the many ways cosmetics can support not only healthy skin when sleep is impacted, but the sleep cycle itself.
Psychodermatology: the mind-skin connection and cosmetics
Psychodermatology is an ever-growing sector of the cosmetics industry because of the increase of stress in our daily lives. Consumers are very aware of how their skin and hair is impacted by stress, and while they can attempt to mitigate or cope with stress through diet, exercise and lifestyle, they still seek additional ways to address the visible damage done to their appearance. In this blog we’ll take a look at how stress impacts your hair and skin, and how your cosmetic brand can provide consumers with personal care products to improve their mind-skin connection and overcome these issues.
Sustainable cosmetic packaging innovations
So much attention is paid to choosing sustainable cosmetic ingredients that often the packaging gets overlooked. Yet it is an incredibly important component of a cosmetic product, for shipping, protection (such as ensuring a good shelf life) and ease-of-use, not to mention its impact on our precious resources. In this blog we’ll look at sustainable cosmetic packaging options as well as innovations in cosmetic packaging development.
Cosmetic formulas for a healthy skin microbiome
The skin is the largest organ of the human body – around 1.7 square meters – and the home to millions of microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiome. Just like the microbiome of our gut, maintaining a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria on our skin is essential for optimal skin health.While the bacteria of the digestive system have long been established, research into the use of cosmetic ingredients to balance the microbiome of the skin is relatively recent. The results have been amazing – with benefits ranging from reduced dryness and irritation, reduction and treatment of acne, and even anti-ageing! This blog will delve into the microbiome of the skin and how probiotic cosmetic ingredients, and caring for the microbiome of the skin, can be a great addition to your next cosmetic formula developments.
How to formulate male skincare
There was a time when the category of male skincare included essential hygiene items such as traditional shave cream and after shave lotion. Either that, or the 80’s rocker makeup!
In the past decade, however, we have seen the extreme move to mainstream, and the demand for male skincare products has evolved to become a complete category now. So, how do male skincare formulas differ from female products, and how should male skincare products be put together to suit their specific skin types and needs? Read on to find out…
What’s the difference: organic cosmetic formula versus certified organic cosmetic formula?
Are cosmetic formulas containing natural and organic ingredients different to certified natural and organic formulas? Isn’t it just a matter of adding some organic and natural ingredients to a cosmetic formula and then it’s true to say it’s natural or organic? These are questions we get asked often, so we thought a blog was best to explain.
The short answer to the first question is yes, there is a difference between cosmetic formulas containing natural and organic ingredients, and cosmetic formulas that can be certified organic. The short answer to the second question is no, it’s not just a matter of substituting natural and organic ingredients for synthetic ones to create a natural or organic cosmetic formula.
How to formulate vegan skincare and vegan haircare
The popularity of being vegan is growing at a rapid rate – and it’s not just impacting food choices, but skin and hair care as well. So how does one formulate vegan skin and hair care, and just how much does going vegan impact cosmetic formulation anyway? Read on to find out…
Top Cosmetic Trends of 2023
Post-covid inflation rates from 2022 resulted in increased cost of living unanimously around the globe – with some regions affected significantly more than others. Yet the personal care industry continues to show promising growth… why? Read on to find out about the biggest trends of 2023 and why beauty and personal care continues to not only thrive, but also make us look and feel great, even in tougher economic climates.
How to calculate sustainability of a cosmetic formula
Since consumers increasingly look for brands with strong eco-conscious messages, formulating a sustainable cosmetic product is almost essential these days. We are also seeing consumers demand more truth and transparency from labels and product marketing claims.
Your brand can ensure your sustainability message is truthful and not misleading by providing clear statements about sustainability – but how do you prove sustainability statements you make, and just how would you calculate the sustainability of a formula? This blog explores sustainable marketing claims, sustainability calculations of cosmetic formulas, and how you can protect the marketing claims of your cosmetic brand.
5 Costly Mistakes of Research & Development… and how to avoid them!
You’ve got this fantastic sample of product, have approved the formula and are now ready to get it mass produced. It should turn out fine, right? Not necessarily!
If something does go wrong, it’s the fault of the formula, right? Not necessarily!
There are certain steps of production and product evaluation that go beyond initial formulation development that still fall into the scope of R&D. All too often, these steps may be skipped or not carried out effectively, because of cost - such as extended stability testing and appropriate scale up. Just remember though, there is nothing cheap about a failed production batch or product recall!
This report looks at 5 Costly Mistakes of R&D that all too commonly occur, and most importantly, tells you how to avoid them!
How to formulate a viral skincare trend
So many cosmetics brands, so many skin types, so many consumer demands… how do you formulate a cosmetic product to become a viral skincare trend? Read on for tips and tricks to help you formulate the next viral skincare trend…
Manufacturing cosmetics: how to manage scale-up and limit waste
When manufacturing cosmetics, taking scale up steps are essential. The methods and equipment you used to make that 100g R&D sample will vary dramatically in size and time with a 100kg or even 20kg batch. It is essential to follow scale up steps to test the changes in mixing speeds and times, as well as the equipment used, and the batches of materials used, to rule out any variables that may turn into a ruined batch.
Let’s face it, no-one wants to waste a 100kg batch.
So, how do you conduct proper scale up and how much waste is tolerable in cosmetic manufacture?
Minimalist formulas: create great cosmetic formulas with only a few ingredients!
Are you looking to create cosmetic formulas with minimal ingredients that still have fantastic results?
It’s incorrect to think a formula must have a long list of ingredients to work effectively; in fact some consumers prefer shorter ingredient lists as they consider the product to be more pure and focusing on its key performance benefits rather than ‘fluff’. While this perspective may or may not be accurate depending on the way a cosmetic formula is put together, if your cosmetic brand wants to appeal to the minimalist modern consumer, then this blog will tell you how.
Sunscreen formulation myths: putting the protection back in SPF
Excessive sun exposure is without a doubt incredibly damaging to the skin. At best, it advances signs of dryness and ageing; while at its worst, it can cause fast acting fatal skin cancers. Since we know just how bad too much sun can be for our health, it is always astounding to us at the Institute that there are so many false claims made about sunscreens – which is, besides clothing, hats and staying inside away from any source of light, our best protective measure.
Consumers should not be made to be afraid of using sun protection! Yet scaremongering about the dangers of ingredients in sunscreen formulas are rife on the internet. In this blog, we’ll bust the myths you’ll commonly read so you can feel much better about applying your sunscreen liberally – and protecting yourself from harmful UV exposure.
How to formulate sunscreen: an overview
Formulating sunscreens is not an easy task! In addition to the significant regulations which limit both the type and amount of sunscreen agents you can use, the base formula also needs to be formulated carefully to stabilise these materials, ensure an even spread over the skin for the best sun protection, and maintain a high level of performance – and homogeneity – over a suitable shelf life.
Essential oils in cosmetic formulas: is there a difference?
Essential oils can be a great addition to a cosmetic formulation: they add aroma, are widely recognized as being natural, and consumers love the history behind their use. But there are so many suppliers, and their prices can differ dramatically – how can one little plant oil possibly vary so much? In this blog we’ll explore the reasons why, so you know what to look for when you are next choosing essential oils for your cosmetic formula.
How to formulate self-tanning products
We now know the dangers of basking in the sun – so how do you get that all-year-round summer glow without exposing your skin to UV damage? Self-tanners, of course!
If you’ve ever tried to formulate self-tanning products, however, you’ll know (or quickly learn) that dihydroxyacetone, commonly referred to as DHA, is one of the most unstable cosmetic ingredients you can work with. Whilst it yields the fastest tan, there are several rules about its use you’ll need to master, if you want to create stable self-tanning formulas.
USA MoCRA Cosmetic Regulation updates – ensure your cosmetic brand is Mocra compliant now!
The Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act of 2022 (MOCRA) requires cosmetic businesses selling products in the USA to comply with these new regulations. Learn how to ensure your cosmetic business complies with the new MoCRA rules and regulations.
Why cosmetic brands need the 7P's to succeed
The cosmetic industry is a very competitive environment, but there is still room for innovation and fantastic products, if you can make your brand heard above all the marketing noise.
Let’s be real: there is a lot of noise. Dozens, if not hundreds of brands, promise their product is the best. Regardless of if it is or not, your product needs to be seen and heard if you want any chance of being purchased, so: how do you rise above the clutter and make sure your products get noticed?
This is where the 7Ps of marketing come in.
How to formulate cosmetics without preservatives
Preservative selection is one of the most controversial, yet most important, decisions a brand can make. Ever wondered how to create preservative free cosmetic formulas? This blog post provides 5 tips if you are planning to create preservative free products.
How to formulate cosmetics for rapid results
As consumers become increasingly demanding of great results from their personal care products, and increasingly fickle when it comes to brand loyalty, how can you best formulate a product to ensure your consumer gets rapid results and loves your product as much as you want them to?
This report takes a look at some formulating tips and tricks to help you build rapid results into your next developments, or may give you ideas on how to improve current products to give speedier results!
learn cosmetic regulations to overcome roadblocks
Ever had a great idea, only to tell your Regulatory Department about it and hear those fatal words: ‘It can’t be done!’? Don’t let a ‘no’ be the only answer you hear; if you approach an innovation in a suitable way, it may be a concept that can come to fruition. This report takes a look at some of the ‘roadblock breakers’ to help you turn a regulatory roadblock into a hurdle that can be overcome.
5 tips to launch successful cosmetic products
To develop a cosmetic product from concept to actually having the product in the market normally takes at least 12 months if everything goes to plan...
However, all too often companies face extended delays, extended development or a blow out on costs – mostly because the person creating the product hasn’t been realistic about what to expect from the development process, how long it takes, how much it costs and most importantly, what can go wrong.
This report looks at 5 tips to ensure product launch success – miss one of these steps and your project could take a lot longer, cost a lot more and worse - fail to eventuate at all!
How to find tRENDS IN THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY
There are generally 3 things your company can be in the highly competitive cosmetics industry... read on to find out!
Also find out how to discover what will trend well in the cosmetic industry...
do hair care formulas differ between ethnicity?
The short answer is a very loud YES.
While it may seem obvious to some people, if you’ve only ever cared for, or played with your own hair, you may not be aware of just how many different hair types there really are – or how the hair types of different ethnicities vary so greatly. Read on to find out about the key differences of different hair types, especially those of different ethnicities – and how formulas need to adapt to suit these different needs.
Multi-functionAL COSMETIC INGREDIENTS: Making formulating great products easier!
As today’s modern consumer expects more out of every product, and innovative companies continue to expand and deliver on this promise, it’s becoming more and more important for formulators to be aware of, and formulate with, multi-functional materials. The use of multi-functional materials not only addresses increasing consumer demands, it also enables significant cost savings to companies as it means less materials on the floor, larger economies of scale through larger purchases of less materials (as 1 material can then do ‘more’ in each formulation), easier formulating methods, and significant labour savings through less dispensing and quicker processing. Multi-functional materials are those which offer more than one role. Multi-functional materials are split into one of two types: Multi-Functional ‘Functionals’ – functional materials with multi-functional capabilities; or Multi-Functional ‘Actives’ – active materials with multiple activities and/or functionalities to support the formulation efficacy.
TURN THAT GREAT IDEA INTO REALITY IN 6 STEPS
To turn a great idea into reality, there is a long road ahead. A successful cosmetic development will normally take 12 months to go from concept to launch. Rarely does everything go right, so projects may run over 12 months. There are many moving parts to any projects, and it takes effective project management to succeed in delivering your product at the right time. Let’s look at the 6 key steps you will need to go through to develop your great idea into reality.
Who's responsible for faulty COSMETIC product?
Faulty product: a brand owners’ worst nightmare! When the batch hasn’t turned out as planned – or worse, needs to be recalled from the market - who is responsible? Is it the manufacturer, who made the product? Is it the formulator, who created the formula? Or did the brand owner launch the product into the market place without conducting appropriate tests?
More importantly: how do you make sure this doesn’t happen to you?
How to stay ahead in the cosmetic industry?
While any brand can launch a new product, only certain products ever really make it to be leaders. Some launches are so innovative and successful they lead to the creation of multiple ‘me-too’ offerings.
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so what does it take to stay ahead and launch truly innovative products that lead the pack?
From AIDA to AISDALSLove: Social media and consumer purchasing behaviours
While consumers say they want simpler lives and more transparency, the reality is quite different. They now require a much more convincing marketing campaign to really believe in a brand, especially when it comes to changing their purchasing behaviours. They also need much more complicated information before they’ll trust a brand and need convincing from multiple sources before they’ll purchase.
4 Key Ways to avoid Greenwashing
Consumers love to feel that they are doing their part for their environment and are commonly drawn to natural claims on products. Over recent years, we’ve seen a huge increase in ‘green’ and natural claims, including sustainability and all sorts of eco-conscience statements – but how do you know when they are true or not, and more importantly, how do you make sure your brand doesn’t cross the line into non-compliance but still maintain its competitive edge – especially when it really is as green as you claim? This blog will consider the key issues with green claims, when they are overused, and how your brand can build credibility rather than be another ‘me-too’ with greenwashing.
Top Cosmetic Trends of 2022
Wondering what the top cosmetic trends of 2022 are? Read on to find out the ESSENTIAL trends a cosmetic brand needs to achieve as 2022 ticks along...
Fast track your cosmetic formulations!
The standard cosmetic formulation (R&D) process is at least 12 months to allow for innovation and evaluations, yet consumers are increasingly expecting product launches and innovations in reduced time frames. How can companies keep up without risking safety, stability and efficacy? This blog looks at ways to fast track your formulations to get to market sooner with the latest and greatest personal care products!
Understanding SWOT TO SELL MORE cosmetIC pRODUCTS
Strengths and weaknesses exist within your cosmetic brand, while opportunities and threats exist in the marketplace. Cosmetic brands use SWOT information to know what they are doing well (strengths), identify what they can do better (weaknesses), look for ways to grow (opportunities), and protect themselves from external influences – including cosmetic brand competitors, growing pains when starting a cosmetic brand, or national and international economic impacts (threats). This blog will take a look at two key questions: what is a SWOT? And, why do cosmetic brands need a SWOT to be successful?
Top FIVE COSMETIC INGREDIENT MYTHS
Ever seen those sites warning of the potential dangers of certain cosmetic chemicals? Want to know the truth about cosmetic chemicals labelled as ‘toxic’ that are used in everyday personal care products? Read on to identify the top 5 cosmetic ingredient myths and get the truth on the cosmetic ingredients that seem to be such a big concern. This blog also provides links to reputable sites should you want to do your own INCI and cosmetic ingredient list research, and need reliable and scientifically informative sites to do so.
Using natural plants and clays to colour makeup formulas
There is no doubt that natural ingredients are popular with consumers – but we have been limited in some regards as how to create vibrant colours in makeup formulas just using plant extracts and clays. This blog is going to provide you with vibrant, stable natural plant and clay formula solutions to replace synthetic colourants and even your iron oxides in makeup formulas.
Top 5 Sustainable Cosmetic Formulation Trends
Sustainable products are an increasing trend for consumers in all categories, so it is little wonder they are looking for sustainable sourcing with the ingredients used in their cosmetic products. Sustainable sourcing starts from when the cosmetic formulator begins creating the product formulation – but must suit cosmetic marketing and packaging requirements as well. In this blog we’ll look at the top 5 sustainable cosmetic formulation trends impacting the cosmetic industry, and how your cosmetic brand can formulate sustainable cosmetics to meet consumer demand.
How to formulate with Vitamin A in skincare
Vitamin A can be a great addition to your skincare formulma, but certain forms of vitamin A can cause significant skin irritation. Vitamin A in cosmetic formulas can also be very hard to stabilise - and there is no point using a cosmetic active ingredient if it is not in the right cosmetic formulation base to ensure its performance. Find out how to use vitamin A safely, and effectively, in your skin care formulas.
How to use hYALURONIC ACID IN COSMETIC FORMULAS
Hyaluronic acid is a key molecule involved in skin hydration, however there is a lot of misinformation about the use of hyaluronic acid in skincare formulas. In this blog we will look at the science of hyaluronic acid in the skin, as well as what happens when it is topically applied. There are also various weights available: oligo hyaluronic acid, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. How do you know which hylauronic acid to use in your formula, and which will benefit your consumers skin type the best? Read on to find out how to formulate with hyaluronic acid.
WHen COSMETIC formulas DON’T WORK THE WAY THEY PROMISE…
When a cosmetic formula doesn’t work the way you’d hoped, there are 3 main reasons why. The science of beauty ingredients are crucial to ensuring the best results from any cosmetic formula. This article will take a look at some fundamental elements to improve the performance of your cosmetic formulas and help your consumers get better results from your cosmetic products.
how to use aha, BHA, FRUIT ACID AND POLYHYDROXY ACIDS IN SKINCARe formulas
The use of AHA, BHA, PHA and even fruit acids in skin care formulas has become increasingly popular, to provide accelerated skin renewal and a revitalized appearance. This blog will take a closer look at each of the categories of cosmetic acids, their pros and cons, and how acids should be added to cosmetic formulations.
HOw to use peptides in skincare formulas
The latest trending cosmetic ingredients yielding the best results in active skincare formulas are peptides. This free report will explore the beauty science of these remarkable structures and why such tiny cosmetic ingredients can provide such big results in your skincare formulas.
WHAT QUEEN ELIZABETH I USED AS MAKE UP… AND WHY WE DON’T USE IT ANYMORE
With all of the hype around ‘clean beauty’ and ‘free from’ claims scaring consumers away from otherwise perfectly safe and even enhanced performance synthetic cosmetic ingredients, I thought this blog post would make an interesting read to explain where some of the ridiculousness of ‘toxic beauty’ started. This blog is going to go far beyond the well known ‘venetian ceruse’ and look at all the types of beauty care available to women of the day.
You may also be aware of the popularity of using ‘natural’ ingredients in skincare and make-up, so I thought this would be great time to also compare the ‘naturals’ of the past with the far advanced options we have today and dispel a few myths surrounding both past and present uses of skincare and make-up. Also, watch how safe are natural cosmetics?
how to use vITAMIN E IN cosmetic FORMULAS: ANTIOXIDANT VERSUS PRO-OXIDANT EFFECT
When you start reading about how many herbal ingredients can be antioxidants in skincare, and the potential pro-oxidation effect of vitamin E in a cosmetic formula, it can be confusing what information to trust. When is too much vitamin E TOO MUCH in your skincare formulas? How do you ensure you use the right amount of vitamin E in your skincare formulas to provide a protective antioxidant effect? This blog looks at how to use vitamin E in your cosmetic formulas to prolong the shelf life of your product formula, and also provides information on the pro-oxidative effect of too much antioxidant in a cosmetic formula.
how to use sUCRAGEL IN COSMETIC FORMULA - formulate oleo-gelS
There are not many materials that are as versatile as sucragel, to create a variety of cosmetic formulas and innovative cosmetic product forms. Oleogels are a trending product form that use sucragel in the cosmetic formulation. We get a lot of little questions about using sucragel in cosmetic formulas, especially to create oleogels, so we thought we’d create a blog on this topic, to help guide you and give you some answers.
Should cosmetic formulas be diluted to test pH?
The pH of a cosmetic formula is incredibly important for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, safety on application and ensuring performance of preservatives and active cosmetic ingredients.
Do not dilute your cosmetic formulas to test pH, unless it fits one of the few exceptions weprovide in this blog, along with the reason why. In every other case, do not dilute your cosmetic formulas to test pH. Regardless of what you read elsewhere, cosmetic formulas should not be diluted to test pH. This article will explain, in detail, why.
How to use herbal extracts in cosmetic formulas
Using herbal extracts in cosmetic formulas is a hotly trending formulation technique. There are different types of herbal extracts, however, and this can impact how much you use, and how you use them in not only skincare formulas, but haircare formulas as well. This blog will take a look at the types of herbal extracts you can use in cosmetic formulas, how to make your own herbal extracts to use in cosmetic formulas, how much to use and how to add them. It also provides some great video links to help explain how to use herbal extracts in cosmetic formulas too.
How to create Brand Leading cosmetic Products
We often get asked: what does it take to create a Brand Leading cosmetic product? And, what cosmetic products sell the most? We are also fortunate to work with (and train the staff of) some of the Brand Leading cosmetic companies from around the world. The cosmetic products that sell the most, and in fact, all Brand Leading cosmetic products have certain things in common, so we’ve compiled these into a report to help you learn what it takes to Create Brand Leading cosmetic products.
5 Big Issues When Formulating Organic - how to formulate organic skincare and haircare easy
The ‘green’ sector of the personal care industry has grown continuously over the last 10 years despite relatively tough economic times… but organic products tend to face bigger challenges in terms of cost, stability, performance and aesthetic suitability. In this blog, we'll take a look at the big issues when creating organic formulas - and how to overcome some of these issues, to formulate organic skincare and haircare products easy.
how to use cannabis, cbd and hemp oil in cosmetic formulas
The use of hemp oil and cannabidiol (CBD) in cosmetic formulas has become a growing cosmetic ingredient trend. Learn why the trend for hemp oil and CBD as cosmetic ingredients has grown so strongly, what benefits hemp oil and CBD can have in a cosmetic formula, the current cosmetic regulations for hemp oil and CBD around the world, and what cosmetic ingredient innovations exist for cannabis, CBD and hemp oil in cosmetic formulas.
TOP FIVE SITES FOR CORRECT cosmetic INGREDIENT INFORMATION
With so much misinformation on the internet, how do you know which sites to trust for CORRECT cosmetic ingredient information? What is an INCI and can you use it to correctly preduct the safety of a cosmetic ingredient, or performance of a cosmetic formula? How can you check the beauty science of ingredients using reliable sources? This blog will take a look at reliable sites for cosmetic ingredient information and provides some sites with cosmetic regulatory information providing ‘safe when used’ cosmetic ingredient limits.
Frequently Asked cosmetic science questions - when beauty science meets cosmetic formulation
At the Institute, we get asked a lot of little questions about beauty science, the science of cosmetic ingredients, the science of cosmetic marketing and claims and how to sell more cosmetic products – especially by small cosmetic brand owners! Here are some answers to commonly asked cosmetic science questions - as well as answers to common beauty science questions and even those questions posed by cosmetic brands needing help to promote and grow their cosmetic product sales - and where you can find more information.
5 BIG ISSUES WHEN FORMULATING makeup products
Making colour cosmetics means paying close attention to cosmetic formula principles, because you not only need the cosmetic product to apply the right amount of colour and keep it there during the day, you also need to stabilise the colour pigment in the makeup formula over a prolonged shelf life. Makeup ingredients and makeup formulas must also comply with strict cosmetic regulation limits, and this can vary depending on the country in which the makeup formula is sold! This report looks at 5 Big Issues when creating makeup formulas and how to fix them; so you can get back to creating truly beautiful, and beautifying, colour cosmetic formulas!
How to formulate sanitizing hand gel and wash
With the recent demand for sanitizing hand gel and santizing hand wash formulas, this blog is designed to guide you in how to formulate sanitizing hand gel and hand wash products. There are also cosmetic regulations that oversee sanitizing hand gel products, so we provide you with links to reliable information, videos and sanitizing formulas. Read on to learn how to make sanitizing hand gel and hand wash formulas even at home; and gain access to sanitizing hand wash formulas and manufacturing methods you can use, even if you’ve never made cosmetic products before.
how to start a skincare or haircare brand
Ever wanted to have your own skincare brand or natural haircare range? This blog is for you! Whether it's to create skincare products or haircare formulas that doesn't exist yet, to create BETTER skincare and haircare formulas than what is currently out there, or just because you love researching and using the latest trending cosmetic ingredients, this article takes you through some of the early considerations you need to make, if you ever want to make it big with your skincare or haircare brand.
the waterless trend: HOW TO FORMULATE SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, MOISTURISER & FACE CLEANSING BARS
Waterless cosmetic bar formulas are an increasingly popular trend – they are convenient to travel with, they have almost zero waste and you don’t use much cosmetic product with each application. However, it is quite difficult to get waterless cosmetic bar formulas ‘just right’: and even harder to ensure the right performance from your waterless cosmetic bar formulas. This blog will take a look at how to adjust your waterless cosmetic bar formulas to get just the right setting and melting point for ease of use and manufacture; as well as just the right consistency/hardness to ensure the right performance from your waterless cosmetic bar products.
What is the Perfect cosmetic Preservative?
The selection of a cosmetic preservative for a cosmetic formulation is undoubtedly one of the most important, yet most controversial, aspects a cosmetic formulator can make. With so much choice in cosmetic preservatives available, and so much misinformation on the internet about cosmetic preservative safety, how does a cosmetic chemist make the perfect cosmetic preservative selection?
how to protect against pollution and UV with cosmetic ingredients
Using anti-pollution and UV protection cosmetic ingredients has become commonplace in a lot of cosmetic formulas. With so many 'anti-pollution' and high SPF rating cosmetic ingredients and products out there, ever wonder what is the difference, what impact pollution vs UV has to your skin, and which is worse? This blog will take a look at the best solutions for UV and pollution in cosmetic ingredients as well as how to formulate cosmetics with UV protection and anti-pollution in mind.
5 Big Issues When Developing Sunscreen formulas
It is widely known that unprotected sun exposure leads to premature ageing of the skin and can cause skin cancer. Recent times have seen a growing consumer demand for light, non-greasy sunscreen formulas that still provide SPF30+ or even SPF50+ protection. However, there is a lot to consider when developing sunscreen formulas: there are different sunscreen ingredient regulations around the world, even whether the sunscreen product is considered a cosmetic formula varies. Making a sunscreen formula feel light and non-greasy on the skin can be another formulation challenge, and stabilising the sunscreen formula to ensure a good shelf life can be a nightmare. This blog takes a look at 5 big issues when developing sunscreen formulas to help address some of these problems, and helps you solve them.
5 Big Issues When Developing Cosmeceutical formulas
Creating highly active skincare formulas is not as easy as many people think. How do you know how much cosmetic active or vitamin to add to your cosmetic formula? How do you know the best delivery system to ensure your active ingredients reach their target site within the epidermis? How do you ensure your cosmetic ingredients are compatible, and maintain a noticeable performance over the shelf life of the cosmetic product? This report looks at 5 Big Issues when developing cosmeceutical formulas, and what you need to be aware of, to help you create competitive, efficacious, stable and successful active cosmetic formulas for an ever-growing sector of the market!
3 STEPS TO COSMETIC PRODUCT SUCCESs: how to use cosmetic market research to maximise product sales
Ensuring strong sales and cosmetic brand success goes beyond a great concept – the cosmetic product has to be better and different to other cosmetic products out there, suit your target market needs, be at a price they want to pay, be advertised to the right people and deliver on its cosmetic performance promises! If you want a successful cosmetic brand, you must cover off on these 3 essential elements and then follow through with every cosmetic product and its promotion. It also shows how cosmetic market research is essential to maximise your cosmetic product sales and success. Read on to grow your cosmetic brand...
cosmetic nANO-MATERIALS: WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Despite the strong body of scientific evidence to show that the nano-materials approved for use in cosmetic formulas are safe when used within current cosmetic regulatory limits, their use has come under scrutiny from groups prone to scare-mongering that these substances are possibly causing cosmetic safety concerns. So, what is the big deal with cosmetic nano-materials, and what are the nano-material cosmetic regulations to ensure safe use?
4 success factors to have your own successful cosmetic brand!
A lot of people think if they have a fantastic cosmetic product in fancy cosmetic packaging with a great website and shopping cart, and their friends all love it, they will have a sure fire cosmetic product success – but unfortunately it takes a lot more than just that to really be successful in the highly competitive cosmetics industry. Read on to find out what it takes to make a cosmetic product that sells well and becomes a true cosmetic brand success!