{"id":8779,"date":"2018-09-07T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2018-09-07T14:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=8779"},"modified":"2018-09-14T12:07:51","modified_gmt":"2018-09-14T18:07:51","slug":"pcc-how-to-set-up-a-cosmetic-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/8779\/pcc-how-to-set-up-a-cosmetic-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set up a Cosmetic Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GlassIf you want to create cosmetic products and experiment with different formulas, you\u2019ll need suitable equipment which is a bit different than needed for a chemical synthesis lab. Here are the main things you need to set up a cosmetic lab.<\/p>\n

1. Mixers<\/strong><\/p>\n

In most chemistry labs the primary mixing device is a small magnetic stirrer that goes in the bottom of your beaker. But this type of mixer has little use in a cosmetic lab where the viscosity of formulas is much higher. Instead you need an overhead, center stir mixer<\/strong> that can power through high viscosity creams and gels.<\/p>\n

The exact mixer you get will depend on the type of products you make most frequently. \u00a0For example, when making creams, gels, or thicker liquids, a device with a range of 40 – 2000 RPM will probably be adequate. And if you make a lot of emulsions, you might also get a homogenizer.<\/p>\n

2. Containers<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need containers to hold your raw materials and formulations. There are three types of containers that every lab needs including raw material containers, prototype making containers, and product storage containers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For most raw materials, glass jars work best. You can get them in sizes from 4oz up to a gallon, depending on how much of the ingredient you use.<\/p>\n

For prototype making containers, you\u2019ll need standard lab beakers ranging from sizes 100mL up to 2000mL. I always like the 500 mL beaker for making most of my new prototypes.<\/p>\n

3. Weighing equipment<\/strong><\/p>\n

While graduated cylinders and pipets are mainstays for measuring quantities in an organic lab, cosmetic labs are more focused on mass measurements rather than volume. Therefore, when setting up a lab it is crucial that you have a scale<\/strong> to accurately measure your ingredients.<\/p>\n

There are a wide variety of scales available and the cost can range from rather cheap to obscenely expensive. The exact scales you get depends mostly on the size of the batches you\u2019ll be most often making. At minimum, you\u2019ll want to have a scale that can measure up to 2000 grams with an accuracy of 0.01 g<\/strong>. If you\u2019re doing smaller batches, a scale with a 0.001 g accuracy would be useful.<\/p>\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll also need disposable weighing accessories to measure out raw materials, such as:<\/p>\n