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A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation
The definitive beginners’ guide to the essential terminology, theories and ingredient types needed to formulate professional cosmetic products.
The A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation is the ideal companion for you if…
You’re tired of sifting through confusing, contradictory or incorrect information when researching how to make your own natural skincare and haircare products.
You want to move beyond making DIY beauty recipes and delve into the science and theory behind natural cosmetic formulation.
You’re ready to become more professional and confident in your approach to creating your own natural and organic products.
Whether you’re formulating products for fun, want to sell what you make or dream of launching your own natural beauty brand, the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation is your essential guide.
This invaluable reference guide sets the record straight, and provides you with explanations of the terminology, theories and ingredient types required to create safe, stable and professional-grade natural cosmetic formulations with ease.
Please note, this book doesn’t contain recipes. If you’re eager to explore our tried-and-tested formulations, why not enroll in one of our comprehensive skincare, haircare, makeup and color cosmetics, or soap-making courses.
How the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation can help you
- Unlock the secrets of formulating safe and effective natural and organic cosmetics with ease. Dive deep into the key theories and terminology essential for mastering formulation.
- Differentiate yourself from misinformed DIY-makers by learning to spot the common myths and mistakes regularly found on the internet.
- Explore the benefits and uses of a wide range of natural ingredients, from emollients to essential oils, occlusives, humectants, preservatives, chelators, emulsifiers, surfactants, carrier oils, butters, active ingredients, extracts, exfoliants and more!
- Build a strong foundation of knowledge to confidently formulate your own natural skincare and haircare products and embark on launching your own beauty brand.
What you’ll learn
- What is pH and when do I need to measure it?
- How does an emulsifier work and what natural ones are available?
- What type of water should I use in my products?
- What extracts can I use?
- What natural preservatives are there and when do I need to use them?
- How do I write a professional formula?
- What are surfactants and what is their role in a formula?
- What does natural and organic mean, and what recognized standards and certifications are available to me as a cosmetic formulator?
The A-Z of Natural Skincare Formulation Covers:
Getting started:
The equipment you’ll need, finding reliable suppliers, and classification of ingredients.
Formula and product types:
Anhydrous, aqueous, emulsion, balm, body butter, cleanser, conditioner, cream, deodorant, lotion, moisturizer, serum, shampoo, soap, sunscreen, syndet, toner.
Ingredient types:
Active ingredients, AHAs, antioxidants, BHAs, broad-spectrum preservatives, butters, carrier oils, carotenoids, chelating agents, classification of ingredients, cosmeceuticals, emollients, emulsifiers, essential oils, esters, exfoliating particles, extracts, fragrance, gums, humectants, hydrophilic, hydrophobic/lipophilic, hydrosols, lipids, occlusives, pH adjusters, phytosterols, silicones, solubilizers, stabilizer, surfactants, thickeners, vitamins, water, wax.
Skin and hair physiology/biology:
Carotenoids, ceramides, hair, keratin/keratinocytes, natural moisturizing factor (NMF), skin, skin barrier, stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Science/chemistry:
Charge, compatibility, emulsification, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, hair, homogenization, hydrophilic, hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB), hydrophobic/lipophilic, lipid, micelles, microbes, pH, phototoxicity, polar/non-polar, skin, solubility, surfactants, triglycerides, viscosity.
Extending shelf-life:
Antioxidants, alcohol, broad-spectrum preservatives, chelating agents, GMP, microbes, packaging, sanitizing, shelf-life.
Formulating:
Active matter, benchmark, evaluation, formula, function, functional ingredients, grams, INCI, methodical, product development brief, q.s, sensorial properties, sensory product evaluation, stability, target customer/target market, testing, toxic/toxicity, trade name, usage rates, viscosity, w/w%.
Manufacturing:
Calibration, equipment, GMP, grams, homogenize, method, phases, pH meter/pH strips, sanitize, scaling up, volume, water bath, weighing.
Starting a brand:
Capsule range, certifications, regulations, target customer/target market, trends, unique selling point/proposition (USP), values.
Values/standards/certifications:
Certifications, COSMOS, Ecocert, natural, organic, vegan, zero waste.
Selling products/legalities:
Allergens, batch file, batch number, CAS number, Certificate of Analysis (CoA), cosmetic, CPSR, drugs, GMP, IFRA, IFRA conformity certificate, labels, microbiological testing, MSDS, Product Information File (PIF), regulations, shelf-life, stability testing.
How to buy the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation
Order the book online
Buy today and get three free gifts
1.
A global supplier list
2.
Example product formulas
3.
A customizable Product Development Brief
Once you’ve purchased the book, simply complete the form and we’ll send you your exclusive gifts.
Praise for the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation
About the author and the School of Natural Skincare
The A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation is written by Gail Després (née Francombe), founding director of the School of Natural Skincare. Gail is a Society for Cosmetic Scientists member and has been formulating natural and organic cosmetics since 2009. Tina Svetek, one of the school’s leading cosmetic scientists, also contributed to the book as a subject-matter expert.
FAQs
No, the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation is not a recipe book. However, you will receive a selection of formulations if you download the bonus gifts after purchasing the book.
Traditional books on cosmetic formulation can be daunting and problematic. They’re either hefty, expensive science textbooks, inaccessible to the average reader, or basic DIY recipe books lacking in-depth insights into the formulation process, theory or ingredients.
Recognizing this gap, we’ve created a book that strikes the perfect balance. It’s tailored for budding cosmetic formulators without any scientific background, offering easy-to-understand explanations of essential terminology, theories and ingredient types. This is the book we wish we had when we were starting out.
Whether you’re a novice or seasoned enthusiast, this invaluable reference guide provides you with the information you need as you start exploring creating natural, safe and stable natural and organic beauty products with confidence.
Put simply, the book covers the what and why of formulating and our courses teach you how to formulate.
The book covers the essential terminology, theories and ingredient types needed to formulate professional cosmetic products. Our courses cover the theory in more detail and help you put this knowledge into practice by taking you through the process of formulating a wide range of products step by step. The book is a very useful written introduction and reference guide; the courses help you build your practical skills with multimedia lessons, practical activities, tutor support and a student community.
Yes. A paperback version of the book is available to buy through Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Australia, Amazon Canada and Amazon India.
No, you don’t necessarily need a Kindle to read the Kindle version of the book. You can use the free Kindle app from Amazon to read it on other devices.
