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:
- Access tried-and-tested formulas created by our cosmetic scientists.
- Make mineral foundation, eye shadow, blusher, bronzer and highlighter the correct way by understanding the ingredients required and how to blend them together.
- Create products that provide long-lasting, stable color by working with pigments and micas like the top natural and organic makeup brands.
- Formulate products for different skin tones and use color theory to adjust blends to suit you perfectly.
- Be confident and empowered with your new knowledge and skills! Gain the fundamentals to take your studies further if you wish.
- Plus, receive expert guidance and support from experienced cosmetic scientists and chemists.
Ready to turn your passion for natural makeup into an exciting hobby?
Join us on the journey today!
Find out more
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.
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:
Mineral foundation
- Loose powder mineral foundation
- Pressed powder mineral foundation
Mineral eye shadow
- Loose powder mineral eye shadow
- Pressed powder mineral eye shadow
Mineral blushers, bronzers & highlighters
- Loose powder blushers, bronzers and highlighters
- Pressed powder blushers, bronzers and highlighters
Your journey on the Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup
Color theory
Color harmony, hues, tints, tones, shades and undertones
Ingredients
Discover natural ingredients to create the perfect makeup
Equipment
Learn about pressing tools, containers and suppliers
Loose powders
Create beautiful mineral makeup in loose powder form
Pressed powders
Pressing techniques transform loose powder to pressed
Blushers & bronzers
Develop beautiful blushers, bronzers and highlighters
Eye shadow
Formulate matte, shimmery and satin eye shadows
Foundation
Make foundations for all skin tones
Color theory
Color harmony, hues, tints, tones, shades and undertones
Ingredients
Discover natural ingredients to create the perfect makeup
Equipment
Learn about pressing tools, containers and suppliers
Loose powders
Create beautiful mineral makeup in loose powder form
Foundation
Make foundations for all skin tones
Eye shadow
Formulate matt, shimmery and satin eye shadows
Blushers & bronzers
Develop beautiful blushers, bronzers and highlighters
Pressed powders
Pressing techniques transform loose powder to pressed
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 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
Studying with you has enabled me to start my own business.
- Pavithra Srinivas,
- India
I decided to expand into formulating natural makeup. The well-structured syllabus made everything easy to understand, and I gained confidence to create my own products. I struggled with ingredient knowledge and measurements, but the course cleared that up. The support was fantastic, with quick responses to any questions. It’s been a fun and rewarding experience!
- Pavithra Srinivas,
- India
Now, I can confidently create high-quality, healthy natural products.
- Sedigheh Torabi Palatkaleh,
- Ireland
I enrolled in this course to help my customers, family, and friends by making natural cosmetics that are healthier than store-bought alternatives, but I struggled with understanding ingredients and methods. The course’s simple, step-by-step approach made it easy to learn and replicate market-standard products.
- Sedigheh Torabi Palatkaleh,
- Ireland
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.
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.
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.
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:
5 in-depth modules and five detailed textbooks with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs.
Practical demonstration videos that show you how to make each type of product.
Recipes to suit all skin tones, plus advice about customizing and creating your own recipes.
Join our supportive, vibrant community of like-minded students and graduates across the world.
Easy-to-use online classroom, quizzes, and activities.
Detailed ingredient, equipment and supplier information.
A course completion certificate.
An in-depth library of ingredient information, plus resources for further research.
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
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
The course provided valuable insights and built on my existing knowledge.
- Kate Gardner,
- USA
I wanted to feel confident in making safe, reliable makeup products but struggled to find accurate information. Enrolling in this course changed that. Now, I’m confident in my abilities and have improved my mineral makeup formulations, especially with pressed powders. I’m really happy with the results!
- Kate Gardner,
- USA
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.
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.
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.
Leslie Culver: How My Kids Inspired My Natural Makeup Journey and Natural Beauty Brand!
Kate Palmer: From Kitchen Experiments to Eco-Friendly Formulations and Launching Her Own Brand
Sarah Bent: From Self-Confessed “Do it Yourselfer” to Professional Natural Skincare Formulator and Brand Owner
Adrienn Major: From Soapmaking Hobbyist in Chile to Natural Cosmetics Business Owner in Mexico
Learning the Art of Natural Cosmetics: How the School of Natural Skincare Helped Shahad Realize Her Dream
From A Bad Experience With A DIY Recipe To Studying Natural Skincare Formulation And Launching Her Brand
The Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup in detail
By the end of the course, you will:
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.
Use mineral makeup ingredients to create a range of loose powder mineral makeup products, including foundation, eye shadow, blusher, bronzer and highlighter.
Create pressed powder products and makeup palettes.
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.
What you need to know:
Level
Beginner.
Schedule
Self-paced course with on demand lessons. Study at a time that suits you.
Study time
Approximately 30-60 hours, including hands-on making time. Most students complete the course within three to six months.
Course access
18 months. This can be extended for a small fee.
Prerequisites
None. You’ll need the internet and a computer or tablet to access our online classroom.
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Ready to look your radiant best?
Sign up to the
Certificate in Formulating Mineral Makeup
Here’s what you get:
- Online course: Value $500
- Tutor support: Value $500
- Community membership: Value $500
Total value:
$1500+
All included
Enroll now for just:
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.
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
My skin is now in a condition that I never believed I could achieve.
- Chinonso Kesieme,
- UK
I came across the School of Natural Skincare and after reading through the course outlines and made the decision to enroll. It was the best decision I have ever made. I don’t regret it one bit. I am so happy that I can now select ingredients that perfectly suit my skin’s needs. I am definitely coming back to enroll in your other courses soon!
- Chinonso Kesieme,
- UK
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
Explore our articles
Want to try before you buy?
Sample a selection of our course material inside our online classroom.
Includes 18 months’ course access inside our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club.