At the School of Natural Skincare, we’re excited to offer a premium community experience in our own private Circle community and app. 

It’s a welcoming space, free from the noise and distractions of social media, where you can feel supported, make connections, and celebrate your progress together—with the added benefit of direct access to our team and professional cosmetic scientists who are here to guide and support you.

Keep reading to discover what’s on offer inside our community, including:

• Tutors Lab
• Formulation Challenges
• Formulators’ Forums
• Library of past Formulators’ Forums
• Tutor Q&A
• Community Hub
• Member Directory
• Find a Study Buddy

Or join Gail for a quick video walkthrough:

Community app for easy access

Our online 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 off social media to give you something better—a private, distraction-free app focused on connection, learning, and creativity. Inside, you’ll find direct access to our Cosmetic Scientists, plus a supportive group of like-minded members. No ads, no noise—just real conversations, exclusive content, and all the inspiration you need in one place.

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, activities, and more. 

Topics covered include 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!

Get stuck into activities like analyzing INCIs, fixing formulas and substituting ingredients to build your formulation skills.

Stay up to date with this week’s topic or delve into our archive of past conversations.

Become a better formulator with our Formulation Challenges

Formulation is all about getting creative, experimenting, and having fun – and our Formulation Challenges are the perfect way to do just that.

Each term, our cosmetic scientists run an exciting Formulation Challenge to help you boost your skills, grow in confidence as a formulator and enjoy the process along the way. They’re hands-on, interactive, and full of support to keep you motivated. 

Plus, you can explore past challenges anytime you like – perfect if you want to keep practicing or try something new. Previous challenges have included reverse formulation, where you get to crack the code of an INCI list and even 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 or Gail 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.

Enjoy our library of Formulators’ Forum Recordings

Dip into our library of past presentations as and when you like! With more than 20 presentations to choose from currently (and new ones being added most months), it’s like Netflix for formulators! 

Popular topics include Substituting Ingredients, 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.

See you inside our School of Natural Skincare online community

We would LOVE to welcome you to our community!

You’ll receive an invitation to join with enrollment in one of our Certificate or Diploma courses or when you become a member of the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club.

Our community is the perfect companion to your studies – offering encouragement, support, and exclusive access to content and formulation expertise.

We can’t wait for you to explore everything waiting for you inside!

The post Look inside the School of Natural Skincare Online Community appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

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 hello@schoolofnaturalskincare.com.

The post New School of Natural Skincare Online Community! Launching September 2025 appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

The good news is that the ingredients used in the self-tanning products you’ll find in stores are both natural and available to home formulators. 

Read on to discover why you should not use coffee, tea or cocoa powder (!) and what to use instead.

Firstly let’s explain the difference between instant tan and gradual tanning products.

Formulating natural instant tan products

Instant tan products rely on colorants to give an instant bronzed color to the skin. 

In DIY recipes you’ll find people recommending things like coffee, tea or cocoa powder as instant colorants but these are likely to look patchy or streaky, are difficult to preserve and will certainly not achieve a professional result.

For a more professional yet still natural instant tan, cosmetic ingredient suppliers sell naturally brown ingredients such as caramel extracts. These are designed to be used in cosmetics so will be better incorporated into the tanning products, and will achieve a more even and natural-looking color on the skin. 

Instant tans are only temporary and the color is lost as soon as the product is washed off.

Some instant tanning products like our Coconut And Caramel Instant Tanning Lotion contain BOTH an instant tanning colorant and self-tanning agents that develop a long-lasting, streak-free, bronzed appearance that isn’t washed off. 

Formulating natural self-tanning products

Genuine self-tanning products are different to instant tan. They have a longer-lasting effect and do not wash off straight away. 

If you’d like to formulate a professional quality self-tanning lotion then you need to get to know two important ingredients called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose. These are natural or nature-identical ingredients that are permitted in COSMOS-approved products.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose are genuine self-tanning agents. They cause a reaction within the skin that creates brown melanoidins that mimic the appearance of sun-tanned skin. The tan develops over several hours and lasts several days. 

The color created by self-tan is not removed by washing, though it will fade as surface skin cells are lost naturally through the desquamation process (in which the upper layers of dead skin cells are shed), which leads to loss of the melanoidins and consequent fading of the tanned appearance.

Most self-tan products are sold as delivering a ‘buildable’ color, meaning you can use the product frequently to create a more intense color or to ‘top-up’ the fading appearance of the tan. For the tanned appearance to remain, the products must be reused every two to five days.

Combining Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose for the best result

You can choose between Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose as the tanning agent in your self-tan, but in most cases, combining DHA and erythrulose is the best solution to create an impactful, non-streaky, long-lasting color in the most cost-effective way.

These high-performance ingredients provide a gradual and buildable tan that isn’t washed off, but rather fades over time during the natural desquamation process. 

Getting the proper ratio of Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose is important to achieve the optimal result. We’d tried and tested the idea ratios and share all our tips and tricks with you in our Formulating Self-Tanning Products class. Enrollment is open for a limited time, or for members of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, you’ll also find this class inside the Club portal.

DHA can be difficult to stabilize, so in the class we share the dos and don’ts of formulating with it, plus five formulation examples, covering everything from self-tanning lotions to drops, mousses and mists.

Formulate more than just self-tanning lotion

When you formulate your own self-tanning products, you can go beyond self-tanning lotions and create a range of exciting formats. 

We’ll teach you how to formulate all of these types of products, plus give you ready-to-use formulations for each in our Formulating Self-Tanning Products class.

Gradual tanning lotion 

A nourishing body lotion which gradually tans the skin to provide a subtle but buildable bronzed glow.

Instant tanning lotion

A skin softening lotion with a colorant to give an instant bronzed appearance. Some instant tanning lotions contain both an instant tanning colorant and self-tanning agents that develop a long-lasting, streak-free, bronzed appearance that isn’t washed off. 

Facial tanning mist

A hydrating water-based mist that is easy to apply by spraying onto the skin. This product contains lower levels of tanning agents than the others, as this is for facial use. The facial area tends to tan more easily and requires lower levels of tanning agent.

Tanning drops

Designed to be mixed into your favorite moisturizer to give it a gradual tanning effect. Tanning drops give the consumer control over the intensity of the tan effect. The amount of tanning drops used can be adjusted to create a unique product tailored to your specific needs.

Tanning mousse

Tanning mousse is dispensed using a foaming pump component and applied using a tanning mitt. It’s a light foam that spreads easily to evenly distribute the tanning agent and which dries quickly upon application.

Start formulating self-tanning products today! 

Receive five, professionally created and ready-to-use formulations for Gradual Tanning Lotion, Instant Tanning Lotion, Facial Tanning Mist, Tanning Drops and Tanning Mousse plus guidelines on how to create your own self-tan formulations. 

With each formulation, we will provide a benchmark product, product development questions, detailed formulas, instructions, product specifications, and usage directions. 

You’ll receive a beautiful PDF textbook to download and you can watch us make the Coconut and Caramel Instant Tanning Lotion in our detailed step-by-step video demonstration.

Follow our formulations and then create your own!

Free Guide

The Beginner's Guide to Formulating Natural Skincare Products (From scratch, like a professional!)

Start creating your own natural skincare products from scratch – rather than simply following recipes!

Learn how to formulate like a pro and discover our top tips for becoming a confident skincare formulator.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

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Download this fabulous guide and you’ll learn:

• What formulating is and why you need to be doing it!
• The difference between following recipes and formulating your own products.
• Our step-by-step process to designing products people love.
• Four easy ways to personalize your skincare products.
• Choosing the right carrier oils for your beauty products.
• Plus, you’ll get our Safe Product Checklist: How to make sure the skincare products you make are safe and stable

The post How to formulate natural self-tanning lotion (and how not to!) appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

If you have dry, rough or cracked heels or calluses on your feet, then you’ll be particularly excited by this ingredient.

Introducing.. urea, a potent emollient and keratolytic agent.

What is urea?

Urea is a naturally occurring compound in the human body. It is found in the epidermis as a natural moisturizing factor (NMF) and plays a vital role in maintaining skin hydration and integrity. 

Urea in natural cosmetics is lab-made but bio-identical to the urea found in your skin. This means it is a nature-identical ingredient.

Benefits of urea in foot care 

There are many reasons why urea is an excellent choice for foot care formulations.

Hydration and moisture retention

Urea acts as a humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin. This property is particularly beneficial for dry, rough areas like the feet and hands, helping to keep the skin soft and supple. 

Exfoliation of rough skin

At concentrations of 10% or above, urea exhibits keratolytic properties, meaning it helps to soften, break down and remove dead skin cells. This makes it effective in treating conditions like calluses, cracked heels, and thickened skin on the hands and feet.

Enhancement of skin barrier function

Urea has been shown to improve the skin’s barrier function by regulating gene expression in keratinocytes, leading to better skin hydration and resilience.

Support in wound healing

Urea has traditionally been used in wound care due to its proteolytic and antibacterial properties. It helps remove dead or damaged skin and promotes a healthier environment for skin regeneration.

Application in skincare products 

Urea is incorporated into various skincare formulations, including creams and lotions, at different concentrations to address specific skin concerns.

In low concentrations (2-10%) urea is primarily used for moisturizing and maintaining skin hydration.

Higher concentrations (10–20%) provide effective keratolytic action, helping to exfoliate and treat rough, dry areas of skin.

Formulation considerations 

Urea can be tricky to formulate with as it is rather unstable in water solutions, degrading into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Ammonia raises the pH, which increases the degradation of urea, plus it can cause pH-dependent preservatives to become inactive. Carbon dioxide causes bubbles in the product and increases the pressure inside the packaging, which can lead to the container bursting. 

For these reasons, in cosmetic formulations urea needs to be stabilized. This is something we cover in detail in our Formulating Foot Care Products class, where you’ll also explore additional keratolytic ingredients and formulate four expert-level treatments: a herbal foot soak, a refreshing pumice scrub, an anti-callus lotion, and a softening cream with lactic acid and panthenol.

Formulating High-Performance Foot Care Proucts

Urea’s ability to hydrate, exfoliate, and support skin healing makes it a valuable ingredient to treat dry, rough, and calloused skin. 

Explore urea in more detail and create your own high-performance foot care products to soften, smooth, and hydrate your feet in our Formulating Foot Care Products class.

In this class, you’ll explore keratolytic ingredients, including salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, and allantoin, which help shed dead skin and restore softness. You’ll also learn how to stabilize urea and solubilize salicylic acid. Formulate four expert-level treatments: a herbal foot soak, a refreshing pumice scrub, an anti-callus lotion, and a softening cream with lactic acid and panthenol.

References 

Grether-Beck, S., Marini, A., Jaenicke, T., Klotz, L.-O., & Krutmann, J., 2021. Urea in dermatology: A review of its emollient, moisturizing, keratolytic, skin barrier enhancing and antimicrobial properties. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 14, pp.1235–1243. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34596890/ [Accessed 9 May 2025].

Draelos, Z.D., 2018. Topical urea in skincare: A review. Dermatologic Therapy, [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328634599_Topical_urea_in_skincare_A_review [Accessed 9 May 2025].

Meara, J.G., 2013. Urea: A comprehensive review of the clinical literature. Journal of Wound Care, [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259245089_Urea_A_comprehensive_review_of_the_clinical_literature [Accessed 9 May 2025].

Free Guide

The Beginner's Guide to Formulating Natural Skincare Products (From scratch, like a professional!)

Start creating your own natural skincare products from scratch – rather than simply following recipes!

Learn how to formulate like a pro and discover our top tips for becoming a confident skincare formulator.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

Name

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Send

We look after your data in accordance with our privacy policy.

Download this fabulous guide and you’ll learn:

• What formulating is and why you need to be doing it!
• The difference between following recipes and formulating your own products.
• Our step-by-step process to designing products people love.
• Four easy ways to personalize your skincare products.
• Choosing the right carrier oils for your beauty products.
• Plus, you’ll get our Safe Product Checklist: How to make sure the skincare products you make are safe and stable

The post Urea: The perfect cosmetic ingredient for smooth, soft, hydrated feet appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

Let’s explore why regular creams often aren’t enough and what the skin on our feet needs instead.

What’s different about the skin on our feet?

Unlike the skin on the rest of our bodies, the skin on our feet tends to thicken. This thickening occurs because the skin cells in the dermis and epidermis levels differentiate at a faster pace due to the mechanical stress of carrying our body weight. This process results in a thicker stratum corneum. 

This condition is known as hyperkeratosis, where the stratum corneum thickens due to the overproduction of keratin, which is a protective protein. Hyperkeratosis manifests as thickened, rough, or cracked skin and can lead to the development of calluses and corns on the feet.

How to treat hyperkeratosis on the feet

While a typical emulsion can moisturize dry skin, it may not effectively address hyperkeratosis. To soften hard skin and hydrate extremely dry areas, more advanced ingredients are needed, such as keratolytic agents.

Keratolytic agents work by softening and loosening keratin, the protein that binds skin cells together in the stratum corneum. This encourages the natural shedding of dead skin cells and enhances skin softness.

Formulating with keratolytic ingredients 

The best way to address hyperkeratosis is to include keratolytic ingredients in your formulations. There are several to choose from, including:

Salicylic acid – the most common BHA in cosmetic products.

Lactic acid – one of the most commonly used AHAs in skincare, a chemical exfoliant that softens skin.

Urea – a potent emollient and keratolytic agent. Learn more about Urea: The perfect cosmetic ingredient for smooth, soft, hydrated feet.

Allantoin – A widely used cosmetic ingredient for its skin softening, moisturizing, and regenerative properties. In addition to being keratolytic, it is hydrating and promotes skin cell regeneration and skin smoothness.

For the best results, use keratolytic ingredients with other hydrating, regenerating and nourishing ingredients for the perfect foot care products.

A foot care routine for thickened, rough and calloused skin

By using a few complementary products, you can achieve and maintain soft, smooth feet.

Foot soak

About once a week, use a foot soak to cleanse, soften and smooth the skin on the feet. For extra benefits, go beyond simple salt-based soaks and incorporate suitable keratolytic ingredients too.

Foot scrub

A foot scrub containing physical exfoliants can be used 2-4 times a month to exfoliate, soften and smooth the skin and prevent dry skin build-up on the soles.

Specialist foot creams or lotions

When formulated with specialist keratolytic ingredients, foot creams and lotions will provide effective exfoliating, softening and hydrating properties. When used regularly, they will prevent dry skin build-up and callus formation.

Formulating high-performance foot care products 

Create your own high-performance foot care products to soften, smooth, and hydrate your feet—perfect for a rejuvenating home foot spa. 

In our Formulating Foot Care Products class, you’ll learn to formulate with a range of keratolytic ingredients, including salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, and allantoin, which help shed dead skin and restore softness. 

You’ll also learn how to stabilize urea and solubilize salicylic acid and formulate four expert-level treatments: a herbal foot soak, a refreshing pumice scrub, an anti-callus lotion, and a softening cream with lactic acid and panthenol.

Find out more and enroll here!

Free Guide

The Beginner's Guide to Formulating Natural Skincare Products (From scratch, like a professional!)

Start creating your own natural skincare products from scratch – rather than simply following recipes!

Learn how to formulate like a pro and discover our top tips for becoming a confident skincare formulator.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

Name

Email

Send

We look after your data in accordance with our privacy policy.

Download this fabulous guide and you’ll learn:

• What formulating is and why you need to be doing it!
• The difference between following recipes and formulating your own products.
• Our step-by-step process to designing products people love.
• Four easy ways to personalize your skincare products.
• Choosing the right carrier oils for your beauty products.
• Plus, you’ll get our Safe Product Checklist: How to make sure the skincare products you make are safe and stable

The post Formulating foot care products: How to treat thickened, rough and calloused skin appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

To celebrate the School of Natural Skincare’s 15th anniversary, we’re sitting down with our founders, Gail and Gareth, for a candid Q&A. From their proudest moments to the biggest challenges, their favorite skincare products to how they unwind, they’re sharing it all—plus a few surprises!

Join us as we look back, reflect, and celebrate 15 years of passion, nature, and creativity.

Plus, we’ll share some of Gail and Gareth’s favorite natural skincare formulas with you. 

Ready? Let’s dive in!

1. What is your favorite skincare ingredient?

Gail: So many to choose from! I love versatile ingredients that are quick and easy to use. Tetra-C (INCI Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate) is one of my favorites – it is a very stable oil-soluble Vitamin C derivative that is easy to work with and provides excellent results. It can be easily mixed with carrier oils for an antioxidant facial oil and also used in emulsions. Vitamin C is most known for its antioxidant and collagen synthesis-stimulating properties and is therefore considered a potent anti-aging ingredient. We’ve included a lovely Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum featuring Tetra C in our Quick Guide to Formulaing with Vitamin C, which you can download here.

Gareth: I have too many! Historically, I would say rosehip seed oil, coconut oil and shea butter are my best friends and form the base of many of my favorite products. These ingredients have helped me so much since I was a teenager, and they are still my go-to ingredients today. But I think things like sea buckthorn CO2 Extract (rich in essential fatty acids and bioactive compounds), phyto-retinol, and co-enzyme Q10 (strong antioxidants with anti-aging properties that both help to reduce photo-aging) are the ones that I like the most in my products today. They pack that little bit of extra punch.

2. Which of the School’s skincare products do you use every day?

Gail: Lots! One favorite is our Orange Lip Balm, which I’ve made for over 15 years! It is by far the best lip balm I have ever used (much better than anything I have ever bought). The cocoa butter leaves lips so smooth, and beeswax creates a lovely protective barrier. Our children love making and using this product too. So simple and so effective. Give it a go!

I use many of the solid skincare and haircare products featured in our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation, including a shampoo, conditioner, and facial cleansing bar. I get very dry hands, so the Coconut and Shea Hand and Foot Cream from our Natural Skincare Recipe Book is always on my nightstand.

Gareth: I also have LOADS to choose from. Firstly, the Coconut and Ylang Ylang Whipped Shea Body Butter from our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products. I enjoyed teaching people to make this in our live in-person workshops, and I still love it today!

I love using many formulas from our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, including the Soothing After-Shave Gel-Cream from our Formulaing Men’s Skincare class, which is light in texture and very soothing.

We also use lots of the household cleaning products at home, such as the Eucalyptus Dishwashing Liquid from our Formulating Natural Household Cleaning Products class, plus lots of zero waste cleaning products from our soon-to-be-released Formulating Zero Waste Household Cleaning Products class.

3. What’s your favorite essential oil?

Gail: It really depends on what I’m using it for and what time of day it is. If it’s for a facial product or in the bath in the evening, then I love frankincense essential oil, which has excellent skin benefits and such a calming aroma. For a general, all-around helpful oil, I love lavender, of course. Gareth always has a bottle of lavender essential oil in his bag; we never go anywhere without it!

Gareth: Well, as Gail said, I always have lavender essential oil with me wherever I go. Lavender is a bit old hat and old-fashioned, isn’t it? But, I don’t care. I just love it, and the fragrance is so diverse depending on which one you get. The oil pretty much does everything, and the fragrance is simply divine. Lavender Stoechas is my favorite. Besides lavender, I especially like ylang ylang extra (this one in particular), bergamot, neroli and rose.

4. What is your favorite formula?

Gail: As I’m approaching my mid-40s, I love our Frankincense Face Cream For Mature Skin With Coenzyme Q10 from our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation. It’s a rich moisturizer that nourishes the skin, alleviates dryness, and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. It features some of my favourite ingredients: rosehip oil, shea butter, aloe vera, panthenol and frankincense essential oil. The hero ingredient in this formula is coenzyme Q10 for its strong antioxidant properties, and for the ability to lower wrinkle depth and reduce signs of photoaging.

Gareth: I would have to agree with Gail here. I’ve used this formula for nearly 10+ years now, but I tweak it a little to make it more suited to my skin, which tends to be more oily. I merely take out shea butter and wheatgerm oil and increase the amount of rosehip and it is perfect for me. As much as I LOVE shea butter, it’s a bit too thick for use on my face.

5. What is your proudest achievement?

Gail: I can’t narrow it down to just one! I’ll choose three. Firstly, our family. Secondly, establishing and growing the School of Natural Skincare into the fabulous school it is today. Expanding our courses to include skincare, haircare, soap, and makeup, and setting up our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. Thirdly, living and working in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand in my late teens and twenties. It was quite the adventure!

Gareth: Well, does Gail count as an achievement?? It might be…But again, as Gail has said, our family and growing the School of Natural Skincare whilst raising and homeschooling our three lovely children. Speaking several different languages, travelling, and living abroad for a few years.

6. What is a personal highlight of yours from the last 15 years?

Gail: Family holidays are always a highlight! I love exploring new places and spending time together as a family. In 2023, we had an amazing holiday in Slovenia, where we spent time in beautiful nature (lakes, rivers, mountains) and did some very adventurous activities, including zip lining and white water rafting. We also visited Tina (our awesome Cosmetic Scientist and tutor) at her home.  Our boys got on so well and had fun making a tree house together!

Gareth: I think travelling around the US, Australia and New Zealand for a year in 2014-2015 with our then-baby daughter whilst growing the School of Natural Skincare. It is perhaps the most amazing thing I have ever done. A real sense of adventure, freedom and possibility. We visited some incredible places, met some amazing people, went on some fabulous hikes, and one day I would like to go and do it all again. 

7. What is a professional highlight of yours from the last 15 years?

Gail: Publishing the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation was a highlight! Holding a physical book that you’ve poured hours and hours of care and intention into is quite an incredible feeling. Setting up our beautiful office and cosmetic lab was also a great achievement. It’s in a beautiful converted barn and is a joyful place to work.

Gareth: There have been many, but perhaps the highlight has been the launch and growth of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. We’ve put so many hours of research and development into our Membership, covered an enormous amount of exciting topics, and produced some simply incredible learning resources from it all. I am not sure there is anything else like it, to be honest, and the ideas for future research and learning materials continue to pour out of us! It’s an inspiring project to work on and be part of.

8. What’s been your biggest challenge of the last 15 years?

Gail: Getting up each morning whilst completely sleep-deprived when our twins were born back in 2015 was a challenge! And the sleep deprivation continued for about 5 years. It’s incredible how your body adapts and continues to function on so little sleep! Coffee was most definitely my friend. Thank goodness all the children are good sleepers now. 

Also, the year I turned 40, I learnt that I have an autoimmune disease. For about a year, I felt really unwell. Fortunately, now, I have found ways to keep the symptoms at bay, and I feel better than ever. 

Gareth: I think juggling everything we have to do to not only to run and grow/evolve the School of Natural Skincare but to manage it around raising our kids, homeschooling them and running a household with all the extra-curricular activities we all do is a challenge but also perhaps what I am most proud about. Somehow, we do it all and at times, as Gail has said, with pretty much zero sleep!

9. Tell us something that followers won’t know about you.

Gail: I recently qualified as an Advanced Flower Essence Practitioner and Producer at Chalice Well in Glastonbury. I simply adore flowers, trees, and tuning into the energy of the natural world. My most used essences are Elm from the Bach range for when I’m feeling overwhelmed (juggling a business and family life is busy!) and Apple Blossom from the Chalice Well range for nourishment, replenishment and support – essentially it’s self-care in a bottle! 

Gareth: I used to play national league and international hockey (field hockey to our American friends). It pretty much was my life until I was about 28, and now I have returned to it as our children have started to play. I am now running the youth hockey at our local club and playing a bit for the men’s teams.

10. How do you relax?

Gail: I love listening to audiobooks, walking in nature, and swimming in the sea! In the winter, I love taking a bath with aromatherapy bath salts (homemade, of course!) and a face mask. Also, snuggling on the sofa with the children and watching an uplifting movie. 

Gareth: Yoga. I have practised yoga for a little over 20 years now. My practice keeps me sane, emotionally balanced, and physically fit, supple, and strong. It helps to keep me grounded and spiritually connected. Also lying with my legs up the wall at the end of the day. I like cold plunges, swimming in rivers and the sea, bodyboarding, walking, and hiking. I think my two favorite things to help me relax and unwind are being in nature and yoga.

11. How do you connect with and enjoy nature?

Gail: In lots of ways! Through the skincare I make and use that is rich in botanical extracts, plant oils and essential oils. Through my work with flower essences. And of course, being out in nature. Walking amongst the trees, admiring flowers. Being immersed in the energy of the elements – feeling the warmth of the sun, the wind in my hair, and wild swimming in rivers and the sea. Also bodyboarding! We as a family love bodyboarding in the Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Cornwall.

Gareth: I love walking in nature, taking the same paths through the seasons to observe the shifting landscape — trees budding in spring, flowers in bloom, the golden hues of autumn. I have favorite trees to sit with, places where I pause to soak in the warmth of the sun or notice the changing light from winter’s retreat to summer’s glow. Sometimes, I pick a distant hill or landmark and walk there, trusting I’ll find my way. Nature isn’t just something I admire — it’s something I want to be immersed in. I embrace natural health, from herbs and homeopathy to essential oils and skincare. And while I prefer being in nature rather than just looking at it, sometimes, you do have to stop and admire the view!

12. In what ways has the School changed over the last 15 years?

Gail: In the very beginning, the School was run solely by Gareth and me. It was a creative and inspiring time as we built it from an idea into a global school. Now we are supported by an excellent team, and our professional cosmetic scientists, Tina and Nicole, share their expertise and experience with our students and members.

Gareth: The School has changed a lot over the last 15 years. In the early days, we just offered skincare classes. Since then, we’ve expanded that to teach skincare, haircare, makeup, and color cosmetics, soap and zero waste, and branched out into subjects like household cleaning products and oral care. I love how we’ve challenged ourselves to keep on innovating, and of course, that has all been made possible by our fantastic team, especially our Cosmetic Scientists Tina and Nicole.

13. What is a personal goal of yours for the next 15 years?

Gail: Gareth and I really want to walk the South West Coast Path! It is England’s longest waymarked long-distance footpath and is 630 miles (1,014 km) long! It follows the coastline of the southwest peninsula, through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. We need to wait until the children are older, as none of them enjoys hiking!

Gareth: Yes, I agree with Gail. I think walking the South West Coast Path is the big one. As I am from Wales and the land is really dear to me, I would also love to walk the Wales Coast Path. And something that Gail doesn’t know about yet is travelling the world to visit some of the most amazingly beautiful and divinely inspired buildings like Mont Saint-Michel, Hagia Sofia, St Mark’s Basilica, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and La Sagrada Familia – just to name a few!

14. What is a professional goal of yours for the next 15 years?

Gail: Continuing to build a strong community of natural skincare formulators and empowering them with the skills to formulate beautiful products through our courses. Continually adding new and exciting classes to our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club so our members are at the cutting edge of natural and organic beauty.

Also, as our daughter is now entering her tween and teen years, I am particularly interested in educating this age group about how to look after their skin naturally and empowering them to formulate skincare products that are so much better for them than the synthetically laden products promoted to this age group.

Gareth: I think it has got to be about inspiring and empowering the next generation to embrace a natural and organic lifestyle — teaching them to create amazing cosmetic products, launch their own brands, and enjoy the journey along the way. 

I am really excited about all the work we have planned for our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, which is the place where all of our experiments, research, development and innovation go. We’d love to dive deeper into topics like natural household cleaning, zero waste, and oral care, while also exploring new areas like flower essences, crystals in cosmetics, homeopathic beauty, and natural perfumery. Exciting times ahead!

15. What is one piece of advice you have for people wanting to learn skincare formulation?

Gail: Beware of what you read and watch online! There is a shocking amount of incorrect and unsafe information on social media, YouTube, blogs, and AI. It is something we are working really hard to educate people about. Most people start making natural skincare because they want to use gentle and safe products, so ensure you learn from reliable sources. 

Gareth: Thank you and welcome! It’s an amazing hobby that many have taken further. It’s a creative thing to do, huge amounts of fun, and you get to use excellent products yourself out of your hobby/business…it’s a great way of empowering yourself to look after yourself in a meaningful way that aligns with your values. There’s so much potential, we hope you’ll join us. We do this because we absolutely 100% love it, live it, and believe in it. Come and join the fun. 

Free Online Organic Skincare Formulation Course

Fundamentals of Skincare Formulation

Learn the essentials of skincare formulation with our FREE course!

If you’re confused by all the misleading information out there, we’re here to guide you. Learn how to create natural and organic products confidently, using industry best practices, under the guidance of professional cosmetic scientists.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

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What you’ll learn:

• Formulation Foundations: The basics of cosmetic chemistry and skincare formulation.
• Bodycare: Make a shea-butter-rich body moisturizer with our pro formula.
• Facial Skincare: Rejuvenate your skin with our two facial oil formulas.
• Creams & Lotions: Create shelf-stable moisturizers using our tried-and-tested formula.
• Natural Ingredients: Understand the key natural and organic ingredients used in formulations.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now and start formulating your own natural products today!

The post Celebrating 15 Years: A Candid Q&A with Our Founders, Gail and Gareth appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

Gail has been making this formula for more than 15 years, and now her children love making it too! She says it is by far the best lip balm she’s ever used and makes a batch a couple of times a year, so she is never without one.

Natural lip balm ingredients

This recipe features just a few easy-to-find ingredients. Choose organic versions of the ingredients if you’d like to make an organic lip balm.

Beeswax is an occlusive that creates a protective barrier on the lips, and it also thickens the product into a semi-solid product.

Cocoa butter is an emollient and helps to smooth and soften the lips, plus gives the product a beautiful chocolatey aroma. It also functions as an occlusive and a thickener.

Carrier oil (eg, sunflower, sweet almond, or jojoba oil) is another emollient helping to smooth, soften, and moisturize the lips.

Orange essential oil gives the product a wonderful, uplifting aroma, and it has antibacterial properties. Sweet orange essential oil is non-phototoxic.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to prolong the shelf life of this oil-based product.

Orange Lip Balm recipe

This recipe makes approximately 10 lip balm sticks. Make half the recipe if you want to make less.

Ingredients:

30g beeswax (or a vegan wax eg candelilla wax, which creates a similar firmness)
20g cocoa butter
49.4g sunflower, sweet almond or jojoba oil
0.5g orange essential oil (or use peppermint or geranium)
0.1g Vitamin E (95% mixed tocopherols)

Equipment required

Digital scales that measure to 0.1g, a heatproof lab beaker or a pyrex jug, a saucepan of simmering water or a hot plate, suitable packaging (eg twist up lip balm sticks).

How to make lip balm

The process is very easy!

1. Weigh the beeswax, cocoa butter and carrier oil into a heat-proof beaker.
2. Place the beaker into a water bath or onto a hot plate and heat until melted (this will be around 70°C).
3. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little, but not so much that it thickens.
4. Add the essential oil and Vitamin E and mix thoroughly.
5. Carefully pour into twist-up stick containers. Allow to cool before putting the lid on.

That’s it! Simple and lovely! These make wonderful and inexpensive gifts, too.

See our list of recommended suppliers if you want to have a go.

Quick lip balm video tutorial

This quick reel shows you how to make the lip balm step by step!

Like this and want to make more gorgeous skincare products?

You’ll LOVE our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products. Featuring over 120 recipes for cleansers, toners, moisturizers, balms, masks and scrubs, you can be making a complete set of gorgeous facial products in no time! Find out all about it here.

Free Online Organic Skincare Formulation Course

Fundamentals of Skincare Formulation

Learn the essentials of skincare formulation with our FREE course!

If you’re confused by all the misleading information out there, we’re here to guide you. Learn how to create natural and organic products confidently, using industry best practices, under the guidance of professional cosmetic scientists.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

Sign up now

We look after your data in accordance with our privacy policy.

What you’ll learn:

• Formulation Foundations: The basics of cosmetic chemistry and skincare formulation.
• Bodycare: Make a shea-butter-rich body moisturizer with our pro formula.
• Facial Skincare: Rejuvenate your skin with our two facial oil formulas.
• Creams & Lotions: Create shelf-stable moisturizers using our tried-and-tested formula.
• Natural Ingredients: Understand the key natural and organic ingredients used in formulations.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now and start formulating your own natural products today!

The post How to make Gail’s favorite Orange Lip Balm appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

Read on to discover when Gail and Gareth met, how the School started, how we transformed from running in-person classes to teaching online, which course we created first and much more.

1. Where it all began

In 2010, after completing a sustainable living internship in New Zealand the previous year, Gail took a leap of faith and started the business! In March 2010, after finalizing her formulas, she received her Cosmetic Product Safety Reports (CPSRs) for her first collection of skincare products and launched her natural skincare brand, Goodness & Wonder.

In April 2010, after studying for several years, Gareth qualified as an IEB Certified Aromatherapist.

In April of 2010, Gareth qualified as an IEB Certified Aromatherapist.

2. Teaching in-person classes and workshops

Gail ran her first in-person skincare-making workshop in May of 2010 in Bristol, UK, and in November of the same year, Gail and Gareth met—the start of a beautiful partnership!

We discovered a shared passion for teaching in-person classes and dedicated much of 2010-2013 to teaching in venues around the UK. We loved seeing students’ joy as they discovered the process of creating skincare and how proud they were of their creations. Imagine our delight to see that some have since established their own award-winning brands.

Gail created our new website, and the School of Natural Skincare was born.

When a student traveled all the way from the Philippines to attend a class, we knew then that we had something truly special and began to build our business with a global mindset.

3. Quitting our jobs and first online courses

2013 met us with some major new creative energies—some we had planned and hoped for and others happy surprises! In May 2013, we launched our first online course, which would eventually become our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products–still one of our bestselling courses.

A video from 2013 from our very first online course!

We were so committed to building the School of Natural Skincare that we quit our office jobs in the summer of 2013. More than a few people thought we were a little crazy, especially since we had just discovered that we were expecting our first child!

4. Going global: Becoming experts at teaching online

In our naivety, we had organized to teach an in-person class when our daughter was just 6 weeks old! The class was a success, but we soon realized it was too much of a juggle to care for a baby and keep teaching the way we had been.

So, from 2014 onwards, we doubled down on our online teaching.

Teaching online turned out to be a wonderful experience. More and more students could join us without needing to travel, and we could work around the unpredictable schedule of a baby.

Our students asked for a more advanced course that would teach them to formulate skincare products from scratch, and we were excited to offer it at last! Two months after releasing our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, we welcomed the first 80 students to the course.

By 2016, after just six years of operation, the School of Natural Skincare had students in 50 countries, and by 2019, this had grown to students in 130 countries worldwide. Today, in 2025, we have students in more than 150 countries!

5. New tutors, advanced courses and a growing family

Cosmetic Scientist Chandni Patel joined our team early in 2016, bringing with her much expertise from the beauty industry. She supported students with questions that arose during their studies and worked on new course materials, including our Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation.

Our identical twin boys were born in November 2015. For several months, we had three children under two years of age—and not much sleep!

6. Accreditations and certifications

Between 2016-2017, we focused on building a business aligned with our ethics and values. This led us to become an accredited ethical business with the Ethical Company Organisation.

Accreditation by the CPD certification service followed, showcasing the high standard of our online teaching. All our courses have since been accredited – a testament to the quality of our teaching.

7. Tina joined our team, and we created our Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation

Cosmetic Chemist Tina Svetek joined us in 2017, bringing exceptional expertise in skincare and haircare formulation. A key member of our team, she shares her passion through our Formulators’ Forums and Tutor Q&As, making complex concepts accessible and inspiring our students. Her dedication and guidance enrich our courses and empower the next generation of formulators. We’re incredibly grateful to have her.

Tina spent much of 2018 formulating haircare products. In July 2018, we launched our Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation, our first course focusing exclusively on haircare. Students of the course have gone on to formulate beautiful haircare products and launch successful haircare brands, including Curl Love and Beaute Blossom.

8. International bestselling book

In May 2019, we were excited to release our book, The A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation, co-written with Tina Svetek. It was an international Amazon bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia simultaneously and has more than 500 5* reviews to date!

We wrote the book to dispel common myths and to give people the correct foundation of knowledge to support them on their formulation journey.

Also, in June 2019, we got married!

9. Entrepreneur of the Year and Best Online Organic Skincare Formulation School

In October 2019, the School of Natural Skincare was honored to win the Health and Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This award recognized entrepreneurs making a meaningful difference in health, beauty, and wellbeing. It was the perfect way to kick off our 10th anniversary celebrations in January 2020, marking a decade since Gail and Gareth founded the School.

Many awards have followed since then, including Best Online Organic Skincare Formulations School 2020, Online Natural Skincare Formulations School of the Year 2021, Online Natural Skincare School of the Year 2022 and Best Online Natural Skincare School 2024!

10. Office and cosmetic lab

In June 2019, we finally got the keys to our beautiful office in a gorgeous village in Devon, UK and established our own in-house cosmetics lab.

Our team grew, and for the next few years, we worked hard updating our flagship courses, including filming hundreds of video tutorials and product-making demonstrations.

11. Preservative Efficacy testing

Having our own lab enabled us to enhance our testing protocol. In 2020, while most people were at home baking sourdough and banana bread, we doubled down on Preservative Efficacy Testing (PET). We have since sent hundreds of products to a specialist microbiological lab. The test results prove the effectiveness of our preservative systems, meaning our students have the reassurance that they are learning best practices from safe and effective formulations.

12. Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation (Third Edition)

Our flagship Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation had a complete makeover, and we released a brand new edition in 2020. Featuring new formulations, new step-by-step product demonstrations, PET reports and much more, it’s the all-in-one course that helps our students formulate stunning skincare products and launch their own beauty brands!

13. Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club

In 2021, we were so thrilled to open the doors to our membership, the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. The Club is full of exciting hands-on masterclasses created by our cosmetic chemists, helping our members advance their expertise, innovate with new ingredients and create all the incredible natural cosmetics their heart desires!

14. New cutting-edge courses: Makeup, Soap and Zero Waste Diplomas

Between 2022 and 2023, we created three new innovative Diploma courses: Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation, Diploma in Soap Making and Diploma in Formulating Natural Makeup and Advanced Color Cosmetics.

Through our complete suite of courses, our students can now learn to formulate every type of cosmetic product, and we are a global leader in cosmetic formulation education.

In 2022, we welcomed Dr. Nicole Vorster to our team as a course tutor. Nicole is a distinguished chemist with a profound passion for education and formulation science. With her wealth of knowledge, Nicole provides invaluable support to students during their studies. She offers guidance and expertise in our regular Tutor Q&A, presents at our Formulator Forums, leads live teaching sessions and marks course assignments.

15. New website and 15th anniversary!

Our brand new website went live in 2024, and we couldn’t be more pleased with it!

That brings us to 2025, the 15th anniversary of the School of Natural Skincare, a milestone we are thrilled to celebrate.

Our school continues to innovate, with new classes and formulations developed each month for our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. We are also busy behind the scenes creating a new community app for our students and Club members—watch this space for news later in the year.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are eager to see what the next 15 years will bring!

Free Online Organic Skincare Formulation Course

Fundamentals of Skincare Formulation

Learn the essentials of skincare formulation with our FREE course!

If you’re confused by all the misleading information out there, we’re here to guide you. Learn how to create natural and organic products confidently, using industry best practices, under the guidance of professional cosmetic scientists.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now.

Sign up now

We look after your data in accordance with our privacy policy.

What you’ll learn:

• Formulation Foundations: The basics of cosmetic chemistry and skincare formulation.
• Bodycare: Make a shea-butter-rich body moisturizer with our pro formula.
• Facial Skincare: Rejuvenate your skin with our two facial oil formulas.
• Creams & Lotions: Create shelf-stable moisturizers using our tried-and-tested formula.
• Natural Ingredients: Understand the key natural and organic ingredients used in formulations.

Exclusive for our newsletter subscribers. Sign up now and start formulating your own natural products today!

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The post 15 milestones in 15 years of the School of Natural Skincare appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

Body scrub bars don’t have to contain sugar, there are lots of other exfoliants to choose from too, though sugar scrub bars are a good place to start when making your own.

Body scrub bars were made popular by brands like LUSH with their iconic Buffy Body Scrub. Today we are going to share with you a super simple and effective sugar scrub bar recipe and step-by-step instructions for how to make body scrub bars at home for a fraction of the cost!

9 reasons to love exfoliating sugar scrub bars 

1. Their solid form means they don’t require any packaging, helping to reduce waste.
2. Body scrub bars contain nourishing oils and butters to smooth, soften and moisturize the skin.
3. The exfoliants, such as sugar, gently remove dead skin cells, and smooth and soften the skin.
4. The oils in the bar melt away makeup, sunscreen and other oil soluble impurities from the skin.
5. Scrub bars are easy and fun to make.
6. The ingredients are easy to find.
7. You can have fun substituting different oils, butters, exfoliants and essential oils, and creating bars in different shapes and sizes.
8. You can vary the strength of exfoliation they provide by changing the type and/or amount of exfoliating particles used.
9. Scrub bars can be used multiple times and are long lasting.

Cocoa and Vanilla Sugar Scrub Bar Recipe

This recipe is easy to make and smells incredible! It leaves skin super soft and wonderfully nourished. 

Product development questions 

Product type:

Solid anhydrous exfoliating bar.

Are you formulating to meet a particular standard or certification?

We are using naturally derived ingredients that are COSMOS-approved.

Who is your target audience?

People of all ages looking for a natural exfoliating product, particularly those interested in zero waste cosmetics.

What is the purpose/function of your product?

To gently exfoliate the dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin as well as leaving the skin feeling moisturized.

What properties and qualities do you want your product to have?

A solid brown-colored bar with a sweet scent that can be used multiple times. Gentle, yet effective exfoliant. Emollients to nourish the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. 

What type of packaging will your product go in?

No primary packaging is required as it is a solid bar. The product should be left to drain between uses on a rack or soap dish.

What physical exfoliants are you using and why?

Ground olive stone and brown sugar have been included as the combination of a small and large particle size creates effective exfoliation and looks attractive.

What emollients are you using and why?

Cocoa butter acts as a hardener to create a solid, bar format. It is also a very effective emollient. 

Coconut oil provides softening and moisturizing properties to the formulation. 

Shea butter contains a high amount of unsaponifiables, which provide moisturizing properties to this formulation. 

What thickeners are you using and why?

Beeswax provides this product with its firm and solid properties as well as providing a protective, occlusive layer to the skin. 

Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that helps to solidify the product and also provides moisturization to the skin.

What essential oils and extracts are you using and why?

Coconut CO2 extract and vanilla oleoresin to provide a sweet, tropical aroma. 

What other ingredients are you using and why?

Cocoa powder as a gentle exfoliator and a colorant. 

Even though the product is anhydrous, as it will come into regular contact with water we have included a COSMOS-approved preservative, Preservative Eco. 

Vitamin E as an antioxidant.

Body scrub bar formula

Body scrub bar recipe in grams and ounces

Professional cosmetic formulas are written in percentages as we have above. One of the benefits of writing a formula in percentages is that it’s very easy to make different batch sizes, and when we talk about a batch, we simply mean a quantity of your product. That could be large or small depending on how many individual products you want to make.

You can read our article on How to turn a cosmetic formula into a weight-based recipe if you’d like to know more.

If you are a beginner then you can follow this recipe for a 100g or 4oz batch.

 How to make sugar scrub bars  

Sugar scrub bars are really easy to make. Simply follow these four steps.

1. Mix together phase A ingredients and heat to 70°C until the solids are melted.

2. Cool down phase A to approximately 50°C, add each phase B ingredient in turn and stir well.

3. Pour the mixture into a mold. Leave to cool.

4. Once solidified, take the bars out of the mold.

Watch the video to see exactly how to make a sugar scrub bar.

Instructions for use

To exfoliate the skin, rub the bar against the body whilst in the shower and rinse off. 

Troubleshooting and varying the sugar scrub bar formula

Troubleshooting

My bar is too soft

During summer or in hotter climates, the formula provided might turn out too soft. To solve this problem, you will need to increase the melting point of your product. You can do this by trying these options:

1. Replace soft butters (like shea butter) with hard butters (like cocoa butter).
2. Replace part or all of the liquid oils with a butter.
3. Add a wax, for example beeswax or candelilla wax, to your formula (lower the amounts of soft or liquid ingredients appropriately). Start by adding 2-3% of wax and see what the result looks like.

My bar is too hard and does not readily melt 

You may find your bar too hard for comfortable use, especially if you live in colder climates. You will need to adjust the formula to lower the melting point of your butter by doing one of the following options:

1. Replace very hard butters (like cocoa butter) with a softer butter (like shea or mango butter).
2. Replace part of the solid butters with liquid carrier oils. Start by reducing the amount of butters by 2% and increasing the amount of oils by 2%.
3. If the formula contains waxes, lower their amount and increase the amount of liquid oils.

My exfoliating bar is too abrasive/not abrasive enough

The strength of exfoliation depends on the amount of exfoliating ingredients (eg salt, sugar, seeds, etc) and their size. For stronger exfoliation, add more exfoliant to the formula, or for less strong exfoliation, lower the percentage of exfoliant. For more gentle exfoliation, use smaller particles. You can also change the type of exfoliant to vary the strength of exfoliation, for example try using an exfoliant that doesn’t melt in water (like sugar does), such as ground olive stone.

Varying the formula

Include surfactants or emulsifiers

Surfactants or emulsifiers can be included to help the product rinse off more easily. As surfactants are water soluble only certain ones can be incorporated into a solid scrub bar. Learn more about which ones to use in our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation.

Increase or decrease the amount of exfoliants

Vary the strength of exfoliation by adding more or less exfoliant. 

Swap the exfoliant(s)

Sugar and salt are popular exfoliants for scrub bars but you can also use a wide range of other exfoliants. Botanical seeds or shells are an eco-friendly option for plastic-free biodegradable exfoliants. Unlike salt and sugar, they do not melt in the water during use. This means that a smaller amount of exfoliant is needed. Common examples are ground coffee, ground walnut shells, ground apricot stones, bamboo powder, etc. 

You can combine several different exfoliants in the same product, so have fun experimenting!

Change the oils and butters

Swap the oils and butters in the formula for other oils and butters. The options are endless!

Create a facial scrub bar

It may be surprising to hear that sugar can be suitable for a facial scrub, however even though it has rather large crystals, they melt in contact with water making them gentler. In our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation we share with you a gorgeous Warm Vanilla Solid Facial Scrub formula.

Visual appearance

You can change the appearance of your scrub bar by the exfoliants you use, the shape of the mold you use and the color of the ingredients you use. 

Make your own complete range of beauty bars

Sugar scrub bars are just the start of what it’s possible to make in zero waste bar format!

Our brand new online Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation teaches you to formulate a wide range of zero waste beauty bars including solid facial cleansers and exfoliators, solid moisturizers and serums, solid deodorant, solid shower products, solid shampoo and conditioner.

You’ll also formulate powder concentrates, and learn about ingredient innovations that are helping to reduce waste – upcycled ingredients and biofermentation.

We really hope you’ll join us for this exciting course!

The post How to make sugar scrub bars + body scrub bar recipe appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.

The general rule is that if a product contains water (or an aqueous liquid like aloe vera, or flower water) it needs to contain a broad-spectrum preservative that is effective against bacteria, mold and yeast.

But what about products that don’t contain water?

What about solid bars, like shampoo bars and body wash bars?

It’s not always obvious or clear-cut with anhydrous products and solid bars so let’s explore these questions in more detail.

Do products that don’t contain water need preservatives?

Anhydrous (water-free) products generally don’t require preservatives as they are not prone to microbial contamination. This includes products like lip balms and anhydrous whipped body butters. 

The exception here is an anhydrous product that might come into contact with water (eg a body scrub or a cleansing balm applied with wet fingers). 

With these types of products you either need to be very careful not to introduce water to the product during use, or you should include a preservative.

What about solid products like shampoo bars, conditioner bars and cleansing bars? Do they need preservatives?

These are interesting types of products. They are usually anhydrous (they don’t contain water), so they are not prone to microbial growth. However they are used in the shower or around water so they will get wet frequently.

It is a common belief that solid, water-free cosmetic products do not require preservatives and some formulators and brands choose not to include preservatives in these types of products as they consider the risk of microbial growth to be low.

While this may be true to some extent, cleansing, conditioning and exfoliating products are normally used in and around water, so there is a high chance they will get wet. This can potentially lead to microbial contamination and growth. For this reason, we include a preservative in these types of formulations and we recommend our students do, too.

There is far more risk involved if you choose not to include one, and it’s not a risk we want to take. With several safe and natural preservatives to choose from, we consider that a much better option.

I thought preservatives are water soluble; so how do you add one to an oil-based or anhydrous solid product?

This is a very good question! As preservatives are usually used in water-based products they are usually water soluble.

Water soluble preservatives are effective against microbes present in water, but as they are water soluble they will not be soluble in a purely oil-based formula such as a conditioner bar or oil-based cleansing bar.

Some preservatives, however, are slightly oil soluble. The presence of salicylic acid, benzyl alcohol or glyceryl caprylate in the preservative blend allows it to be miscible with oils too, at least up to a point.

In our oil-based bars that will come into contact with water such as makeup remover bars, cleansing bars and hair conditioner bars, we chose to use Geogard 221 (INCI: Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol), as it is effective across a wide pH range and has good oil solubility so it can be used in water-free products easily. This can also be used in surfactant-based shampoo bars.

An alternative for surfactant-based bars such as shampoo bars is Geogard Ultra (INCI: Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate). This is a water soluble preservative but it comes in a powder form that can be easily mixed with the other powders in the formulation.

How about cold process soap bars? Do they need preservatives?

Cold process soap bars are an exception – they are solid products used in water that don’t require preservatives. 

After soap bars have been cured, they still contain some water, and so we might expect that water to become the source of microbial growth. However, water in soap bars is not available to microorganisms as it is bound up in the crystalline structure of soap at the molecular level. 

For this reason, it is common to say that soap has ‘low water activity’.

Another aspect that protects soap bars from microbial spoilage is their alkaline pH, which is so high that it is impossible for microorganisms to live in or on it.

Therefore, natural soap bars do not require any preservatives.

Expert guidance on solid product formulation

As you can see there are some grey and misunderstood areas in solid product preservation. 

With the proliferation of tutorials online by well-meaning but unqualified ‘experts’, it can be hard to know what’s right and what is wrong.

Our team of professional cosmetic chemists have been busy working on solid product formulations since 2020 and we have packaged up all their expertise into our online Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation.

This multimedia online course will teach you to formulate a wide range of solid, package-free products, including solid facial cleansers and exfoliators, solid moisturizers and serums, solid deodorant, solid shower products, solid shampoo and conditioner.

We’ll set the record straight about lots of topics like preservatives, surfactants, emulsifiers and pH. Plus you can reach out to our scientists with any questions you have.

You’ll also formulate powder concentrates, and learn about ingredient innovations that are helping to reduce waste – upcycled ingredients and biofermentation.

We hope you’ll join us for this innovative and exciting new online course. 

The post Preservatives in solid beauty bars: Do you need them? How? Why? appeared first on School of Natural Skincare.