Cosmetic Your Ways Blog

What my chemistry degree has taught me, so far.
Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

What my chemistry degree has taught me, so far.

I have not had a chemistry class in over a year. So, I have been thinking about my classes a lot. I wanted to take some time to reflect on what my major has taught me so far. I am not going to be talking about the subjects but more about the skills I have learned.

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Cooling All-Over Serum (Free Formulation)
Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac
Preview

Cooling All-Over Serum (Free Formulation)

This is part of the #summer2024formulationchallenge Allison and I are doing on Instagram. Check this post for the rules, https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cfLG7RjnQ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== I wanted to make a post on this formulation and talk a little more about it. 

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Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Ingredient Medium: Powder vs Pre-dissolved?

When it comes to these ingredient supplier companies, you often times see that they are selling an ingredient both in powdered form as well as already dissolved into a liquid or gel often with added water, glycerin and a preservative. Or maybe they only sell the pre-made version and you can find the powdered version online somewhere else, like with a vitamin company.

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Working with Pigments
Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Working with Pigments

In this blog post, I am going to be sharing how to work with pigments for color cosmetics. This is another step in understanding how make color cosmetics. You cannot just add pigments and expect it to work. They need to be added thoughtfully. 

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Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Can we add 10% more water to account for water loss?

I saw a formulator add ten percent more water to their formulation to account for water loss during heating in a water bath. In this post, I will investigate whether this is a good idea or not—the two areas we need to check are pre-emulsification and the cool-down phase.

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Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Quick Post: What is the 5% rule?

​You are weighing out an ingredient, and you are two grams over what you wrote down, is it okay? In this post, we will discuss the accuracy needed to weigh raw materials out. 

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Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Glossy Lip Stain Balm

In this post, I am going to be sharing my glossy lip stain balm formulation. This was inspired by all the soft balms that I have been seeing. This is a great way to into color cosmetics. First, let's talk about what pigments can be used for lip stains. 

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Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

Overview of Oil-soluble actives

Oil-soluble actives are often overlooked in formulating. So, I wanted to make a list of oil-soluble actives to look into. This is not going to be a full ingredients guide, but just an overview of the different ingredients. Some are more common in formulations than others; all will be available from small suppliers (at least in the US). Like with all of these posts, do not use all of them in one formulation. None of this is sponsored or affiliate. 

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My Summer Break Plans 2024
Zachariah Kovac Zachariah Kovac

My Summer Break Plans 2024

Now that I have more time with summer break, I really want to make a plan on what I want to work on. If I do not, it really gets lost and then wonder where half of it went. I would also like your feedback, what do you want to see on the blog? 

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Disclaimer:

You are at your own risk when making anything from this blog. I am not liable for any mishaps that may occur. I do my best to include everything in the procedure to minimize the likelihood of accidents. My recommendation is always to read the post entirely first and then make the product.
Please keep in mind that these recipes/formulations are NOT meant to be sold or reproduced in large quantities. None of my recipes has been appropriately stability tested. I recommend seeking professional help if you want to start your own line of business. (
link)
Always test a patch of new ingredients before using them.
Comments and opinions written by authors on Cosmetic Your Ways are their own and do not represent the views of any past, present, or future employers.

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