This page contains information on a
variety of subjects related to The
Formulator:
>>>>>
selecting a formulation base
How can I decide which formulation base to use?
An introductory discussion of our formulation technologies
is included in our
brochure: examining that may help. More detailed information
about formulation techniques is available on the Elsom Research
informational site, especially at our Formulation
Products, Services, and Technologies page.
Three formulation bases offer nano-technology enhanced encapsulation: Nano-Emulsion, Nano-Encapsulation,
and Double
Emulsion with Nanosomes™.
The low-cost Simple Emollient base, suitable
for body lotion or massage oil, can have only one ingredient
added. That ingredient can be an ESSENTIAL OIL or a BOTANICAL.
All the cosmeceutical bases (Nano-Emulsion, Nano-Encapsulation,
and Double
Emulsion with Nanosomes™) require selection
of one base oil and allow addition of up to seven optional ingredients.
For these bases, a link to a similarly-textured Elsom Research
ready-made retail cosmeceutical is included in the description
and may help you choose.
Which formulation base allows the widest
choice of optional ingredients?
Every ingredient is associated with a category (for instance,
VITAMIN) and that category is associated
with one or more formulation bases, making all the ingredients
within
the category available for selection as optional ingredients
to be added to that formulation base.
The association of ingredient categories with formulation
bases is shown in the table
below:
As you can see in the table, Double
Emulsion with Nanosomes™ and Nano-Encapsulation offer
the same choices. They differ in the content
of the base formulation and in the formulation
technology used.
Do all formulation bases include preservatives?
Yes. We are happy to support our shoppers
in matters of their own personal taste: if you think lavender
smells better than jasmine, or jojoba oil feels smoother
than shea butter, you can use The Formulator to describe
the skincare of your dreams and we will gladly produce it
for you. However, preservation
is a matter of safety; we will not manufacture products we
believe to be unsafe. The skin is generally a good barrier
against infection, but skincare is likely to come into contact
with mucous membranes around
the eyes
or
to
be accidentally
ingested or inhaled through application to the lips or nose,
or to be applied to skin that is broken by cuts and abrasions.
Everything we produce will be adequately preserved against
bacteria and fungi which could otherwise cause infection.
It's fun to use The Formulator to take a chance on an unusual
combination of ingredients; we never take chances with your
safety.
>>>>>
selecting optional ingredients
How can I decide which ingredients to include?
There's just no substitute for research: ask other people about
their experiences; read; try some things for yourself. Researching
ingredients, and combinations of ingredients, is the responsible
thing to do, and it's what we do in designing our retail products.
This is an investment of time and energy that not everyone is
able to make, and we understand that very well. If you aren't
in a position to research possible ingredients and would like
to purchase a high-quality pre-existing product, relying on us
to have thoroughly investigated the exact combination of ingredients
and technologies found in that product, you are very welcome
to do that through our online
shopping system. If, however, you are interested in doing
your own investigation and using that as the basis of your ingredient
selection, using Elsom
Research technology to formulate a product containing
those ingredients, and if
you understand the responsibilities and limitations you accept
in that process, The
Formulator is a good option for you.
What if I choose more than the maximum
number of optional ingredients?
Elsom
Research will reduce your selections to a valid number.
Why do many ingredients have
more than one name?
Ingredients, especially those
of botanical origin, are likely to be known by different
names in different communities. For plants that occur
naturally in a wide range and that have been used
for varied traditional purposes over an extended period,
this can make it difficult for different people to
figure
out
whether they are or are not discussing the same thing.
Wherever we can do so within The Formulator, we list
botanical ingredients by at least two names: the "common
name" which is most familiar to us within Elsom
Research; the "INCI name" which identifies
it within the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic
Ingredients. We hope this
will provide shoppers with enough information to determine
whether the material we are describing is the material
they are interested in.
Why are some plant sources listed
several times?
This can be because
different parts of the same plant have different
attributes: roots, bark, leaves, flowers,
fruit, and seeds of the same plant all have
different chemical
structures. It can also be because the same
plant can be created as an ingredient in multiple
ways:
for an ESSENTIAL OIL, the oily or waxy portion
of the plant is separated from the other material,
while for items we mark as simply BOTANICAL this
separation has not taken place.
How are ingredients identified
as BASE OIL, PRECIOUS OIL, and ESSENTIAL OIL different
from each other?
Ingredients we call BASE
OIL or PRECIOUS OIL are
similar in their chemical structure but different
in their rarity and therefore their cost: in the
quantities required for use in the formulation base,
a PRECIOUS
OIL is prohibitively expensive. In both
cases, the oily or waxy nature of the ingredient
makes it useful for creating a smooth, evenly-spreading,
soothing emollient, and our formulation technologies
nano-size
the oily particles
to a nanometer-range size. These tiny droplets
will not clog pores and will absorb quickly and deeply
into th skin.
A BASE OIL or PRECIOUS
OIL may have a noticeable aroma or none
at all; these ingredients are used for their texture
and
structure rather than for their fragrance. An ESSENTIAL
OIL,
however, is primarily used for its strong fragrance;
these ingredients are widely used in perfumes, aromatherapy,
and other applications in which an agreeable smell
is an important criterion of success for the finished
formulation.
Will my favorite ingredient xxxxxxxx ever
be available through The Formulator?
Our intention is that the list
of ingredients will be flexible; we'll adjust it as we
continue to research ingredients, as we find or lose
good suppliers of high-quality ingredients, as we monitor
consumer demand, and as we expand our technological capabilities.
We can't promise to accomodate all requests, but we would
like to hear and consider them; please contact
us with your suggestions and questions. You may wish
to participate in online discussions about this with
other consumers; you are welcome to visit our
forum.
>>>>>
custom micro-batch sizes
What size will my custom micro-batch
be?
Can I buy a custom micro-batch
from The Formulator in a size smaller than 2oz (55gr)?
If I like a product I
customized with The Formulator, can I have a large
batch of it produced?
Yes. We retain records of
every order placed, and we are happy to produce
a batch to your specifications (minimum
order size 2Kg) for your personal use or for
you to resell; this is much more cost-effective
than ordering many single products via The
Formulator. Some combinations of ingredients
and technologies remain more practical for
large batches than for single products such
as those customized via The Formulator;
if you require something not currently possible
through The Formulator, please contact
us to discuss what other options may be
available.
What
if I want more than one 2oz
(55gr) jar but less than
a 2Kg batch?
When you place your
order, add a comment
explaining the larger
quantity you wish to
purchase. We'll communicate
with you about your request
and, if we are able to
produce the larger quantity,
send you a Google Checkout
invoice for the adjusted
price and quantity.
What happens after I make my selections and send them
in?
An expert formulator at Elsom
Research will oversee creation of your custom-made product,
which will then be packaged in a simple retail-size bottle
or jar appropriate for its texture and consistency; it will
be labeled with your name and the list of ingredients, and
sent directly to you.
When will my credit card be charged?
Shortly before we begin formulation.
If your credit card has been charged,
we have begun production and will ship soon.
How soon will I receive my product?
How long will my product last?
This is a two-level question; on both levels, you should expect
products of The Formulator to behave like other Elsom
Research products. That means a usable shelf life
of about one year, with some variation depending upon the conditions
in which the product is stored; extreme heat reduces shelf life,
while refrigeration (but not freezing) prolongs it. It also means
that you can estimate about 1 gram of a skin or scalp formula
will be used per application, so a 55 gram (2 oz) container of
a product will suffice for 55 applications. Since some people
apply products once daily, some twice daily, some on alternating
days, and some only as needed, we can't predict how many days
you will be able to use your product.
>>>>>
rights and responsibilities
Do I have exclusive rights to a product
I customize with The Formulator? Can I patent it?
No. Nothing in our system stops another shopper
from using The Formulator to make choices identical
to those you made. With so many options available, the likelihood
that two identical ingredient selections would happen by chance
is small, but it remains a possibility. Bear in mind that every
formulation is more than the sum of its ingredients: the processing
technologies we use play a key role in determining the nature
of the product. The processing technologies and ingredient profiles
used to create products requested via The Formulator are
proprietary inventions of Elsom
Research Co., Inc.; we don't reveal those details
and, while we are happy to use them to create a product for you,
we do not give you any rights of ownership over them.
What if I don't like a product I customize with The
Formulator?
Can I find out what ingredients other people are
trying? Can other people find out what ingredients I chose?
Please read our
privacy policy: we don't discuss any customer with
any other customer. If you want to discuss and debate
the merits
of ingredients
and formulation
technologies,
our
forum is a good place to do that with other willing
participants
How can I pay for the product I customize
with The Formulator?
The checkout
process is the same for The Formulator as for our
stock retail cosmeceuticals at new-equilibrium-skincare.com:
we accept credit card payment through Google Checkout,
or you can mail us a check or money order.
>>>>>
sources of additional information
Where should I start The Formulator?
Where else can I learn about ingredients
and formulation technologies?
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