The Green Chemist

The Green Chemist Blog

Green cosmetics stories from a mad scientist or a scientist mad about cosmetics

Barbara Olioso
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Ingredients
February 24, 2014

Is Water Organic?

I asked the question is water organic to my natural cosmetics workshop students last November because I was really curious to hear their views on this hot topic. Nearly everybody agreed on the idea of water being counted as natural but not organic. I found…
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Barbara Olioso
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Ingredients
February 16, 2014

Is your face exfoliant harming marine life?

I believe exfoliation is a very important beauty practise, but not when your face exfoliant is harming to marine life. How? The cheapest micro beads used in exfoliating cosmetics, from face exfoliants to body scrubs, are made of Polyethylene. They are perfectly round in shape (less…
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Barbara Olioso
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Ingredients
February 11, 2014

My favourite natural aphrodisiac

Aphrodisiacs tend to come from a strange source or have a strange flavour or texture (think of oysters), apart from my favourite natural aphrodisiac: chocolate! it has a rich comforting texture, a rich brown colour with a flavour with no equals. In fact its botanical…
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Barbara Olioso
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Trends
January 31, 2014

DIY Beauty products: how safe are they?

I know many women have the natural instinct of mixing beauty potions, but how safe are DIY beauty products made in the  kitchen? I ask myself this question because I see more and more companies offering cream bases to add essential oils and various extracts,…
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Barbara Olioso
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Uncategorized
January 24, 2014

PAO: cosmetics period after opening, good for your eyes

Legal stuff can be quite complicated, however the cosmetics period after opening has a great purpose, which if known and used, it helps you to protect your eyes and health. The Cosmetics Period After Opening (or PAO for the cosmetics junkies) was introduced for cosmetics…
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Barbara Olioso
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Uncategorized
January 15, 2014

Green tips for rosacea treatment

Living in England I come across so many women suffering of this beautifully named skin condition, that I thought it is time to enter the realm of rosacea and get to know it more, what it is, how it happens and what the rosacea treatments…
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Barbara Olioso
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Uncategorized
January 9, 2014

2-0-1-4 easy green new year’s resolutions

In deep winter, when the trees are bare and most of wild life is in hibernation, it is the perfect time to go within and think of what seeds or new year's resolutions, we want to saw and cultivate in 2014. Here is what I…
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Barbara Olioso
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Trends
December 29, 2013

AA: Authentic Argan oil, how to avoid bogus cosmetic oils with the goat in the fridge method

One of my favourite vegetable oils to work with is argan oil, especially when it is authentic argan oil (INCI Argania spinosa). There is not much scientific research about its cosmetic properties, but from my personal and professional experience I can say it is a…
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Barbara Olioso
1
Ingredients
December 19, 2013

A cosmetic formulation with Gold Frankincense and Myrrh

We are all getting into the Christmas mood so it is simply natural for a cosmetic formulator to fantasise about a cosmetic formulation with Gold Frankincense and Myrrh.  The product would have to be a cream for the high end market with no expenses spare..…
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Barbara Olioso
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Formulations
December 16, 2013

Organic cosmetics certification: how important is it today?

Last week I received in the post the Natural Beauty Yearbook 2014, where I read an interesting article on organic cosmetics certification. The focus was on the need for certifying organic beauty product today. The article contained several opinions from one brand owner, a beauty…
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