Creating a new product can be an exciting and challenging endeavor. At Slippery Elephant, we recently went through the process of formulating and creating a hand and heel balm. In this blog post, we want to share our approach, including how we developed, created samples, evaluated them, and iterated to create the final product.
Step 1: Formulating the Hand and Heel Balm
The first step in creating any new product is formulating it. We began by researching the ingredients commonly used in hand and heel balms. Next, we identified the key effective ingredients in treating dry and cracked skin, including beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E-rich sunflower oil. Additional research uncovered the benefits of dimethicone, so we included that in the testing mix.
With the key moisturizing ingredients identified, we experimented with different ratios to find the perfect balance to provide optimal moisturizing and healing benefits. Finally, we added other ingredients, like lemon essential oil, to give the balm a pleasant scent.
Step 2: Creating Samples
Once we had formulated our initial recipe, we created several samples of both balms to test their effectiveness. Then, we versioned and labeled each sample, tracking each version's ingredients and ratios to track which formulation worked best.
Step 3: Evaluating the Samples
We then distributed the samples to our team members and asked them to try them out and provide feedback. We also gave the samples to a few volunteers outside the company to get an unbiased opinion.
The feedback we received was mixed. Some people found the balm very effective in treating dry and cracked skin, while others found it too greasy or not moisturizing enough. We used this feedback to identify the areas we needed to improve.
Step 4: Iterating to Improve the Product
Using the feedback we received, we made several iterations to the original formulation. For example, we reduced the amount of beeswax to make the balm less greasy and added more shea butter and coconut oil to increase its moisturizing power.
We then created new samples and repeated the evaluation process, continuing to iterate until we had a consistently effective formulation, well-liked by everyone who tried it.
Step 5: Finalizing the Product
Once we had a final formulation, we created a small batch of the balm to test it under different conditions, such as varying temperatures and periods after we poured them. With the results of these tests in hand, we finalized the product's formulation and moved on to packaging and branding. We chose a simple yet elegant design for the packaging and named each product based on their function: Hand Balm and Cracked Heel Balm.