Certificate in Natural Face Mask Formulation

Learn to formulate a wide range of natural and organic face masks

Formulate both preservative-free clay-based masks and advanced emulsion-based clay masks to professional standards.

Why formulate your own face masks

Wide variety of skin benefits – Formulate masks that are cleansing, detoxifying, antioxidant, soothing, brightening/radiance enhancing, pore tightening, antibacterial and exfoliating.
Multifunctional – Formulate multifunctional products that can be used as masks, cleansers and exfoliators, perfect for a minimalist skincare routine.
Spa-like and luxurious – Create a spa-like experience at home or for your customers.
Innovative – Create innovative product concepts and have fun formulating with exciting ingredients including clays, fruit powders, ground botanicals, vitamins, actives, physical and chemical exfoliators, humectants and more.
On-trend – As they are waterless products, powdered face masks are sustainable, preservative-free and on-trend.
Advanced – Develop advanced formulation skills when you progress to emulsion-based clay face masks and create professional standard masks that can pass rigorous laboratory testing.

Who is the course for?

Natural skincare formulators

Formulate new and exciting products.

Beauty brand founders

Add gorgeous new products to your skincare range.

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Here's what's included:

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Module 1: Formulating Clay-based Face Masks

Formulate an exciting range of clay-based face masks using many different powdered ingredients such as clays, starches, milk powders, exfoliators, antioxidants and active ingredients. These dry, powdered masks are mixed with water by the consumer prior to use.

1.1 What are clay-based face masks?

Discover the different types of clay-based face masks you’ll learn to formulate including clay-based, starch-based, milk-based and 2-in-1 facial exfoliators and masks. Learn about their functions and benefits, ingredients, packaging, storage and shelf-life, instructions for use and more.

1.2 Formulation example: Clarifying Charcoal Mask

This formula is specially designed for people who have oily or congested skin. It aids with the removal of impurities and excess sebum to leave skin clean and detoxified. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

1.3 Formulation example: Soothing Face Mask with Marshmallow and Vitamin C

Featuring a range of soothing ingredients including colloidal oatmeal, marshmallow root, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid plus antioxidant Vitamin C, this high-performance mask cleanses, soothes and softens dry, dull or tired skin. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

1.4 Formulation example: Afternoon Tea Face Mask

This mask offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties for all skin types. Featuring antioxidant matcha green tea and cocoa powder this mask cleanses, soothes and revitalizes. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

1.5 Formulation example: Milky Matcha Bubble Tea Face Mask

This soothing mask for irritated, dry and dull skin features coconut milk powder as one of the hero ingredients, together with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant matcha powder. Colloidal oatmeal powder offers soothing properties for inflamed and congested skin. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

1.6 Formulation example: Vitamin C Brightening Face Mask

Discover our brightening 2-in-1 mask and exfoliator formulation. Featuring both gentle chemical and physical exfoliants in the form of natural fruit enzymes and orange peel powder, plus ascorbic acid, skin will be left brightened, soft and radiant. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

1.7 Formulation example: Skin Smoothie Face Mask

A fruity, smoothie-inspired 2-in-1 mask and exfoliator featuring natural sources of Vitamin C, two natural physical exfoliants and pink kaolin clay, offering detoxifying, antioxidant, brightening and anti-inflammatory properties. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

Watch our video demonstration to see how to formulate this mask step-by-step.

1.8 Troubleshooting clay-based face masks

Our troubleshooting tips will help you resolve issues you may encounter when formulating your own masks.

Module 2: Formulating Emulsion-Based Clay Face Masks

Emulsion-based clay face masks are creamy, smooth and ready to apply. Formulated as elegant, ready-to-use emulsions offering a wide range of skin benefits, they can be used as multifunctional cleansers, masks and exfoliators.

This type of advanced face mask delivers all the purifying and remineralizing benefits of clay, as well as providing a base for a range of other water and oil soluble cosmetic ingredients including humectants, AHAs, salicylic acid, vitamins, botanical extracts, oils, butters, waxes and esters.

As an advanced product type they pose certain formulation challenges, making Module 2 essential if you want to successfully formulate this type of face mask.

2.1 What are emulsion-based clay face masks?

Discover the key ingredients in this advanced product type and receive a formulation template so you can quickly and easily create your own formulations.

Clay-based products containing water can be difficult to stabilize and preserve due to the clay itself, which presents a microbiological risk. Discover how to create a full broad-spectrum preservative system to effectively preserve your formulations and learn from the results of our own preservative efficacy testing (PET).

2.2 Formulation example: Pink Clay And Pomegranate Clarifying Cleanser and Mask

This thick, creamy emulsion brightens the skin and boosts radiance. It cleanses the skin of dirt and impurities, absorbs surface oils and gently exfoliates for smooth, glowing skin. White willow bark extract is included as a natural source of salicin, which can be converted into salicylic acid on the skin to balance the skin’s sebum levels, minimizing the appearance of pores and gently exfoliating dead skin cells. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

2.3 Formulation example: Orange And Almond 3-In-1 Exfoliator, Cleanser and Mask

This multifunctional product cleanses, purifies and exfoliates the skin, removing excess oils, built-up debris and day-to-day impurities. The physical exfoliants combat dull or rough skin revealing a smoother, brighter skin surface. This rich emulsion texture produces a light foam when rinsed away. Monoi de Tahiti, mango butter and jojoba oil create a rich, highly nourishing, luxurious mask texture. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

Watch our video demonstration to see how to formulate this mask step-by-step.

2.4 Formulation example: Purifying Charcoal Cleanser and Mask

Specifically designed for acne-prone, congested and oily skin, this mask absorbs excess oils in order to control shine, minimizes the appearance of pores and gently exfoliates dead skin cells to decongest skin, leaving it clearer. Charcoal and kaolin clay offer powerful oil absorption and skin purifying properties and a variety of humectants provide hydration to the skin. Receive the full details of this formula including the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications.

2.5 Preservative Efficacy Test (PET) results

Preserving products that contain both clay and water can be a difficult task. Clay presents a microbiological risk due to being a source of microbial contamination itself and because it can absorb the preservative in a formula, making the preservative unavailable within the aqueous phase.

We carried out extensive challenge testing on our formulations and share the results of the tests with you, so you can learn from formulations that have been proven to be adequately preserved and safe for consumer use.

Start formulating natural face masks today!

Limited time bonus

Enroll by 28th October 2022 to receive a free class!

Cleansing Powders

Cleansing powders are an exciting waterless and preservative-free cleanser that contain powdered surfactants, plus a wide choice of botanical extracts, actives, clay and milk powders. The user activates the powder before use by adding water, creating a spa-like experience.

With this class you’ll receive:

Enroll now for

US$ 247

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18 months course access inside our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club
Renewal options available

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much prior experience is required?

This course is suitable for formulators of all levels. Some experience of making or formulating skincare products, especially emulsions, is beneficial but not essential. The course builds your skills, knowledge and confidence by starting with simpler formulation types and progressing to more complex ones.

For students who are already skilled skincare formulators, this is your opportunity to learn to formulate specialist types of cosmetics, including a more advanced type – emulsion-based clay face masks.

I live in Australia/USA/India/ _______ (insert country here). Can I take the course?

Yes! The course is a fully online training program hosted on our online membership platform. It is designed to be taken from home from anywhere in the world and the products we make meet global quality and safety standards. We provide information on ingredient suppliers in many different countries. We have students in over 150 countries so you will be joining a thriving community of global students when you join!

When can I enroll?

Now! You can get started with the course right away.

How long will I have access to the course?

You will have access to the course inside our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club for 18 months from the date you enroll. You will be able to download the course textbooks to save on your own computer. If you’d like to continue your access after 18 months you can do that by becoming a member of the Club.

By doing this, not only will you have continued access to your course materials, but you’ll also be given credits with each monthly payment which you can use to unlock other learning materials inside the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club! You can cancel your monthly subscription to the Club at any time. So your access is only for as long as you need or want it to be. Find out more about the Club here.

Which teaching formats are included in the course?

A variety of formats are used, including comprehensive and beautifully designed course textbooks (provided as PDFs) and video demonstrations.

What help is available if I need it?

We are very proud to have a team of qualified, experienced, professional cosmetic scientists supporting our students. They are here to help you with questions or doubts about ingredients, formulas, methods and guidelines pertaining to your specific course. You can ask them your questions in our monthly Tutor Q&A, hosted within our membership platform.

Are there any assignments? Will I get a certificate at the end?

When you have finished the course there will be the option of completing and submitting assignments. There is a small additional charge of 25 credits (approximately US $30) to submit assignments to be marked by our tutors. On successful completion, your course certificate will be issued. You can submit your assignments from February 2023 onwards.

Where do I buy the ingredients and materials that I need? How easily will I be able to find ingredients?

As part of the course you receive a comprehensive global supplier list, featuring hundreds of cosmetic suppliers from all around the world. We give plenty of guidance but there isn’t a set supply list, which means you can choose which ingredients you wish to buy.

In our example formulations, we aim to choose ingredients that are easy to find, and many easy-to-obtain ingredients feature in the course. Some of the more advanced formulations include specialist ingredients that are not as widely available. Depending on where you are based, you may need to order them from overseas suppliers that ship internationally. We also offer ideas for substitute ingredients. If you have difficulty obtaining ingredients for a specific product, you could choose to make a different product or to make adjustments to the formulation to omit the ingredient you cannot obtain. There are lots of options to choose from within the course.

Why are your prices in US$?

We are an international school with students worldwide. US dollars are the most widely recognized and accepted currency. You can check the exchange rate for your local currency using xe.com or another currency converter.

I have already completed Formulating Clay-based Face Masks, can I take just Formulating Emulsion-Based Clay Face Masks?

Yes, you can! By becoming a member of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club you can use your credit allocation to purchase Formulating Emulsion-Based Clay Face Masks from the courses dashboard.