Hello, I’m Mike Harmon, the creator of 420formulator.com
I have been making skincare products for more than 35 years. During that time, I have formulated products for hotels, spas and salons, and taught people how to develop bespoke skincare ranges of their own.
My background includes completed training in professional aromatherapy, reflexology, iridology and colon hydrotherapy, together with further study in nutrition, complementary health and natural skincare. Herbs, vegetable oils and essential oils have therefore been part of my formulation work for many years.
Why I Created 420formulator
After using cannabis personally for many years, I became interested in incorporating it into better-designed skincare formulations.
Many homemade cannabis topicals are simple mixtures of infused oil, coconut oil or wax. These can be useful products, but cannabis can also be incorporated into carefully formulated creams, lotions, balms, massage oils and other preparations.
Working with cannabis in an emulsion presents practical challenges. Adding an infused oil to a cream without considering the complete formula can affect its texture, stability and preservation. My purpose is to help readers understand those formulation decisions rather than simply provide recipes without explanation.
What You Will Find Here
420formulator brings together three connected areas of interest:
- Aromatherapy, including essential oils, herbs, vegetable oils and terpenes
- DIY cannabis products, including creams, balms, infused oils, tinctures and edibles
- Skincare formulation, including emulsifiers, active ingredients, butters, waxes and useful equipment
My articles explain what ingredients do, why they are included and how they affect a finished formulation. I also discuss the mistakes, limitations and safety considerations that are sometimes omitted from DIY recipes.
My Approach
I draw upon my earlier training, formulation experience, personal experience and current research when creating content for 420formulator.
Where appropriate, I consult scientific research, recognised safety guidance and technical information from ingredient suppliers. Personal experience is identified as such and is not presented as clinical evidence.
I am now retired from clinical practice. I do not diagnose medical conditions, provide individual treatment or offer personalised medical advice. I also do not maintain professional-practice registration or insurance. The information on 420formulator is provided for education and general interest.
Cannabis laws vary considerably between countries and regions. Readers are responsible for understanding the laws that apply where they live and for deciding whether a particular project is appropriate for them.
A Practical Invitation
You do not need an elaborate laboratory to begin making skincare, but you do need accurate measurements, suitable ingredients, good hygiene and an understanding of preservation and safety.
My aim is to help you make products more thoughtfully, understand the materials you are working with and develop the confidence to adjust a formulation for its intended purpose.
If something on 420formulator has helped you, or you have a question about the website, you are welcome to contact me.