Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation
Learn to create natural, eco-friendly skincare and haircare products with minimal waste.
Have a positive impact on the environment by eliminating and reusing packaging, reducing waste and upcycling ingredients.
Are you concerned about the packaging and waste created by the beauty industry and feel inspired by solid, zero waste beauty products?
Do you fancy experimenting with fun, sensory, zero waste skincare and haircare products inspired by trailblazing brands like Lush and Ethique?
Are you passionate about sustainability in the beauty industry? Learn new skills in making innovative zero waste skincare and haircare and have a positive impact on the environment.
Introducing our groundbreaking Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation
The world’s first online zero waste cosmetics course teaching you how to formulate an entire skincare and haircare range in solid bar and powder concentrate formats.
In this cutting-edge online course, you will:
- Create nourishing beauty bars for the face, body and hair – to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, condition and more.
- Create waterless, powder concentrates that have a lighter environmental footprint and dramatically reduce the amount of packaging required.
- Innovate with fun, sensory products – bars that melt or lather, bombs that fizz or foam, powders that become liquid, soft pliable doughs that become pastes.
- Use a wide range of natural, organic and vegan ingredients - carrier oils, plant butters, exfoliants, surfactants, emulsifiers, botanicals, clay and more!
- Discover sustainable ingredient innovations, including circular beauty, upcycled ingredients and biofermentation.
- Plus, receive expert guidance and support from experienced cosmetic scientists and chemists.
Ready to innovate with zero waste skincare and haircare formulation?
Join us on the journey today!
Find out more
Don’t waste time and money trying to follow misleading information online with recipes that don’t work.
Instead, learn how to select the right natural and organic ingredients for your formulations – putting you in control of what you use on your skin.
Formulate with confidence, knowing you’re learning from cosmetic scientists and industry experts, using tried-and-tested formulations that have passed Preservative Efficacy Testing.
Just imagine how good it would feel if you could:
Dramatically reduce the amount of waste your beauty routine creates
Replace bottles and jars with solid, packaging-free beauty bars and make powder concentrates that you mix with water and store in reusable containers. Create multipurpose products that reduce the number of individual products you need in your beauty cabinet.
Do your bit to protect our planet
Learn how to conserve water, reduce your environmental footprint, and discover sustainable ingredient innovations, including circular beauty, upcycled ingredients and bio-fermentation.
Be at the forefront of changes to the beauty industry
Lead the way (don’t get left behind) as the beauty industry moves towards sustainability.
Learn to make a complete zero waste beauty range:
Facial skincare products
- Foaming cleansing bars.
- Oil-based cleansing and makeup remover bars.
- Clay-based cleanser and face mask bar.
- Face scrub bars.
- Serum bars.
- Face mask powders.
- Cleansing powders.
Body care products
- Solid deodorant.
- Lotion bars.
- Massage bars.
- Exfoliating bars.
- Shaving bars.
- Body wash and hand wash powder concentrate.
Shower and bath products
- Body wash bars.
- Solid shower oil.
- Body scrub bar.
- Bubble bath bar.
- Shower bomb.
- Bath bombs.
- Bath melts.
Haircare products
- Solid shampoo bars.
- Solid conditioner bars.
- Solid hair serum.
- Dry shampoo.
Your journey on the Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation
Embrace zero waste
Learn ways to reduce beauty product waste
Skincare bars
Create emollient-based and surfactant-based facial bars
Deodorants
Explore solid deodorants in compostable packaging
Shower & bath
Discover bubble bars, shower bombs and more
Innovations
Discover the cutting-edge innovation of biofermentation
Upcycling
Explore circular beauty to create sustainable beauty products
Powders
Blend and mix powder concentrates for the face, body and hair
Solid haircare
Formulate solid shampoo, conditioner and serum bars
Embrace zero waste​
Learn ways to reduce beauty product waste
Skincare bars​
Create emollient-based and surfactant-based facial bars
Deodorants
Explore solid deodorants in compostable packaging
Shower & bath​
Discover bubble bars, shower bombs and more
Solid haircare
Formulate solid shampoo, conditioner and serum bars
Powders
Blend and mix powder concentrates for the face, body and hair
Upcycling
Explore circular beauty to create sustainable beauty products
Innovations
Discover the cutting-edge innovation of biofermentation
Meet your instructors and tutors
Learn from and be supported by cosmetic scientists and professional formulators.
Tina Svetek
Tina is a cosmetic formulator, formulation consultant and safety assessor, who leads new product development for natural skincare and wellness brands.
Dr Nicole Voster
Nicole is a cosmetic formulation consultant and senior lecturer with extensive experience teaching chemistry and cosmetic formulation at South African universities and aiding brands in new product development.
Gail Després
Gail is an award-winning entrepreneur and author of the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation. After creating her natural skincare brand, Gail moved into education, founding the School of Natural Skincare in 2010.
Gareth Després
Gareth qualified as a certified aromatherapist in 2010 and enriches the content of our online courses with his specialist knowledge of essential oils.
Is the Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation right for me?
This course is perfect for…
Beginners
Passionate beginners
Learn a new skill. Produce less waste and become more sustainable.
Read more
A complete zero waste beauty range is easy and fun to make.
Intermediate
Formulators looking to get creative
Discover new and exciting product formats with a wide range of textures, colors and shapes.
Read more
Get creative in making products that are kind to your skin and the environment – and that look beautiful and are fun to use!
Entrepreneur
Beauty brand owners
Differentiate your beauty brand. Be at the forefront of sustainable beauty innovations for ultimate consumer appeal.
Read more
Add innovative and in-demand products to your range that reflect your brand values.
Student testimonials
It gave me a great foundation to start my cosmetics brand.
- Prasanty,
- India
I used to feel lost researching online and struggled with confidence. The course provided a structured, expert-led approach that helped me put my research into practice. I loved the short, to-the-point lessons and the module format and I’m now much more confident in my formulations!
- Prasanty,
- India
I enrolled to gain more knowledge and contribute to protecting our planet.
- Amanda Poszel,
I loved how easy it was to learn from anywhere. I was initially worried about experimenting with unfamiliar ingredients, but the course provided clear steps to resolve issues, with plenty of examples for reference. Taking this course has really helped me.
- Amanda Poszel,
I wanted to make products with minimal packaging, so this course was perfect.
- Jennifer Tovar,
- USA
I learned to formulate a variety of different types of zero waste products. The course was excellent, and I particularly enjoyed discovering more about ingredients and the different types of formulations involved.
- Jennifer Tovar,
- USA
Why learn to create your own zero waste beauty products?
Create less waste and become more sustainable – Solid beauty bars don’t require any packaging!
Concentrated and long-lasting – Solid bars and powder concentrates are waterless, making them concentrated and long-lasting.
Easy to make – No complicated manufacturing methods, just mixing, molding, melting and pouring.
Consumer appeal – Be at the forefront of sustainable beauty innovations.
Innovative formats – Make solid bars, fizzy or foaming bombs, powder concentrates, pliable doughs and more!
Gentle and nourishing – Made using oils and butters, gentle natural surfactants and emulsifiers; zero waste products are kind to your skin and the environment.
Beautiful, fun and creative – Create products with a wide range of textures, colors and shapes that look beautiful and are fun to use!
Want to try before you buy?
Sample a selection of our course material inside our online classroom.
How does the Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation work?
Our proven system for teaching formulation skills, developed over more than a decade of training provision, means when you study with us, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and support to succeed at formulating.
Knowledge
You don’t need a scientific background; our courses cover everything you need to know.
Skills
We start with more straightforward products and progress to the more complex or challenging ones so you can build your skills and confidence.
Support
You can rest assured that you are learning from qualified and experienced professionals and are not misled by inaccurate, poor-quality and unsafe information often found online.
We’ll teach you to formulate by providing the following resources for each type of product:
More than just a course, our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation includes the support and community you need to truly thrive in your formulating journey.
You’ll receive:
17 in-depth modules accompanied by detailed downloadable textbooks with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs.
Practical demonstration videos that show you exactly how to make a wide variety of products.
52 ready-to-use formulations to practice with.
Join our supportive, vibrant community of like-minded students and graduates across the world.
Easy-to-use online classroom, quizzes, and activities.
Guidance on formulating your own zero waste products.
Assignments marked personally and a course completion certificate.
Detailed ingredient, equipment and supplier information.
Be supported by cosmetic scientists
Get your questions answered
each week in our dedicated Tutor Q&A
Expand your understanding
with our monthly Formulators Forum, a LIVE learning and discussion session on Zoom
Have your end-of-course assignments personally marked
by our cosmetic scientists
Plus
Receive an invitation to join our private student and graduate online community.
Connect with like-minded formulators around the world inside our friendly student community. It’s the perfect place to discuss, support and inspire each other.
Student testimonials
Studying with the School has been one of the greatest assets to my thriving brand.
- Diane Evdokimoff,
- Canada
It opened my learning and capabilities to formulate professionally and launch my brand. The knowledge I gained allowed me to explore new product types I wouldn’t have known how to formulate otherwise, expanding my range and expertise.
- Diane Evdokimoff,
- Canada
If you want to start selling your products, study with the School of Natural Skincare.
- Denisse B Garcia,
- UK
Don’t trust everything you see online—follower count doesn’t equal expertise. If you’re serious about turning your passion into a business, don’t cut corners. The tutors and students are welcoming and always ready to help, so don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance.
- Denisse B Garcia,
- UK
It’s been a great learning experience, and I’m excited for what’s next!
- Brenda Baker,
- New Zealand
This course gave me the confidence I needed to start creating my own zero waste products which might be part of my future brand. I didn’t know where to begin, but now I feel much more prepared. I especially enjoyed experimenting and improving on my previous formulations.
- Brenda Baker,
- New Zealand
Enjoy learning anywhere, anytime
All our training is completed through our easy-to-use online classroom.
Study from anywhere in the world at your own pace.Â
Why study with the
School of Natural Skincare?
Be part of our accredited, globally acclaimed, award-winning online formulation school that’s seen over 25,000 students from 150 countries enjoy mastering the art, science, and creativity of making natural and organic skincare.
Learn from and be supported by professional cosmetic scientists.
Tried and tested formulations. Our formulas have passed Preservative Efficacy Testing.
Formulate your way – natural, organic, vegan, sustainable – and customized to your skin type, tone and concerns.
Multi-award winning and accredited school, established in 2010.
Study with us for our own enjoyment and learning or to create a beauty brand.