When you are new to cosmetic formulation there is an overwhelming amount of information online. Some good, some terrible! The amount of misinformation that circles the internet and youtube still seeks to amaze me. Then there are ingredients, tons and tons of ingredients to choose from. What does each one do? How does each one work? How do they differ from each other? I personally had so many questions when I first started out yet no one to ask. I bought a ton of ingredients that ended up going bad before I could use them, I was also making what today I am certain were not safe products for my family. Like many I was greenwashed into formulating. I was paying attention to labels, not knowing or understanding the INCI lists on products I was purchasing at the store. If an INCI read anything but water, shea butter, coconut oil or emulsifying wax I was determined the product was filled with chemicals that were harmful. Today I look back and laugh at myself as now that I know better, I can do better. Again, the internet is largely to blame for this. There are a ton of mom blogs, diy blogs and craft blogs that fear monger parents and people into thinking that if its not all natural its going to cause cancer or kill us. What these blogs don't talk about is that natural cosmetics can be extremely harmful if they are not made and preserved properly. There is an abundance of people who make their first whipped body butter and that same week want to start selling products. Unfortunately this isn't safe nor is product formulation an overnight ordeal. Especially if water is involved. If you would like to start selling some products when you are brand new on the scene I would recommend consulting with an experienced formulator or cosmetic chemist and choosing a product(s) that you would like to start with , one that has been pre formulated and tested for stability, learn to make that product and sell that product while you learn how to formulate your own safely. In today's post I will cover beginner equipment, tomorrow beginner ingredients.
BEGINNER EQUIPMENT:
Stainless steel bowls
Jewelery Scale ( you can purchase one for larger batches down the road, this will work for the time being and is affordable )
Precision Scale ( if making make up or something with color powders that need to be weighed for consistency)
Stick ( Immersion ) Blender ( you DO NOT need an expensive immersion blender your motor will not burn out if you take care of it and rest it ( 5-10 seconds ) after every 30 seconds of use )
https://www.amazon.com/Bonsenkitchen-Handheld-Electric-Immersion-Stainless/dp/B09SH9XH37/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2NKQQQSTJZV5S&keywords=stick%2Bblender&qid=1681824667&sprefix=stick%2B%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-4&th=1
2 Thermometers ( With a wide temperature range )
Silicone Spatulas
Gloves
Hand Mixer
If you are whipping anhydrous butters (only)
PH Strips
When first starting out I would suggest purchasing the below linked Ph strips. A Ph meter will be needed down the road for a more accurate reading ( especially for Ph sensitive ingredients). I personally have purchased a variety of Ph meters ranging in price from $25 - $350 over the years. Unfortunately I did buy less expensive ones trying to save myself such a large purchase ( over $300 ), in the end it cost me far more money as none of the lower end Ph meters I purchased from Amazon read accurately or worked for longer than a few weeks. Ph strips are enough to get started with.
Whisks ( Great for 100g sample batches )
Lab Spoons ( Great for scooping ingredients and avoiding cross contamination )
https://www.amazon.com/Kuhn-Rikon-10-Inch-Double-Balloon/dp/B000H7MTV4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CUBSK40Z6VUF&keywords=globe%2Bwhisk&qid=1681859912&sprefix=globe%2Bwhisk%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1&th=1
Look out for tomorrows post on beginner ingredients!
Happy Formulating :)
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