The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
The Club is a membership portal packed with learning resources, from courses and classes, to templates and charts, experiments and reports, formulations, guides, video tutorials and more.
The Club is dedicated to expanding your knowledge, skill and confidence of natural & organic cosmetic formulation with topics that excite you, products you’d love to make, ingredients you really want to explore and innovative ideas you won’t find anywhere else.
Every month in the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, you’ll unlock new and exciting learning materials, courses or classes about a wide range of topics that excite and interest you the most…
…soap, mineral makeup, shower gels and bubble baths, face masks, AHAs and BHAs, and many more exciting natural products.
The Club is a place for us to bring you new, exciting, innovative classes and courses across the whole natural cosmetic spectrum…
We’re constantly researching, developing and creating new materials for you inside the Club and we’ll be releasing new material on a regular basis… so the learning continues.
And as a Club Member you can tell us what you’d like to learn about so we can bring it to you inside the Club.
You can have access to all of this, by being a member of the Club! 😀
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
The club is a place for green beauty enthusiasts who want to enhance and diversify their skills and grow as a formulator. If you’re looking for a start-to-finish course to learn the fundamentals of formulating we recommend checking out our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation to get started.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
There’s just so much to learn. But where to start?
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
An ever-growing library of exciting resources created by professional cosmetic scientists that just doesn’t exist anywhere else.
Add some shimmer and sparkle to your skin this summer with our Geranium and Moringa Body Shimmer Oil Formulation!
Composed of a carefully selected blend of lightweight plant oils this shimmer body oil is a great addition to any summer skincare routine. The oil softens the skin and locks in moisture whilst the dusting of golden-bronze particles reflects light, giving skin a radiant summer glow.
You’ll learn how to vary the intensity of the shimmer effect to create a luster, shimmer, sparkle or glitter-effect. Follow our formula or adjust it to create your own!
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
The Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club is a global network of like-minded natural and organic cosmetic formulators, a space where you can enhance and diversify your skills and knowledge.
If you need a refresher of basic formulation knowledge you can start with Formulating 101 our welcome packet, so to speak, which contains handy reference guides on formulating essentials.
From there, you can launch into an exciting journey, expanding your knowledge, enhancing your formulating skills, and choosing your own learning path.
What’s it going to be? Soap making or make-up? AHAs & BHAs or deodorants? A pH masterclass or discovering which natural preservatives are most effective?
The choice is yours!
When you join the Club, you’ll receive credits that you can use to enroll in our exclusive, Club-only courses, mini courses, or access exclusive Lab resources.
Top up your credits any which way you like. You’re in control of your own learning. The Club is a customized playground for product creators and cosmetic formulators.
Choose a bite-sized class here and there for a sample of all kinds of different skills, or dig down deep into one curriculum pathway—the choice is yours! Some of our topics (like Formulating Mineral Makeup) even offer an accredited certificate upon completion.
Click on the images below to learn more.
For budding and more established beauty brands we are creating a range of helpful classes just for you!
These classes will answer some of your burning questions, like how on earth to price your products so you make a profit?! You can also learn how to take amazing photos of your products for your website and social media.
From our lab to yours—our team of professional cosmetic scientists and formulators have spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours refining and testing formulations, so you don’t have to!
Our Formulation Lab combines the vast experience of our formulators and the thousands of dollars we have spent on professional lab tests (such as preservative efficacy testing) all for the same low monthly price!
The lab is packed with:
Click on the images below to learn more.
In addition to the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club portal where you can access all the classes and resources, all members also receive access to exclusive communities and support. Join the growing, global community of formulators who are as passionate about natural skincare and cosmetics as you are.
Join the Club online community (hosted as a private Facebook group) for peer-to-peer support and encouragement 24/7.
We offer live, monthly, online Formulator Forums, where Club members can meet and discuss via Zoom. Share tips, ask questions, compare notes, and network!
Get support from professional Cosmetic Scientists via our monthly Tutor Q&As, where our scientists will pick from your questions, and share advice and answers.
No need to stay after class and beg for extra credit. If you want more, you got it!
Every six months, we reward students with extra credits which can be used anywhere. There are add-on options available for when you want to take more classes. And, they’ll roll over, month-to-month, so if you don’t use them, you won’t lose them. Pretty good deal.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
is a graduate of our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products. She wants to keep learning at her own pace, and focus on the things that are important to her. Alice is currently using her monthly credits to learn to make mineral makeup products. Then, she’ll take the Children’s Haircare class to make a gentle shampoo for her daughter.
has recently completed our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, and he wants to keep the ball rolling. Noor uses his monthly credits to expand the types of skincare products he formulates, and has recently taken the Cold Process Soapmaking course and classes on formulating hand wash and foaming cleansers.
is a small business owner who currently has a half-dozen natural skincare products developed. They want to expand their product range and learn about new ingredients. Trix uses their monthly credits on ready-to-use formulas from the formulation lab and short classes such as formulating with AHAs, advanced deodorants, shaving products and more. They are excited to take some business classes too such as product photography and pricing.
The best thing about the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club is that it can be whatever works best for you. Custom-craft your own experience, focusing on what’s important for you!
The possibilities really are endless.
Wherever you’re at, whatever your goals are, the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club can help you get there.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
*Sales tax currently only applies in the UK (VAT) and Australia (GST)
** Annual, recurring fee that will automatically renew after a year. You can cancel at any point before this date if you don’t wish to renew.
For your membership fee you’ll receive:
We accept all major debit and credit cards.
By joining the course you accept our terms and conditions found here.
The School of Natural Skincare International is a multi-award-winning online natural cosmetic formulation school. Our accredited, multimedia online courses cover every aspect of skincare and haircare formulation and are studied from home, wherever our students are in the world, via our online classroom, and with tutor and community support every step of the way.
Founded in 2010 by Directors Gail and Gareth Després, to date the School has trained over 12,000 students in 130 countries to make their own natural and organic skincare and haircare products and launch successful businesses.
The School’s team of expert tutors include cosmetic scientists, cosmetic formulators, aromatherapists, beauty business experts and safety assessors, and all are passionate about helping you create beautiful natural cosmetics and thriving businesses.
The School’s fabulous formulations and fun, creative classes have been featured by the BBC and glossy magazines like Green Parent, Spirit & Destiny, and Country Homes and Interiors Magazine.
If you’re looking for a start-to-finish course which provides a thorough grounding in skincare or haircare formulation, a course—such as our Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation or our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation —is best.
If you have some experience, and want to diversify your knowledge, take bite-sized classes in a variety of topics, then the Club is a great choice!
While some of the Club classes can be taken as a complete beginner—for example, Formulating Mineral Make-up and Cold Process Soap Making—not all classes are suitable for beginners. If you want to get started, learn the basics of making a wide range of products with our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products, and then come check out the Club!
Absolutely! The Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club is open to everyone, whether you have studied with us before or not.
You can join at any time from anywhere in the world. So you’re not left waiting, join the Club now!
You can remain a member for as long as you like. You can cancel your membership at any time.
For your monthly membership fee you’ll receive:
Each month, you’ll receive 50 credits to spend however you choose! Each resource in the Club is worth between 20–100 credits so you can pick and choose what you’d like to study. Unused credits roll over to the next month, and you can even top-up with additional credits if you wish. As a thank-you for being a member, we’ll also add an additional 50 credits to your account every 6 months!
On average each class in the Club is 50 credits. Shorter resources such as formulations, charts and lab skills resources are on average 25 credits. For our multi-module courses (which usually consist of 5 modules) most modules are 50 credits (for some courses the first module is 100 credits as it is a longer, detailed theory module).
We are continually adding new classes and resources to the Club! For an up to date list please see this article: What topics are covered in the Club? What classes and resources can I find within the Club?
We’ll be adding new content to the Club regularly! If you have suggestions for what you’d like us to add next please let us know!
The classes take a variety of forms including step-by-step video demonstrations and beautiful guides and ebooks. The PDFs can be downloaded to your own device.
We hope you’ll love the Club! If you join and then change your mind you have 14 days from the date you join to request a refund, but only if you haven’t accessed any of the products during this time (for example classes, courses, formulations etc). After you have accessed digital products you are not eligible for a refund. Please refer to the full terms and conditions for more information.
The doors are closed right now, but join the waiting list to find out when you can next join the Club.
As more men are embarking on their bearded journey, there is a growing demand for natural facial hair products. Launch a new line of beard and moustache products or make products for friends and family! This class will guide you through formulations for the most popular men’s facial hair products, all using natural and organic ingredients, including:
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
There are special considerations when formulating haircare products for children. They need to be very gentle, non-irritating, non-drying and use non-sensitizing essential oils and preservatives. An ideal child-friendly product also needs to be pleasant (and maybe even fun!) to use.
The class provides a range of formulations for simple, child-safe haircare products including:
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
There is enormous demand for CBD cosmetics and the CBD beauty market is predicted to be worth US$959 million by 2024. In this must-read guide you’ll learn:
Plus you’ll receive a variety of example formulations including Soothing Facial Oil with CBD, CBD Blemish Cream and Hemp Relief Lotion.
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
This guide will help you move beyond baking soda deodorant and create more professional and effective deodorants.
Plus, receive a variety of ready-to-use formulas including Herbal Fresh Spray Deodorant, Floral Roll-on Deodorant and Sweet Orange Stick Deodorant.
Two beginners recipes are also included for students new to making deodorants – Gentle Baking Soda Deodorant and Baking Soda-free Deodorant.
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
AHAs and BHAs are a must-have in your skincare routine. In our detailed guide you’ll learn:
Plus you’ll learn how to make five of our formulations including a Cherry Radiance Mask, Superfruit Toner for Blemished Skin, Peppermint Foot Cream, Regenerating Night Cream and Manuka and Green Tea Toner with Salicylic Acid.
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
The demand for vegan cosmetics is huge! The global vegan cosmetics market is set to reach $21.4 billion by 2027. Our guide will explain:
It also includes our ready-to-use formulas for a range of vegan skincare products including Vegan Lipstick, Vegan Vanilla Lip Balm, Coconut and Banana Face Mask and Pink Latte Bath Soak.
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
You’ll love this complete guide to making your own beautiful, natural bath products! It includes:
Plus 25 wonderful recipes for bath melts, bath bombs, bath creamers and truffles, fizzing fairy dust, and aromatic and foaming bath soaks, including some that are more advanced recipes featuring natural emulsifiers and surfactants.
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
In this class you’ll learn how to create a range of fun hair products to add some shine, color and fragrance to your hair – perfect for a night out or for added shimmer and sparkle during the holiday season!
We’ve also included some natural styling products and an intensive conditioner perfect for repairing and pampering after a busy holiday season or for when your hair needs some extra TLC.
This class includes formulation guidelines and examples for:
Receive a beautiful ebook to download and watch our demonstration video to see step by step how to make one of the featured products.
Discover a range of exotic Amazonian oils and butters to enhance your skincare products!
These beautiful oils and butters have benefits including:
You’ll also receive three formulations featuring Amazonian oils and butters including:
Our Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation will teach you how to create a range of super active, facial and body serums filled with powerful and trending ingredients. This course will guide you through the next steps of your formulating journey, elevating your formulating skills and your products’ potential. You will learn how to expertly incorporate AHAs, BHAs, ceramides, peptides, vitamins, potent botanical extracts and much more into oil-based, emulsion and biphasic serums which can be designed to target specific skin types or skin concerns to optimise your products’ performance.
Use exciting active ingredients to create:
Receive three advanced ready-to-use formulations in a beautiful textbook. Watch our demonstration videos to see step by step how to make two of the featured products.
Pentylene glycol is a really useful, naturally derived and sustainable multifunctional ingredient and one all formulators should get to know. It is a humectant, therefore moisturizing, a penetration enhancer, which can allow actives to penetrate further, and it has antimicrobial properties making it useful as a preservative booster or even as the main preservative in a formula. We created a formula using penetelyne glycol as the sole preservative and sent it for preservative efficacy testing (PET) to assess its antimicrobial activity. We share the results and our analysis, in full, in the guide.
Use your formulation skills in a brand new way by creating your own natural household cleaning products! In this class you’ll learn professional cleaning product formulation and will receive ready-to-use formulations for:
For each type of product we also provide formulation templates and guidelines so that you can create your own unique formulations following our guidelines.
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. Receive two professionally created formulas for Green Cleanse Powder-to-Foam Cleanser and Creamy Coconut Cleanser, and guidelines on how to formulate your own cleansing powders.
Massage candles are a room fragrancing and skincare hybrid, merging the benefits of aromatherapy, body massage and skincare into one indulgent product. Once the carefully designed blend of waxes, butters and oils has melted, the warm molten wax can be applied to the skin and used as a massage or body oil, promoting relaxation and nourishing the skin. Learn how to create a formula with the right melting temperature and receive three vegan massage candle formulations scented with essential oils.
Leave DIY tanning recipes using tea, coffee and cocoa powder behind and instead learn to formulate with two effective, professional and natural tanning agents: dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and erythrulose. Both are used in formulations to provide a gradual and buildable tan that isn’t washed off, but rather fades over time during the natural desquamation process.
Receive five, professionally created and ready-to-use formulations for Gradual Tanning Lotion, Instant Tanning Lotion, Facial Tanning Mist, Tanning Drops And Tanning Mousse plus guidelines on how to create your own self-tan formulations.
Learn to formulate specifically for hands and nails, how to work with hero ingredients such as ceramides and niacinamide, and receive five formulations from our lab for:
As waterless products, clay-based masks are sustainable and on-trend. Create innovative product concepts and choose from exciting ingredients like clay, milk powders, fruit powders, ground botanicals, vitamins, physical and chemical exfoliators, humectants and more. Receive six exciting formulations from our lab for Clarifying Charcoal Mask, Soothing Face Mask with Marshmallow and Vitamin C, Afternoon Tea Face Mask, Milky Matcha Bubble Tea Face Mask, Vitamin C Brightening Mask and Skin Smoothie Face Mask, plus detailed guidance so you can formulate your own bespoke masks.
In this in-depth guide you’ll learn all about the skincare benefits offered by Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), a trending ingredient introduced by K-beauty, including scientific research and detailed usage guidelines. It has a very wide range of benefits including hydration, anti-acne, skin soothing, anti-aging and antioxidant. Receive ready-to-use formulations for a Gotu Kola Cleanser, Gotu Kola Moisturizer and Gotu Kola Mask, expertly formulated to soothe skin redness and irritation, provide hydration and protect the skin from oxidative stress.
In this guide you’ll discover how to use phyto-retinoids in your formulations and why. Their benefits include:
Receive three expertly formulated ready-to-use formulations for:
With each formulation we share the product development questions, formula, instructions, product specifications and insights into the formulation process.
Emulsion-based clay face masks are creamy, smooth and ready to apply. This advanced formula type offers a much wider range of skincare benefits than dry, powdered face masks and can be formulated as multifunctional cleansers, masks and exfoliators. Receive three professional formulations from our lab, ready for you to make at home, plus detailed formulation guidelines and templates so you can formulate your own. Learn how to preserve this type of mask effectively, which can be difficult due to the clay which presents a microbiological risk, and see the results of professional preservative efficacy testing.
Probiotics and microbiome-supporting skincare products have become a huge trend. This detailed guide will explain everything you need to know. Probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in cosmetics are ingredients which, when topically applied, may have a positive effect on the skin’s microbiome and, in turn, may improve the skin’s overall health and appearance, even preventing the onset of and reducing symptoms of acne, rosacea, psoriasis, dandruff, and atopic dermatitis. Learn the difference between pro-, pre- and postbiotics, which natural ingredients have these properties and how they are used in formulations.
These rinse-free, fast-drying hand cleansers can be applied frequently throughout the day to cleanse skin of dirt, impurities and bacteria. These products are perfect for on-the-go handwashing or used after washing hands with soap and water for extra reassurance. Discover which kinds of alcohol you can use, how alcohol works as a sanitizer, and how to formulate hand sprays to be effective, beautifully fragranced and hydrating. We’ll provide three naturally fragranced options: Rose and Geranium, Lavender and Sweet Orange and Aloe vera and Lemongrass – or create your own custom fragrance.
Discover a cutting-edge skincare ingredient that’s causing quite a stir! Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) provide many similar benefits to AHAs and BHAs without the irritation. Gentle enough even for sensitive skin they provide a wide range of skin benefits, including chemical exfoliation for smoother, brighter skin, reducing congestion, reducing signs of photoaging, improving elasticity, antioxidant, hydrating and moisturizing. Receive three, professionally created and ready-to-use formulations for AHA and PHA Toner, PHA and Bakuchi Oil Bi-phasic Serum and PHA Body Moisturizer, plus guidelines on how to create your own PHA formulations.
Take your skills further by learning to formulate water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions! W/O emulsions have a heavier texture than O/W emulsions and are very moisturizing, rich and nourishing, occlusive (which helps decrease TEWL), long lasting and more water resistant. They create effective barrier creams, foundations, diaper cream and weather shielding creams. There are very important differences between W/O and O/W emulsions in terms of their ingredients, how to stabilize them, the manufacturing method used and more, all of which we cover in detail. Plus, receive two formulations from our lab, ready for you to make at home: Weather Protection Cream and Nourishing Body Cream.
In this class you’ll learn about how acne is formed, acne management and treatment, the role of cosmetics in acne management, useful ingredients for acne-prone skin and clarifying skincare products. Receive three formulations from our lab for a clarifying skincare range: a Calming Spot Treatment to help reduce inflammation and the appearance of spots/acne, a Clarifying Charcoal Cleanser that cleanses the skin of excess sebum, dirt and oil, and a creamy emulsion-based Clarifying Green Clay Face Mask to absorb excess oil and provide antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Use natural surfactants, conditioning agents, butters, oils and more to create nourishing ‘zero-waste’ shower products including body wash bars, body scrub bars, in-shower body oil/moisturizer and shaving bars. Learn to formulate innovative solid shower products that are packaging-free, waterless, concentrated and long-lasting, gentle and nourishing and perfect for people looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly cosmetics.
When you have experience with cold process soapmaking, it’s time to learn hot process soapmaking! As the name suggests, hot process soap is made at higher temperatures than cold process soap. It is quick to make, from just 30 minutes start to finish, it has a shorter cure time so it is ready to use sooner, it’s easier to clean up as saponification happens during the soapmaking process, and you can control the amount of superfat so you make extra nourishing soaps. Follow our step-by-step videos and detailed guidance to make hot process soap with confidence.
When you have experience with hot process soap making, it’s time to learn liquid soap making! Liquid soap is inexpensive to make, and it is very versatile. Depending on the recipe, liquid soap can function as a super mild facial cleanser, or a strong and effective laundry detergent. You can control how cleansing or mild it is and you can also customize it with additional ingredients such as humectants. Liquid soap can be fast to make, too! Fewer soap makers make liquid soap, giving you an opportunity to create something other brands are not.
Use natural surfactants, exfoliants, butters, oils and more to create nourishing, ‘zero-waste’ solid facial cleansers and exfoliators, including cleansing bars, makeup remover bars and exfoliating bars. We will take inspiration from exciting brands leading the way in solid skincare, such as Ethique and LUSH. Follow our formulations and then create your own!
Declining estrogen levels during menopause can have a profound effect on the skin. Learn about what happens to the skin during menopause and useful skincare ingredients to alleviate menopausal symptoms including those that improve hydration and moisturization, calm and soothe, encourage collagen production, improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of pigmentation. Receive three formulations from our lab, ready for you to make at home: Soothing Facial Mist, Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum and Nourishing Oat and Maca Body Cream.
Solid shampoo bars are an excellent example of a zero waste product; they contain little to no water meaning they can take a solid form that does not require any packaging. Learn to use natural surfactants, cationic emulsifiers, butters, oils and more to formulate effective ‘zero waste’ solid shampoo bars for different hair types. We will take inspiration from exciting brands leading the way in solid haircare, such as Ethique and LUSH. Follow our formulations and then create your own!
Beauty products can become more sustainable by embracing the concepts of circular beauty and upcycled ingredients. By formulating with upcycled ingredients you use environmental resources efficiently, reduce waste and contribute to a circular economy. Learn about the upcycled ingredients available, the pros and cons of formulating with upcycled ingredients and examples of circular beauty brands and upcycled products. Make our Morning Coffee Body Scrub by upcycling coffee grounds from your own kitchen!
Use natural butters, oils, waxes, thickeners, active ingredients, vitamins and texturizing ingredients to create nourishing ‘zero-waste’ solid moisturizer, massage and serum bars. Learn to formulate innovative solid skincare products for the face and body that are packaging-free, waterless, concentrated and long-lasting, gentle and nourishing and perfect for people looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly cosmetics.
Solid conditioner bars provide all the hair conditioning benefits you’d expect from a conditioner without the packaging that a conditioner usually requires. Learn to use natural cationic emulsifiers, butters, oils and more to formulate effective ‘zero waste’ solid conditioner bars for different hair types. Follow our formulations and then create your own!
Learn to make your own selection of natural botanical extracts with many different skin benefits such as soothing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin-brightening, in this exciting class!
Using fresh and dried plant materials, including berries, fruit, herbs and flowers, you will learn how to extract the beneficial active compounds into different natural solvents – vegetable glycerin, carrier oil, ethanol, water and propanediol – to create extracts ready to add to your skincare and haircare formulations.
Discover ingredients that are shaking up the beauty industry! Fermented ingredients are potent ingredients that are rich in amino acids, polysaccharides, vitamins and beta-glucans. The process of fermentation also produces lactic acid and probiotics, which are skin-friendly ingredients that enhance the skin microbiome.
Our guide will help you understand the many benefits of fermented ingredients and provide you with ingredient examples from both small and large-scale suppliers.
Liquid crystal emulsifiers have many advantages in skincare formulation and are essential to get to know. They are exciting biomimetic ingredients that mimic the physiological processes and chemical composition of the stratum corneum. They have good compatibility with the skin and offer many benefits, including reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), increasing skin moisturization, providing immediate and long-term enhanced skin hydration and effective skin protection. This deep-dive class will focus on two natural liquid crystal emulsifiers that are widely available around the world, easy to buy and economical to use. They will become your go-to emulsifiers for creams and lotions!
Learn how to formulate water-containing products that are preservative-free! Self-preserving products use innovative formulation techniques to extend product shelf-life without the need for traditional preservatives. Discover strategies used by self-preserving products to create an inhospitable environment for microbial growth, thereby minimizing the risk of contamination and product degradation.
Receive five formulation examples for gels, sprays and emulsions that are self-preserving, including Lactic Acid Toner, Spray Deodorant and Facial Wash. We include the Preservative Efficacy Test results that prove our preservative-free formulations are safe from microbial growth even under rigorous laboratory testing.
Learn to formulate with water-, glycerin-, ethanol- and oil-based botanical extracts. Discover the steps to take to choose which extract to use in your formulation and understand the compatibility and suitability of extracts in different formula types.
You’ll receive five professionally created product formulas featuring a wide range of botanical extracts including Raspberry and Lime Facial Cleanser, Brightening Licorice Toner, Superfruit Revitalizing Serum, Soothing and Hydrating Facial Moisturizer and Rejuvenating Facial Oil.
The beauty industry has been buzzing about algae and sea moss in skincare. In this exciting class, take a deep dive with us into the underwater world of plant-based (vegan) marine ingredients to discover why! Learn how to incorporate marine ingredients into your own formulations to reap the benefits of this exciting category of ingredients. Discover microalgae, macroalgae and more, plus where to buy marine ingredients to formulate with at home.
Skin barrier damage is a common concern causing dryness, sensitivity, irritation, transepidermal water loss, an uneven texture and dullness. Take a deep dive into the role of the skin barrier, what causes skin barrier damage and how to formulate products to restore and repair the skin barrier. Discover a wide range of skincare ingredients – backed by research – that restore the skin barrier. Receive three formulations from our lab, ready for you to make at home: Soothing Camomile Essence, Replenishing Face and Body Cream and Restoring Oil Serum.
With the right know-how about the differences between products for dogs vs humans, it is easy to add formulating dog grooming products to your skillset too. Join our class to learn which ingredients to include, and those to avoid, and receive four formulations from our lab to practice with including Dog Shampoo Bar, Puppy Paw Balm, Fur Detangling Lotion, Dog Odor-reducing Spray.
Innovative hydrogel sheet masks are powerful hydration tools for dehydrated skin. Discover how to use carrageenan (a natural thickener derived from red seaweed) to create hydrogel sheet masks that hydrate, refresh, revitalize and deliver active ingredients to the skin.
Included in this class are detailed formulation guides and two example formulas for you to practice with: Matcha Hydrogel Under-eye Pads and Moisture Surge Hydrogel Face Mask.
Learn to formulate your own effective, professional-standard natural toothpaste! Avoid controversial, synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients and instead formulate toothpastes with natural ingredients that are sulfate-, fluoride- and preservative-free.
Discover the role that toothpaste plays in maintaining good oral hygiene and important formulation considerations including pH balance, abrasiveness, taste and texture. Receive three ready-to-use formulations and guidelines on creating your own unique natural toothpastes.
Deciding on the price points for your products can feel like one of the most difficult decisions you need to make. In this four-module course, we’ll take away some of the confusion around pricing, by teaching you a pricing structure that you can use each time you need to price a product, whether you are selling direct-to-customers or through retailers. Use the pricing structure to calculate cost prices, wholesale prices, retailer margins and retail prices, to ensure you have a good profit margin and that your business is sustainable.
Create stunning product photography for your website and social media with our six-part course created by our in-house photographer. We’ll take you through everything you need to know, from equipment (including using a smartphone or a DSLR camera), how to create your own brand image guidelines, lighting, composition, how to source props and backdrops for your images, how to direct models, and how to edit your images either on your smartphone or with editing software. Illustrated throughout with our own beautiful images, this is your go-to complete guide to product photography for cosmetics.
This dual-phase makeup remover is designed to remove oily impurities from the skin’s surface, solubilizing even the most difficult to remove products including waterproof mascara, foundation and sunscreen, making them easy to wipe away – no scrubbing needed! This gentle cleanser is surfactant-free and ideal for the delicate eye and lip areas, making it an ideal first step in a double-cleanse system. Using biphasic product technology, this product incorporates all the benefits of a two-phase emulsion without the risk of instability or the need for emulsifiers.
This beautiful body soufflé is perfect if you like the smoothing, softening effects of body creams or butters, but prefer a lighter, more easily absorbed product. The almost mousse-like texture gives a luxurious feel and we have chosen lavender and lemongrass essential oils, giving a feeling of relaxation and calm, making this an ideal addition to your evening skincare routine. Of course, you can select the essential oils of your choice, adapting the soufflé to any time of day and indeed, your own preferences!
Pillow mists are aromatic sprays which, when spritzed onto your pillow, create a calming, relaxing ritual preparing your body and mind for a good night’s sleep. Pillow mists incorporate the therapeutic benefits and aromatic experience of essential oils into your daily sleep routine to promote relaxation. This example formulation combines the soothing and calming properties of lavender and chamomile with the balancing and grounding benefits associated with vetiver, cedarwood and geranium to create a tranquil atmosphere for optimum relaxation. You can also create your own unique, signature fragrance blend using essential oils of your choice!
Tinted moisturizers are a multifunctional product falling between the skincare and cosmetic categories, since they offer both skincare benefits (moisturization/hydration) and cosmetic benefits (sheer coverage for radiance and improved complexion). They are also a fantastic, light alternative to traditional liquid foundations. Some people find that heavy foundations lead to breakouts and unhappy skin, but like to have some light coverage to smooth the skin’s appearance. This is where tinted moisturizer comes in! Here, we will provide you with a wonderful formula for tinted moisturizer, in a range of five shades to suit a variety of skin tones. We will also explain how to increase the skin benefits of your formulation, if you are looking to boost the activity of your product.
This beautifully gentle micellar cleansing water is suitable for all skin types and is a great alternative to makeup wipes, being both kind to the skin and more environmentally friendly, as it can be applied with a reusable cosmetic pad. As it is a leave-on cleanser (requiring no rinsing off), it is a perfect product for keeping in your gym bag, travelling and using on the go – ideal for summer days on the beach or if your skin needs refreshing when it’s warm!
Do anhydrous products that might come into contact with water during use need a preservative? How do you even include a preservative in an oil-based formula? We contaminated five cleansing balm samples with water and sent them for preservative efficacy testing to get a definitive answer. Read our report to discover our findings!
Do anhydrous body scrubs that might come into contact with water during use need a preservative? We contaminated three body scrub samples with water and sent them for preservative efficacy testing to get a definitive answer. Read our report to discover our findings – they are different from our cleansing balm experiment and might surprise you!
Measuring and adjusting pH is an important skill to gain. In this masterclass you’ll learn why, when and how to measure pH, how to work with and look after a pH meter, how to create pH adjustment solutions, and how to calculate the amount of solid/pure pH adjuster. We also answer frequently asked questions about adjusting pH.
Hydrosols can introduce contaminants to a formula and can challenge the performance of a preservation system. To test this, we submitted two hydrating mist formulas for challenge testing that were identical in every respect except that one contained a hydrosol and one did not. Read our report to discover our findings!
We tested how well three naturally derived solubilizers worked to solubilize 1% of orange essential oil and 1% of sweet almond oil in water. We also tested if salt, white vinegar and ethanol can be used as solubilizers. This report shares our findings and shows you how to find the optimal ratio of solubilizer to essential oil for your own formulations.
This formula shows you how to use a surfactant in an emulsion-style cleansing lotion to add some extra cleansing and mild foaming properties. Follow our formula and then adjust it to make your own customized cleansing lotion.
Hyaluronic acid has become a ‘hero’ ingredient in recent years – and for good reason! The hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid means that it smoothes and softens the skin, and can give skin a plumper look, improving the appearance of wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid can be a bit tricky to work with; this class will show you how to most easily incorporate hyaluronic acid into your formulations.
In this class, you’ll learn:
It is essential to have good quality weighing scales and to know how to use them properly!
In this class, you’ll learn:
An overhead stirrer is a common type of mixer that can be found in a professional lab. They are useful because they allow for ‘hands-free’ mixing. For example, an overhead stirrer is useful for products made with self-emulsifying emulsifiers such as Sucragel as you have to very slowly add carrier oils to Sucragel under constant stirring for an extended period of time (around 40 minutes). They can be used for dissolving powders into liquids and for cooling emulsions.
In this class, you’ll learn:
Hot plates with magnetic stirrers are used to simultaneously heat and stir liquids. They are really useful pieces of equipment for your home lab. They can be used for preparing the water and oil phases of an emulsion. They can also speed up reactions or improve mixtures, for example they are helpful for premixing xanthan gum with glycerin prior to adding it to the water phase of a lotion or cream.
In this class, you’ll learn:
We’ve created three heavenly scented festive body scrub formulas for Gingerbread Cookie Sugar Scrub, Sugar and Spice Body Scrub and Candy Cane Sugar Scrub. These sophisticated scrubs are a step up from simple sugar scrubs and feature a range of different oil gellants and self-emulsifying emulsifiers that turn milky upon contact with water and rinse off easily. They also feature a blend of exfoliants, including different types of sugar, ground fruit peels, nut shells and seeds. These scrubs are a treat to make and use, and are great gifts, too!
Stability testing gives you confidence that your products will maintain their quality over time, helps you correct stability problems at the formulation stage and determines the shelf-life of your product. In this class, we’ll take you step by step through how to conduct stability tests in your home lab. We’ll cover the equipment needed, testing parameters, testing types, test control and test documentation. By the end of the class you’ll be able to confidently carry out a range of tests including accelerated aging test, freeze-thaw cycles, centrifuge testing and UV/light stability test.
Sugaring wax is a vegan alternative to traditional hair removal wax. It is inexpensive and easy to make at home. When the paste is removed from the skin, in a swift pulling action, the hairs are removed along with the product, leaving soft, smooth and hair-free skin. To get the most out of this product, we have provided detailed instructions on preparing the skin for treatment and the appropriate aftercare, in addition to the product formulation and instructions.
Our expertly formulated Oil Control Moisturizer with Salicylic Acid contains a trio of active ingredients and provides shine-free hydration to oily and acne-prone skin. It has a light, gel-cream texture which provides skin with shine controlling, pore minimizing and sebum balancing properties. Salicylic acid decongests the skin, reducing the appearance of large, darkened pores associated with oily skin. This acetyl glucosamine inhibits melanin production, reducing the appearance of acne-related pigmentation, and tapioca starch absorbs oils from the skin’s surface, for a mattifying, shine control benefit.
Cosmetic products that contain water are a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. Develop a new and very useful lab skill by learning how to use dip slides (which are inexpensive and easy to use) to carry out preliminary microbiological testing. Used correctly, they will show you how many microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) are present in your product, giving you some information on how well your preservative is working. Dip slides are useful if you are making products for your own use and will not send products for professional Preservative Efficacy Testing (PET) and also useful for preliminary testing of a product prior to PET, saving you time and money on products that fail PET.
Which natural preservatives are most effective? We put four natural broad-spectrum preservative blends to the test! We sent four lotions, identical in every way except for the preservative they contain, for professional Preservative Efficacy Testing (PET) and in this report we share the results with you. We tested Preservative Eco/Geogard ECT, Geogard Ultra, Geogard 221 and Euxyl K 712. Download the report to discover which preservatives passed the test and use this information to help you select preservatives for your own formulations.
Which Leucidal preservatives are most effective? We put three to the test: Leucidal Liquid with AMTicide Coconut, Leucidal SF Complete and Leucidal SF Max. The results of our professional Preservative Efficacy Tests (challenge tests) shows which Leudical preservatives were effective against bacteria, mold and yeast and which ones weren’t. Download the report to discover which preservatives passed and use this information to help you select preservatives for your own formulations.
Have fun creating a new kind of solid bath product, suitable for both adults and kids! Bubble bars are crumbled under running water to produce a rich and creamy lather, and are different to bath bombs as they contain surfactants. Surfactants create foam and lather which is longer lasting than the ‘fizz’ created by a bath bomb. Learn how to color, shape and fragrance the bars to create fun, vibrant bubble bars that create a luxurious bathing experience. Plus we only use gentle, natural surfactants – you won’t find SLS or SLES in our formulas!
Solid deodorants are both effective and zero-waste! These anhydrous bars can be packaging-free or they can be packaged in compostable cardboard push-up tubes. Discover deodorizing active ingredients that are antimicrobial, absorbent or a combination of both. Make your own deodorant using our formula, or follow our guidelines to create your own.
Discover gua sha, a traditional East Asian quartz or jade crystal tool, used to deliver a relaxing facial treatment. Benefits of gua sha are believed to include improved blood flow and circulation, elimination of toxins, relieved muscle tension, reduced inflammation and lymphatic drainage. Receive a Gua Sha Facial Oil formula and learn how to use a gua sha tool.
Inspired by our benchmark, REN Clean Skincare Micro Polish Cleanser, our Micro Polish Exfoliating Face Wash features pineapple, papaya and Vitamin C in addition to our chosen micro exfoliant to refresh and smooth the skin. Learn how surfactants cleanse the skin and the mechanisms of exfoliation, and receive two versions of our professional formula to make at home.
Learn to formulate dry shampoo for different hair colors. Dry shampoo refreshes the hair between washes by absorbing excess oil that is produced by the scalp, so that washing can be postponed by another day or two. Dry shampoo is helpful for the environment and the hair. Less frequent hair washing reduces water usage and the chance of hair breakage. Receive three natural formulations for dry shampoo, including one specifically suited to brunette hair and one for blonde hair.
Have fun creating a new kind of solid facial cleanser. These zero-waste cleansing bars create a tactile, sensory experience as the user transforms them from a pliable dough into a soft paste. These innovative, self-preserving solid facial cleansers can be formulated as multi-purpose cleansers and exfoliators and can be used as face masks, too! Follow our formula and then use our guidelines to create your own.
Concentrated body and hand wash powder is a concentrated powder that the consumer mixes with water at home to become a liquid body and hand wash. Learn to formulate this new and innovative product type that has a far lighter environmental footprint. Once mixed with water, the product will last several months. (We’ll share the results of Preservative Efficacy Testing to prove it!) Follow our example formulas and then use the detailed guidelines provided to formulate your own!
Eliminate plastic bottles from your shower routine with shower bombs! When crumbled under water, the shower bomb becomes a creamy foaming paste which can be lathered against the skin to cleanse it, creating a novel shower experience.
Solid hair serums are a wonderful zero waste hair treatment! They help smooth, protect and add shine to the hair. To add extra moisture to dry hair, apply a little hair serum to the ends of the hair. Follow our formula and then create your own!
Create a multipurpose light-reflecting eye cream with our ready-to-use formula. This cream will moisturize the skin around the delicate eye area, ease puffiness, brighten the skin and improve the appearance of dark circles using light-reflecting mica and pigments.
Empower yourself with scientifically backed information! Level up your knowledge of ingredients to create effective and evidence-based cosmetic formulations.
This guide is full of practical and helpful tips to help you find journal papers for free, understand and interpret journal articles and use them as references. Become a better formulator, more self-reliant and confident in your knowledge by learning how to find and read scientific journals.
Learn to address specific scalp concerns and promote overall scalp health! Scalp serums deliver a concentrated blend of active ingredients directly to the scalp. Receive two ready-to-use formulations from our lab for Tonifying and Protecting Scalp Serum, and PHA and AHA Exfoliating Scalp Serum and learn to formulate your own bespoke scalp serums.
Have fun creating a new kind of hair mask. These solid, zero-waste melting hair mask bars create a sensory experience as the user transforms them from a solid bar into a creamy emulsion. These innovative, self-emulsifying products are deep conditioning treatments that nourish, hydrate, soften and protect the hair. Follow our formula and then use our guidelines to create your own.