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Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup

A mineral makeup formulation course that’s perfect for beginners and hobbyists.

Learn to make mineral foundations, eye shadows, blushers, bronzers and highlighters suited to your skin tone.

Do you want to create your own pure, natural makeup products for a fraction of the cost of the top makeup brands?

Ready for a new creative outlet, mixing and blending pigments, to craft beautiful mineral makeup products, without needing to learn complicated formulation techniques?

Tried some online DIY makeup recipes that didn’t work out well and now ready to upgrade to learn from the professionals?

Introducing our Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup

An on-demand online makeup formulation course teaching you to make professional standard loose and pressed mineral makeup.

In this accessible beginner’s course, you'll:

Ready to turn your passion for natural makeup into an exciting hobby?
Join us on the journey today!

Find out more

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Find out more

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DIY makeup recipes you find online often result in terrible products that you just can’t use. Some even suggest using colored wax crayons or beetroot juice as an ingredient!

Instead, learn the professional and correct way to create your own makeup products that are safe, stable and look great, using our library of tried-and-tested recipes and expert guidance.

Be supported by experts, including cosmetic scientists and chemists, as you make beautiful natural and organic mineral makeup for a fraction of the price of shop-bought brands no previous knowledge is needed.

Just imagine how it would feel to have more of this in your life:

Control

Call the shots of what ingredients you use on your face and avoid the petroleum, mineral oil and silicones that are ubiquitous in commercial makeup products. No more having to compromise between great makeup and products that support your most cherished values. 

Clarity

Stop wasting time and effort trying to follow DIY recipes online that are confusing or don’t work like they should. Find the answers to formulating makeup that provides long-lasting color and coverage, and create the makeup of your dreams customized to your specific skin tone and preferences.

Colorful pigment powders in glass containers

Creativity

Enjoy the process and have fun mixing pigments and powders. Who knows where it might lead you!

Learn to make a complete mineral makeup range:

Loose powder makeup with brush and jars.
  • Loose powder mineral foundation
  • Pressed powder mineral foundation
Applying gold eyeshadow with brush
  • Loose powder mineral eye shadow
  • Pressed powder mineral eye shadow
Diverse skin tone makeup swatches on arms.
  • Loose powder blushers, bronzers and highlighters
  • Pressed powder blushers, bronzers and highlighters

Your journey on the Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup

Color wheel with primary, secondary, tertiary colors.

Color theory

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Color harmony, hues, tints, tones, shades and undertones

Colorful powders in laboratory beakers on a table.

Ingredients

Discover natural ingredients to create the perfect makeup

Empty makeup compacts and magnetic pans on table.

Equipment

Learn about pressing tools, containers and suppliers

Five plates of colorful powdered pigments labeled.

Loose powders

Create beautiful mineral makeup in loose powder form

Flatlay of makeup products and brushes on marble surface.

Pressed powders

Pressing techniques transform loose powder to pressed

Smiling woman applying makeup with a brush

Blushers & bronzers

Develop beautiful blushers, bronzers and highlighters

Applying purple eyeshadow with brush

Eye shadow

Formulate matte, shimmery and satin eye shadows

Loose powder makeup in clear containers.

Foundation

Make foundations for all skin tones

Meet your instructors and tutors

Learn from and be supported by cosmetic scientists and professional formulators.

Is the Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup right for me?

This course is perfect for…

Beginners

Excited beginners

Open to learning new skills, you’d love to try creating your own natural makeup and cosmetics but are looking for a less overwhelming and more trustworthy route than unreliable online information and YouTube videos.

Intermediate

Experienced skincare formulators

Learn to make a new kind of cosmetic by mastering mineral makeup formulation. Discover color theory and mineral makeup ingredients.

Entrepreneur

Beauty brand owners

Take the leap and create a range of beautiful mineral makeup products tailored to your brand values and your customers’ skin types, tones and concerns.

Student testimonials

Why create your own mineral makeup?

Easy to make. Complete beginners can make mineral makeup; there are no complex manufacturing methods or issues with stability and preservation.

Fun and creative. Have fun mixing base powders, pigments and micas to create your perfect makeup shade.

Save a huge amount of money. Mineral makeup can be expensive to buy; it is far more cost-effective to create it yourself. Plus, they are pure, concentrated products that last a long time.

Suitable for sensitive skin. As they can contain pure powders, without additives or preservatives, mineral makeup products are suitable for sensitive skin.

Create for your skin tone. Custom-make products suited perfectly to your skin tone.

Establish a mineral makeup range! Add mineral makeup products to your beauty brand.

Want to try before you buy?

Sample a selection of our course material inside our online classroom.

Online natural skincare course on devices

How does the Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup 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.

Colorful powders in bowl on digital scale
Knowledge

You don’t need a scientific background; our courses cover everything you need to know.

Person mixing ingredients in small containers.
Skills

We start with more straightforward products and progress to the more complex or challenging ones so you can build your skills and confidence.

Women discussing skincare products at computer
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.

More than just a course, our Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup includes the support and community you need to truly thrive in your formulating journey

You’ll receive:

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5 in-depth modules and five detailed textbooks with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs.

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Practical demonstration videos that show you how to make each type of product.

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Recipes to suit all skin tones, plus advice about customizing and creating your own recipes.

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Join our supportive, vibrant community of like-minded students and graduates across the world.

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Easy-to-use online classroom, quizzes, and activities.

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Detailed ingredient, equipment and supplier information.

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A course completion certificate.

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An in-depth library of ingredient information, plus resources for further research.

Be supported by cosmetic scientists

Woman in lab coat with skincare products.
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Get your questions answered

each week in our dedicated Tutor Q&A

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Expand your understanding

with our monthly Formulators Forum, a LIVE learning and discussion session on Zoom

Plus

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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

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. 

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Mineral makeup guide with color theory charts.

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.

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Learn from and be supported by professional cosmetic scientists.

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Tried and tested formulations. Our formulas have passed Preservative Efficacy Testing.

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Formulate your way – natural, organic, vegan, sustainable – and customized to your skin type, tone and concerns.

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Multi-award winning and accredited school, established in 2010.

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Study with us for our own enjoyment and learning or to create a beauty brand.

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Study at a pace that fits your lifestyle.

96% of our students would recommend the course to others.

Start making your own professional-quality mineral makeup today!

Featured in

Where are our graduates now?

For many of our students, their ultimate goal when studying with us is to start their own beauty brand.

Here are some of our graduates who have gone on to become beauty entrepreneurs across the world. If this is what you aspire to, we can’t wait to see your story here one day soon.

The Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup in detail

By the end of the course, you will:

1

Understand color theory, including color harmony, hues, tints, tones, shades and undertones, so you can customize your makeup for different looks, styles and skin tones.

2

Use mineral makeup ingredients to create a range of loose powder mineral makeup products, including foundation, eye shadow, blusher, bronzer and highlighter.

3

Create pressed powder products and makeup palettes.

4

Be confident and empowered with your new knowledge and skills, having laid the foundations to take your skills further and learn to formulate advanced cosmetics if you wish.

Assorted makeup products and brushes on white surface.

What you need to know:

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Level

Beginner.

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Schedule

Self-paced course with on demand lessons. Study at a time that suits you.

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Study time

Approximately 30-60 hours, including hands-on making time. Most students complete the course within three to six months.

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Course access

18 months. This can be extended for a small fee.

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Prerequisites

None. You’ll need the internet and a computer or tablet to access our online classroom.

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When can I start?

Enrollment is open all year round, and you can begin the course as soon as you’re ready.

What you’ll study:

Module 1: Mineral Makeup Theory

Learn all the essentials for formulating mineral makeup, including the ingredients and equipment you need.

This module includes:

  • How to create base powders for coverage, adhesion and slip allowing the products to be easily and smoothly applied. 
  • Color theory – primary, secondary and tertiary colors, color harmony, hues, tints, tones, shades and undertones.
  • How to use mineral pigments and micas to create your perfect shade.
  • How to measure and mix your ingredients properly to avoid a streaky appearance on application. 
  • The equipment and packaging you’ll need.
  • Where to buy your supplies.

Module 2: Mineral Foundation

Learn to create loose mineral foundations for a range of skin tones using base powders and pigments.

This module includes:

  • How to create a base powder that provides coverage, adhesion and slip allowing the product to be easily and smoothly applied.
  • Formulation guidelines and templates to make formulating easy.
  • How to add colored pigments to create a foundation to match your skin tone. 
  • How to measure your ingredients and blend them properly to achieve a uniform product that applies evenly without streaks.
  • Detailed step-by-step video demonstration to follow.
  • Six recipes for six different shades of foundation and advice about how to further adjust the shade and the undertone to perfectly match your skin.

Module 3: Mineral Eye Shadow

Learn to create a wide range of loose mineral eye shadows, including shimmery eye shadows, matte eye shadows, and satin eye shadows.

This module includes:

  • How to work with powders, colored pigments and micas to create a range of beautiful eye shadows in a range of colors and finishes (matte, shimmery and satin).
  • Formulation guidelines and templates to make formulating easy.
  • Detailed step-by-step video demonstration to follow.
  • 13 recipes for 13 different eye shadow shades and finishes.
  • Guidance for creating your own custom eye shadows – playing with colors and finishes to create something beautiful and unique.
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View all modules

Module 4: Mineral Blushers, Bronzers, and Highlighters

Add a flush of color, sparkle, or a healthy sun-kissed look to your complexion with custom-made blushers, bronzers, and highlighters.

This module includes:

  • How to work with powders, colored pigments and micas to create a range of beautiful blushers, bronzers and highlighters in a range of colors and finishes (matte, shimmery and sparkly).
  • Formulation guidelines and templates to make formulating easy.
  • Detailed step-by-step video demonstration to follow.
  • 9 recipes for 9 different blushers, bronzers and highlighters.
  • Guidance for adjusting color payoff and creating your own custom shades.

Module 5: Creating Pressed Powders

Learn how to press your powders to make them easier to use, more compact, and portable.

This module includes:

  • The pressing tools and containers you need.
  • Pressing mediums to ensure the powders remain compact and stick together.
  • Step-by-step instructions for pressing powders. 
  • Suppliers – where to buy the specialist tools and containers you’ll need.
  • Video demonstration showing you step by step how to press your powders.
Smiling woman applying makeup with a brush

Ready to look your radiant best?

Sign up to the
Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup

Here’s what you get:

Total value:

$1500+

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All included

Enroll now for just:

US $347
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It’s easy to get started

After payment you’ll get immediate access to our online classroom.

Instant access to the
whole course for

US $347

Access the entire course immediately.

Includes 18 months’ course access inside our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club.

We accept all major debit and credit cards and Paypal

By joining the course you accept our terms and conditions found here.

Hear what students are saying

Top FAQs

This course is suitable for beginners and formulators with some experience who wish to learn to create a completely new kind of cosmetic product.

The course focuses on natural ingredients most of which are naturally derived and COSMOS approved. This means that the example formulas can be certified by major natural and organic standards. You can choose to use organic ingredients if you wish to formulate organic cosmetics.

We use mineral pigments in the course which are nature-identical and approved for use by natural and organic standards such as COSMOS. Read our article to learn more about mineral pigments.

No. Mineral makeup products are the easiest makeup products to create and don’t require complicated manufacturing processes.

As part of the course, you receive a comprehensive global supplier list, featuring hundreds of cosmetic suppliers from all around the world. Additionally, we provide a list of suppliers of the specialist materials and packaging required for makeup products. We give plenty of guidance but there isn’t a set supply list, which means you can choose which ingredients you wish to buy.

Yes, all of the products can be made using vegan ingredients.

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

When you have finished the course there is an end-of-course quiz to test your understanding of mineral makeup. On successful completion, your course certificate will be issued.

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

The course is a self-study, self-paced course so you can study at a time that suits you. All the lessons are pre-recorded, so you don’t need to worry about joining us at a set time.

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. Extension options are available if you wish to extend your course access.

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

Most of the products on the course can be made with some basic kitchen/lab equipment. Here is a list of the equipment that you should consider using:

  • Protective clothing including gloves and a dust mask.
  • Electric herb or coffee grinder, or a mortar and pestle, for preparing pigments and powders.
  • Measuring spoons (the following sizes are useful: ⅛ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, ¾ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon – where 1 teaspoon equals 5ml).
  • Mini-scoop (0.05ml).
  • Small lab beakers.
  • Small spatulas.
  • Digital scale (0.01g precision).
  • Small jars (to store powders and pigment mixes in).
  • Makeup packaging for finished products.

Two pieces of (optional) specialist equipment you may require are:

  • Pressing tools such as a clamp or small tamper tool if you wish to press your powders.
  • Lipstick mold for making lipsticks with a tapered end.

More details and supplier suggestions are included in the course.

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. Either your bank or PayPal will exchange the enrollment fee for your local currency when you join.

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 weekly Tutor Q&A, hosted on our online platform.

The Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup is our shorter course that focuses solely on creating mineral makeup. The Diploma in Formulating Natural Makeup and Advanced Color Cosmetics will take your skills much further, and in addition to creating mineral makeup you’ll learn to formulate more advanced product formats like sticks, creams, pencils, mousse, balms, liquids and powders. For example, you’ll formulate mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow crayons, liquid highlighter, cream blush and concealer sticks. Read more about the course: Diploma in Formulating Natural Makeup and Advanced Color Cosmetics

Want to try before you buy?

Sample a selection of our course material inside our online classroom.

Online natural skincare course on devices