We’ve been busy behind the scenes at the School of Natural Skincare, building a brand new community for our students and members of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club! Keep reading to learn about the exciting new features and events coming your way soon, as well as how to gain access to them.
We have two inspiring live events scheduled for September. If you join our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club or enroll in a Diploma course, you will have access to these exclusive events hosted by our Cosmetic Scientists:
Reverse Formulating and Decoding INCI Lists – 3rd September
Substituting Ingredients with Confidence – 25th September
For more details on these events, please see below.
Community app for easy access
Our new community lives on a brilliant platform called Circle, and you can access it wherever you are by installing the Circle app on your iPhone or Android — it’s super easy and keeps the community just a tap away.
We’ve moved our community away from social media to give you something better — a dedicated, distraction-free space that’s all about connection, learning, and fun. Inside the private app, you’ll get direct access to the School’s Cosmetic Scientists, and a fab community of like-minded members and students. No ads, no noise, just real conversations, exclusive content, and everything you need to stay inspired and in the loop — all in one place, right at your fingertips.
Advance your formulation skills in the Learning Lab
Connect, learn and discuss directly with our Cosmetic Scientists inside the Learning Lab!
Inside the Learning Lab, you’ll find:
- Tutors Lab
- Formulation Challenges
- Formulators’ Forums
- Library of past Formulators’ Forums
Who has access? The Learning Lab is an exclusive area of the community that’s only available to students of a Diploma or Advanced Certificate course and members of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. This is a more advanced space where our Cosmetic Scientists help you develop your formulation skills.
Learn and discuss directly with our cosmetic scientists inside the Tutors Lab
Each week, one of our tutors will share a post, start a discussion, or set you an activity. You can expect a range of content, including topical discussions, quick tips, troubleshooting advice, formula fixes, challenges, ingredient guides, FAQs, activities, and more.
Coming up: fun, expert-led chats about trending skincare topics and ingredients like:
- Beef Tallow – what is all the hype about? TikTok Trend or Skincare Win? Beef tallow is having a major moment in beauty right now – but is it worth the hype?
- Slugging – what is this trend, and how can we make a slugging product with plant-based ingredients instead of petroleum-based ingredients?
- Peptides – do you really know what they are, what they do and how to incorporate them into your skincare products? Let’s dive in!
Become a better formulator with our Formulation Challenges
Get ready for our first exciting Formulation Challenge, running from September to November 2025 – a Reverse Formulation Challenge! 🗓️✨
In our live Kick-Off Call on 3rd September, you’ll discover what reverse formulating is, why it’s such a powerful skill for formulators, and exactly how to do it. 🧠💡
We’ll take a deep dive into understanding INCI lists and decoding product labels, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to confidently participate in the challenge. 🧴📋
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your skills, this is your chance to explore, experiment, and grow – all within a supportive, creative community. 🌱
Join us to go behind a product label and learn how to reverse engineer popular skincare products! 🔬
Connect with other members and our scientists LIVE at our Formulators’ Forums
Chat live with members and scientists during our monthly Formulators’ Forum. Tune in to our live teaching sessions with Gareth and our Cosmetic Scientists, then connect with your community members for informal chats in private breakout rooms. A great place to learn more, collaborate with your peers, and grow together.
🧪 September Formulators’ Forum: Substituting Ingredients with Confidence
“What can I use instead of…?”
It’s one of the most common questions formulators ask — and in this session, we’re giving you the tools to answer it with confidence.
Join us on 27th September for September’s Formulators’ Forum, where we’ll explore how to choose suitable substitute ingredients and what to consider when making swaps. Whether you’re out of stock, can’t find a specific ingredient, need to adapt for a different skin type, or tailor a formula to suit your brand, knowing how to substitute effectively is an essential skill.
🧠 What to expect:
- A focused presentation from Tina, one of our Cosmetic Chemists, on ingredient substitution strategies
- A hands-on challenge to put your new knowledge into practice
- Confidence-building guidance so you never feel stuck again
Don’t miss it — ingredient swapping just got a whole lot smarter!
Enjoy our library of Formulators’ Forum Recordings
Dip into our library of past presentations as and when you like! With 20 presentations to choose from currently (and new ones being added most months), it’s like Netflix for formulators! Popular topics include Cosmetic Packaging, Hyperpigmentation, Cosmetic Ingredients from Food, Making Botanical Extracts, and more.
Have your questions answered personally by a Cosmetic Scientist in our Tutor Q&A
One of the key distinctions about studying with the School of Natural Skincare is that you’ll be supported by qualified and experienced Cosmetic Scientists with decades of experience in both teaching and formulating for natural and organic brands.
Our Tutor Q&A is the place to ask them any questions you have about the class or course you’re taking with us. They check in regularly throughout the week to offer answers, support, and guidance.
Who has access? We have a separate Tutor Q&A for each Diploma and Certificate course, plus one for the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, too.
Community Hub
Ask questions, jump into discussions, and share your wins, tips, and discoveries!
Looking for support and insightful conversations with natural and organic formulators? The Community Hub is the heart of our peer-to-peer community. This is a place to ask questions of other students and members, engage in discussions, share learning successes, and more.
Share your goals and wins each week, and let’s cheer each other on! Post a photo or video from your lab, kitchen, or formulating space showing us what you’re working on. Formulated a gorgeous product? Discovered a cool new ingredient? Share your successes and discoveries with the community!
If you have a question or need advice on a product or ingredient, ask your fellow formulators! The community has a wealth of experience to share.
Who has access? Students of our Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma courses and members of the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club.
More ways to connect: Member Directory and Find a Study Buddy
If you’d like to make deeper connections with other students or members, you can use our Member Directory and Find a Study Buddy areas. If you’re new to a course and want someone to study alongside for a bit of accountability and support, this is the perfect place to reach out and find a buddy.
Join our new community!
Want to join us inside the community? Enroll in one of our courses or become a member of the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club to get access to the new community, connect with fellow formulators, and explore everything waiting for you inside. Sign up by the 1st September and you’ll also be able to join our two exciting live events — we’d love to see you there!
All of our current students and Club members will be automatically added to our new community during the last two weeks of August 2025, ready for our exciting events in September.
Have questions? Our customer service team is happy to help. Please reach out to us at [email protected].
