14/08/2026
FORMULATION DIARY 001 | From Prototype to Final Formula 🧪
A formula isn’t finished simply because it emulsifies.
Formulation development is a process of observing, evaluating and refining.
During this reverse-formulation project, I developed several prototypes while working towards a richer, more structured cream with good spreadability and cosmetic elegance.
Prototype 1B gave me improved viscosity and cream structure, but I wanted to explore whether I could increase the richness and body of the formulation without compromising its application.
That question led to Prototype 3.
Rather than increasing the emulsifier again, I reduced the water phase and redistributed that percentage across selected lipid components. The result was a thicker, richer and more cohesive cream that still spread smoothly across the skin.
But making the cream was only part of the process.
Then came the important part:
Observe it again.
Because what a formulation looks and feels like immediately after manufacture isn’t the whole story.
Over the next few posts, I’ll share more of this development process — including the formulation decisions, pH observations, texture changes, Day 4 assessment and why Prototype 3 ultimately became my final selected prototype.
Formulate. Observe. Refine.
— Juliana Agatha | Founder & Formulator
