Formulations

Articles in the "Formulations" category

DIY Shampoo: The chemistry of foam you won't find on the label

Do you know what the Soviet “Krapiva” shampoo, the Japanese furo ritual, and a modern sulphate-free bottle costing around £30 have in common? They all solve one problem: removing sebum, dirt, and styling residue without turning hair into straw. The only difference is how exactly this happens at a molecular level.

9 min30 Jun 2026

Formulations

Emulsified scrub: why a DIY body sugar scrub is more than just sugar and oil

There is one point that stumps almost everyone making a scrub at home for the first time: the product looks perfect in the jar, but in the shower, it turns into an oily puddle that is impossible to wash off. Your skin is greasy, your towel is stained, and it feels like you've rubbed yourself with margarine. Sound familiar? The problem isn't the sugar or the

8 min28 Jun 2026

Formulations

Hair conditioner: what's hidden behind the formula and why most of them work the same way

Take any five bottles of conditioner from different shelves — from mass-market to luxury — and compare the ingredients. Most likely, you will find the same set: water, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, silicone, fragrance. The price difference can be tenfold, the difference in chemistry — almost none. This is not

9 min24 Jun 2026

Formulations

Nail polish: the chemistry of the formula you apply every day

Every time you open a bottle of nail polish, you are holding one of the most chemically complex products in the beauty industry. Seriously — a nail polish formula is technically closer to automotive paint than to a face cream. There is no water, no emulsifiers, and none of the usual cosmetic logic. Instead, there is

8 min20 Jun 2026

Formulations

DIY body scrub: what cosmetic chemistry thinks of your kitchen recipes

DIY body scrub: what cosmetic chemistry thinks of your kitchen recipes At the “Walker Formulation Academy” school, we are convinced that understanding the chemistry behind every ingredient is what distinguishes a conscious formulator from someone who simply follows other people's recipes. Every week, thousands of people google how to

9 min8 Jun 2026

Formulations

DIY body scrub: what cosmetic chemistry thinks of your kitchen recipes

Every week, thousands of people google how to make a body scrub at home and get roughly the same answer: mix sugar with oil, add an essential oil — and you're done. Technically, it works. But if you have ever noticed that after using such a scrub, your skin either dries out, turns red, or feels

9 min4 Jun 2026

Formulations

Hydrophilic cleansing oil: how to choose the best one and how HLB works

If you want to understand how to choose the best hydrophilic cleansing oil — whether for formulating at home or professional development — you should start not with marketing descriptions on labels, but with chemistry. A hydrophilic oil is not just an "oil that washes off with water." It is a carefully balanced

8 min28 May 2026

Formulations

DIY homemade lip balm: safety, shelf life, and troubleshooting

Creating a homemade lip balm seems like a simple task: melt the wax, add oils, and pour into tubes. But this apparent simplicity hides several serious risks that are rarely mentioned in recipe articles. Oils oxidize. Essential oils, which seem harmless at

9 min26 May 2026

Formulations

Seasonal face serum: recipe and formula for every climate

Most formulators create a serum once and use it all year round. This works, but it is not optimal. In January and July, skin lives in fundamentally different conditions: different air humidity, different temperatures, and different levels of transepidermal water loss (TEWL). If you want to...

9 min24 May 2026

Formulations

DIY facial toner: chemistry, formulations, and everything a cosmetic formulator needs to know

DIY facial toner is one of the first products most home formulators start with. It may seem like just water with a few additives, but behind this simplicity lies serious chemistry: choosing solvents, managing pH, proper preservation, and the precise selection of actives.

9 min22 May 2026

Formulations

Natural shampoo recipe: chemistry, pH balance, and professional formulation

Creating a good shampoo is more difficult than it seems at first glance. Many beginner formulators, inspired by the idea of natural cosmetics, mix a mild surfactant with a couple of essential oils — and are surprised why the result is disappointing: the hair squeaks, the foam disappears, and the formula separates after a week. Pr

9 min12 May 2026

Formulations

DIY moisturizing cream: the chemistry of texture, choosing emollients, and moisture balance

Anyone who has ever held a jar of expensive cream and thought, "What if I could make something better?" is already on the threshold of cosmetic chemistry. Creating a moisturizing cream yourself is not just about mixing oil and water. Achieving the right texture, a lasting feeling of comfort on the skin, and real hydration

9 min6 May 2026

Back1 / 2Next