Articles

Useful material on cosmetic chemistry, ingredients and growing your business

Pine hydrosol: properties and application in cosmetic formulas

Among the plant hydrosols increasingly being incorporated into professional formulations, pine hydrosol holds a special place. Its resinous, slightly tart aroma is associated with purity and natural strength — but a formulator is interested in more than just the scent. Pine hydrosol: properties and application in cosmetics oh

8 min8 May 2026

#hydrosols

Formulas

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

#actives #rheology #emulsions

Formulas

Facial serum recipes: how to create an effective formula from scratch

A serum is one of the most technically complex and, at the same time, most sought-after products in DIY skincare. This is where a formulator first encounters the need to simultaneously manage viscosity, pH, active ingredient compatibility, and system stability. A well-designed serum recipe

8 min4 May 2026

#for beginners #rheology #actives

Ingredients

Emulsifiers in cosmetics: how to choose the right one and not ruin your cream

An emulsifier is the ingredient without which a cream turns into a separated liquid within just 24 hours. It is what holds water and oil together, forms the texture, determines the skin feel, and, in many ways, the stability of the entire formula. Nevertheless, choosing an emulsifier remains one of the most common ch

9 min2 May 2026

#emulsions

Science

White soaping effect in emulsions

White soaping effect in emulsions: why it occurs and how to prevent it. At Walker Formulation Academy, we are convinced that understanding the physicochemical nature of cosmetic phenomena is the foundation of competent formulation. Today, we are analysing one of the most persistent problems in creating emulsions — the white soaping effect during application. What is

12 min1 May 2026

#emulsions #surfactants

Formulas

DIY Lip Balm: Chemistry, Formulations, and Secrets to the Perfect Texture

DIY lip balm is one of the first projects most home formulators start with. It seems simple enough: melt the wax, add the oil, and pour it into jars. But that is exactly where the trap lies: without an understanding of the chemistry of the components, you end up with a wax candle that is impossible to

9 min30 Apr 2026

#oils and butters #for beginners

Ingredients

Peptide serums for skin: mechanism of action, types, and formulation rules

Peptide serums for skin have long moved beyond being a marketing trend: today, they are one of the most technically complex and, at the same time, effective classes of cosmetic products. For a formulator who wants to work consciously, rather than just “adding a peptide according to instructions”, it is important to understand what they are

8 min28 Apr 2026

#actives #pH

Formulas

DIY coffee body scrub: chemistry, formulation, and a professional approach

DIY coffee body scrub is one of the most popular projects for beginner formulators, and it's no wonder: ground coffee is accessible, smells delicious, and creates a sensation of instant results after just the first use. But behind the apparent simplicity lies a whole layer of cosmetic

6 min26 Apr 2026

#body care

Ingredients

Essential oils for facial skin against wrinkles: chemistry of action and formulation rules

When it comes to anti-ageing cosmetics, essential oils for facial skin against wrinkles occupy a special place: they simultaneously attract with their "naturalness" and raise questions for those who understand chemistry. Can volatile aromatic compounds really influence collagen synthesis, neutral

10 min24 Apr 2026

#oils and butters

Skincare

Anti-aging cream: a formula that actually works

When a formulator first attempts to formulate an anti-ageing product, the initial impulse is to add everything that sounds convincing to the recipe: retinol, peptides, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide. The result is predictable: an unstable emulsion, irritated skin, and a complete lack of understanding of what exactly

7 min22 Apr 2026

#actives

Science

The fridge question — why cold storage doesn't automatically make your emulsion safer

The fridge question — why cold storage doesn't automatically make your emulsion safer At the Walker Formulation Academy, we regularly encounter one of the most persistent myths in DIY skincare — the belief that a refrigerator automatically makes a product safer.<

8 min21 Apr 2026

#emulsions #rheology #oils and butters

Hydrosols

Hydrosols: Use in cosmetic formulas — a complete guide for formulators

A hydrosol is one of those ingredients that only seems simple at first glance. Behind the term "floral water" lies a complex mixture of volatile aromatic compounds, organic acids, trace amounts of essential oils, and biologically active molecules capable of truly influencing the condition of the skin.

9 min20 Apr 2026

#hydrosols #emulsions #preservation

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