The Only Science-Backed Blog You’ll Ever Need on pH, Actives, Ingredients, Preservation & the Truth About “Detox” Deodorant is one of the most misunderstood categories in skincare — especially in the DIY world. I spent months researching this information to share with all of you. Online “recipes” often rely on misinformation, unsafe ingredient usage, and completely made-up concepts like “armpit detoxing.” This confusion leads to burning, rashes, darkened underarms, breakouts,

Why “Always Pour the Smaller Phase into the Larger One” Isn’t a Rule Every so often, a formulation “rule” gets repeated so often that it starts being treated as a hard law of cosmetic chemistry — even when it isn’t one. One of those claims is the idea that, in an oil-in-water emulsion, you must always pour the oil phase into the water phase — especially if the water phase is larger — or the oil droplets won’t suspend properly. It sounds logical on the surface. It even sounds

The post every DIY skincare and soapmaking community desperately needs to read. There’s a conversation that comes up over and over again in maker groups, especially on Facebook. A maker follows a recipe—maybe something they found online, or even a professionally formulated recipe from a formulator they trust—and when their version doesn’t look, feel, or behave like the original, the frustration begins. They immediately want to know: “What did I do wrong?” “What did YOU do wro

A Mega Deep-Dive for Makers, Formulators, and Curious Skincare Lovers Welcome back to my blog, friends. In today’s post, we’re diving into something the internet desperately needs more of: science-based myth busting for cosmetic formulation. With TikTok tutorials, AI-generated “recipes,” and Pinterest skincare hacks circulating faster than ever, misinformation has become a real problem  in the maker community. These myths don’t just ruin products — they create unsafe formulas

The Hype Cycle of “Breakthrough” Ingredients Every few months, a new “miracle” ingredient lands in the cosmetic world, complete with glowing claims, glossy marketing and the promise of being the next big thing . You’ll see bold phrases like “clinically proven,” “patent-pending,”  and “five times more effective than niacinamide.”  The problem? Most of these ingredients launch before there’s any real data to back them up . Here’s how the cycle usually goes: A raw material suppl

When we think of natural oils, it’s easy to assume they’re all created equal. After all, they’re just oils , right? Not quite. Some are...

Cascading Emollient Esters What Are Cosmetic Esters? Esters are lightweight, lab-created emollients formed when an acid reacts with an...

If you sell bath bombs in the U.S., soaks, bubble bath, or in-tub oils, your colorants have to be approved cosmetic color additives  for...

It’s a popular internet “hack”: skip shampoo and use a regular bar of soap on your hair instead. Some claim it’s “more natural” or...

In a beauty world once dominated by 10-step routines and overflowing ingredient lists, skinimalism  is taking center stage in 2025—and...

Men’s Product for DIY grooming and skincare made for him—beard oils, shave butters, cooling gels, soaps, and more. These easy, effective...

How Can We Reduce Preservative Load Without Sacrificing Safety? Preserving cosmetic products is essential for consumer safety and product...

In the world of cosmetic formulation, few topics spark as much debate—and confusion—as the choice between natural oils , emollient esters...

As I continue to deconstruct (reverse engineer) and dupe products made by the “Big Guys”, I encounter so many ingredients on the labels...

Glycols are commonly used in cosmetic formulations as humectants, solvents and preservative boosters - enhancing texture, moisturization...

Emulsions are made with water. Emulsions improve the sensory feel of products. Anhydrous products tend to feel too greasy. All the...

Preserve Your Products The Right Way It's very important to understand the importance of proper preservation when it comes to DIY...

Are you curious about how to harness the power of herbs in your cosmetic products? Herbal oil infusions are a fantastic way to do just...

As a DIY skincare formulator, I’m always excited to explore new and creative ways to enhance recipe's that I've used for years. Recently,...

Whipped soap is a fluffy, airy soap that has a creamy, whipped texture, often resembling mousse or frosting. It is made by incorporating...