Just imagine … what if you could care for your skin, naturally improve how it looks and feels AND at the same time, do something positive for the world around us? 

Well, you can! 

It’s one of the core beliefs that led us on this path and it’s the passion behind our School of Natural Skincare. 

Our shared life goal is to do whatever we can to help bring positive change to the world, not just for us but for children’s future.  And we’ve always believed that trying to do something to help – no matter how small – is always better than doing nothing.

Moving to positive living and ethical business

There’s been a huge shift in consciousness in recent times.

More and more people are seeing the importance of moving away from fossil fuels and the identification of sustainable and clean sources of energy.

The Zero Waste movement is growing fast in towns and cities across the world, and companies like Lush have pioneered the use of naked packaging. 

More people than ever have become aware of the damage that plastic is causing to our planet and are looking for ways to ditch it.

Concern for the world’s great rainforests is driving people to actively seek out alternatives to palm oil or use only sustainable sources. 

Water conservation is an important issue for many in countries where the supply of clean and fresh water is in short supply. 

Organic living has been on the rise in our western world for almost half a century as a growing number of people question why synthetic and potentially harmful chemicals are sprayed on our food and used in cosmetics. 

And alongside the growing importance of fairtrade, there’s been a greater awareness that people in the developing world benefit a lot more from a hand up, than a hand out.

The amazing growth of today’s ethical movements has seen the vegan, organic, eco-friendly, green and clean movements, move from the fringe of society right to the front and centre.

What we’re seeing is a generation with a new vision for our future. 

A world with clean air, clean water, and clean renewable energy. A planet with soil full of nutrients, flourishing natural habitats, and well managed, plentiful renewable resources.

 A future where we can thrive in smart and green urban environments, eat healthy natural and organic food that nourishes, revitalises and regenerates, and enjoy living conditions that fits with our values.

You can make a difference right now… wherever you are!

We live in times of rapid change. 

In a world where everyone is connected, and ideas can go viral in a moment, anyone can become an influencer or be seen as a knowledge expert. 

Knowledge is the key – and almost anything you want to know is now fingertips, in an instant.

This means you can learn, grow and become anything you want – and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Join a worldwide community

We are part of a community of students more than 250,000 strong and what we find in them is a group of positive, creative, and passionate people from across our shared planet. Many of them don’t just want to create their own products, they want to change the world we live in for the better.

It’s a belief shared by a lot of our students and we’ve been so proud to watch as they’ve gone on to start successful businesses and make their difference in the world by living their values.

Take Maya – ecowarrior, entrepreneur and co-founder of cut.le.crap, an award winning natural beauty brand cited as a ‘Best Buy’ in the Ethical Consumer magazine.  

Maya’s passion is to create skincare products, and a successful business, focused on sustainability.

Working to minimise her ecological footprint with brilliant and simple innovations – like doing away printed instructions in the packaging and simply putting the information on a website instead – Maya used her beauty business to be the change she wants to see in the world.

You can read more about Maya’s story here.

And she’s not the only one. Many of our students are making a positive change to the industry. Some focus on making clean and non-toxic products; others work for social justice. 

 Every one of them is making their difference.

 You can hear about the wonderful journeys of some of former students here.

For more information about the courses our students take with us, you can find out more here:

Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products here

Certificate in Natural, Preservative Free Face Mask & Cleanser Formulation here

Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation here

Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation here

Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation here

Becoming the positive change you want to see

Beauty products are not just about looking beautiful anymore. In fact, beauty products that are only aimed at helping you look more beautiful are on the way out, and something much more exciting is taking their place.

The latest industry trends show that consumers are more conscious of what they buy, and they’re demanding more from their skincare.

From water-saving products and sustainable sourcing and manufacturing, to products that enhance your sleep and energy levels, people want more from their beauty products than just beauty.

And when you make your own skincare products, the power is in your hands and there’s so many ways you can make positive change.

By choosing where you buy ingredients for your own skincare products you can support the causes that matter to you. 

If fair trade and the environment matter to you, you could source your Shea butter from a community in Ghana where the women use ancient techniques handed down through generations to produce a pure and natural product. 

Baraka Shea Butter sells direct to you from the community and provides a fair and decent living for the families who produce this wonderful ingredient, and who also protect and nurture the trees that provide it. 

You could also support the bee population by choosing certified organic ingredients, choose renewable energy for your manufacturing, put money back into your local economy by supporting local artisan brands or simply lead the way with clean, non-toxic products … the possibilities are limitless. It’s up to you.

 Ask yourself these questions:

• What is important to me? What kind of world do I want to live in?
• If I could change three things about personal care products, what would it be?
• What could I do when creating my products that would make a difference?

Use these answers to help you create products that live out your values, which help you express your own passions and uniqueness, which help you make your mark.

So, can the beauty products you choose really change the world? 

The answer is most definitely yes! You can make a difference. Right now. 

You can make it yourself!

When you make your own cosmetics, you make the choices, you design the future and you make the change. 

You might want to create natural beauty products for yourself and your family, so you have the power to make choices that support the values you want to live by. 

Or you could be the person who wants to launch your own natural beauty brand, so you can create an even bigger change. 

The choice is yours.

You can join our community and do what you can and make your story a part of all of ours. You may only be one person, but as part of a community of more than 250, 000 people across the globe, you can be part of a much bigger change.

One of the things that keeps Gail and I motivated, gives us the sense that we’re alive, growing, developing and moving forwards is constant and never ending learning. 

We’re avid learners, keen seekers of new ideas, new inspiration, new motivation, new experiences. That is not to say that we’re unhappy with what we have, what we know, where we are in life and what we’ve achieved, we just love exploring, learning and experiencing.

Famous life coach and public speaker, Anthony (Tony) Robbins has said many times that most people feel the best in life when they feel they are growing, learning and developing in some way. It is when we’re in this mindset that we feel we are going somewhere positive.

We’ve learned firsthand how true this can be.

For us, being lifelong learners is a never-ending source of inspiration. In tough times, when things are not as great as they could be, it gives us hope, inspiration and motivation to keep on doing what we love.

So what do we learn about? 

Anything and everything we’re passionate about! 

Natural and organic cosmetics, herbs and aromatherapy, yoga, teaching, communicating, running and growing successful businesses are all areas of interest to myself and Gail. 

We have learned about natural & organic living, permaculture, green and eco-friendly innovation, homeschooling, parenting, spirituality, yoga and our connection to Mother Nature. 

We strive to learn more about our own happiness, health and wellbeing… and ultimately, success!

What about you?

Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? What would you like to understand better? And what are you willing to invest your time, energy, and resources into learning about?

It’s a topic well worth thinking about and taking the time to explore.

The importance of community

At the heart of our community at the School of Natural Skincare is a shared passion – a passion that propels us in our desire to learn more. 

You may dream of learning to formulate your own natural skincare products, or of founding a bestselling business. Whatever your goal, you will still need to learn, and that is a good thing – and an exciting prospect!

Of course, we’re not saying that success requires you to drop everything and dedicate your whole life to creating natural skincare. For many of us, that simply isn’t an option – we have families to care for, and all the commitments of day-to-day life to contend with. 

Despite all the challenges of juggling life with what you love, we believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way!

So, how could you become a lifelong learner in the midst of all the busy-ness of life?

Finding your passion, finding your ‘why’. 

If you’re reading this, then it’s probably safe to say you have a passion for natural skincare, or at the very least, a desire to learn more. 

Perhaps you care about what you and others put onto your skin. Perhaps you care about what we all put into the environment, and about sustainable living. Whatever the reason, this is your passion – your ‘why’. 

There will be many times in your life that you’ll ask yourself ‘why am I doing this?’. And it is in these  times of uncertainty that you can return to your ‘why’ and gather strength, inspiration, and motivation from the passion that got you here in the first place.

Motivation

Everyone experiences times where they feel flat and at a loss for inspiration – even David Attenborough! However, if we can learn to self-motivate, we can tap into our passion and approach our studies and our craft with fresh energy.

Being able to talk to like minded-people – to share feedback and support – is a fantastic motivator!

One of the greatest benefits of studying with the School of Natural Skincare is our thriving online community. Just hop on to one of our forums and share what’s on your mind, and find a whole community of passionate people like yourself ready to support and share with you.

Understanding your learning style

We can acquire information in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s auditory, visual or kinesthetic, finding out your method of learning will help you to become a more effective student, as well as bringing more joy to your learning process. 

As Greg Anderson said, “Focus on the journey not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”. It is when we enjoy the process of learning that we achieve our best results.

Take this fun test to discover your learning style! 

Embracing mistakes

Allow yourself to see mistakes in a different light. Realise that mistakes offer the best opportunities for learning, and that they happen to everybody. It’s what you learn from making them that matters.

In fact Joe Rogan said, “We define ourselves far too often by our past failures. That’s not you. You are this person right now. You’re the person who has learned from those failures.”

We couldn’t agree more! 

It is equally important to foster positive self-talk.

Do you ever tell yourself you’re not good enough? 

Perhaps your skin product didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped and you berated yourself as a result.

Fostering positive self-talk is challenging, but it is a skill well worth investing in. We all have the choice to think, say, and feel what we want to. And so, as lifelong learners, we must own our thoughts, and make the choice to adopt a positive mindset in the face of negativity.

Try new things. 

How did you feel when you made your very first skincare product? Perhaps the process was nerve-wracking, uncertain, and daunting at times. Nevertheless, I bet it felt great afterwards! 

The truth is that trying new things can also be one of your biggest sources of inspiration. It’s a fantastic way to learn. After all, how do we know what we like if we don’t give it a go? 

When you’re learning to formulate natural skincare products, a lot will be about trial and error. When faced with these challenges it is important to remember you have to take risks – to move out of your comfort zone – in order to grow and develop. 

If it feels a bit frightening at times, that just means you’re learning!

Be kind to your body

Here’s a reminder to stay in tune with your body when you become a lifelong learner. Working so relentlessly that you burn out doesn’t help anybody, let alone your work.

So, choose to dedicate time to yourself every week. Alongside focused study, find an activity that helps you rest and recharge. Maybe that’s taking a walk in the fresh air or going for a swim. Whatever you choose, give your body and mind the chance to take a break from work. 

It’s tempting to think we don’t have time for self-care, but the truth is that this is how we bring fresh energy and creativity to our craft.

Lifelong learning with the School of Natural Skincare. 

Here at the School of Natural Skincare, we want to see your goals become a reality. 

We know that there are so many passionate people who care about natural skincare, just like we do. 

We truly believe that the best investment you can make in your future as a natural skincare formulator is to learn with us. Because with information comes empowerment, and when you commit to formulating better, kinder products, you will glow from the inside out. 

The School of Natural Skincare has helped thousands of students just like you to realise their natural skincare goals. 

We could gush all day about our courses, like our bestselling Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products and Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation (we can’t help it!), but we know once you take the step, you’ll never look back. You’ll never want to stop learning! 

We are all lifelong learners

If we nurture a lifelong learning mindset, our innate curiosity and subsequent growth will be fostered throughout our lives. So add ‘lifelong learning’ to your business values, your bucket list, your daily ‘to-do’ list, and never take it off.  

Encourage your thirst for learning. Embrace mistakes. Celebrate each milestone, no matter how big or small.

What we love most about the people who learn with us is their passion, enthusiasm and desire – not only for making amazing natural skincare products, but for learning and growth, too.

The first thing that brings students to our school is a desire to make their own natural skincare products. Because this is their goal, our students are passionate about learning across a broad spectrum of knowledge.

From ingredients to equipment to good manufacturing practice – from cosmetic regulations to formulating for different skin types and learning practical ‘how to’s – our students are eager to get to the heart of making fantastic natural skincare products.

The good news is that our students quickly realise that learning never ends – and this realisation is an absolute eye-opener! Once you realise that learning is a lifelong process, you will find yourself going down a fantastical rabbit hole of discovery.

We have students with a whole range of aspirations and dreams, but one thing is true of them all – their desire to learn never ends.

The Hobbyist

Some students want to develop their hobby and passion for natural & organic skincare. They want to be able to make fabulous products for themselves and their family, and maybe their friends, too!

The hobbyist is driven by their love of making products. They enjoy the creativity of the process – the fun and enjoyment of it all, and they’re excited to see fantastic end results.

Following the classic trial and error approach and flipping from multiple sources with varying degrees of accuracy is no longer good enough. These students have had enough of being confused by conflicting information and struggling to achieve the results that they seek.

When they come to us, these students tell us that they’re looking for answers; they are looking for confidence and an understanding of the “how” behind making high quality handmade products. DIY done professionally, if you like!

We asked our students to share with us what motivated them to complete the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products. This is what our student Rose had to share:

‘I’m spending a lot of money buying skincare products that mostly do not work. The course has made me capable of making my own skincare products that I know are healthy and work on my skin, and best of all, much cheaper than all of what I used to buy. And friends always compliment me on how nice and clear and glowing my skin looks.’

The Professional

For others, it’s about becoming more professional in their approach. Their passion is natural & organic skincare, but it has now become a more serious hobby – maybe even a business idea.

These students are making some great products. They know how to follow a recipe and they’re confident in spotting the difference between a good recipe and a bad one. They’ve discovered some really great ingredients and, from time to time, when they try to create a product from scratch, it works! But not always…

These students know that the next step in their journey is to learn how to formulate.

Formulating is the art, science and practice of being able to create a beauty product from scratch, without following recipes, and whilst ensuring that industry standard safe practice and guidelines are followed.

Formulating cosmetics is not about throwing ingredients into the mixer and coming out with something safe, stable, effective, unique and brilliant by chance…

There’s a method behind the madness.

The “madness” is not following a tried and tested, structured and proven approach for creating products from scratch. And we see this in the variable results that this approach yields.

The method, on the other hand, gives the formulator the tools, techniques and processes to not only create a product that is safe and stable, but also unique. The method works, and you’ll see this in your consistent results.

For the students learning to formulate, they’re making a conscious effort to upskill. These students have found a shortcut to success – and although shortcuts aren’t always advisable, enrolling in a natural skincare course is so much more than just a time saver. By enrolling, you choose to invest in your skill and dedicate time to your passion.

And all of this with the support of your peers and tutors, and the chance to learn from industry professionals.

There are online courses and a global community to lean upon to get the reliable (and correct!) answers to your questions – to seek troubleshooting advice, and, most importantly of all, to receive correct instruction. Most of these students are not scientists or qualified professionals, but they come with a passion for natural & organic skincare and a desire to make their own products. And that’s all they need!

Poonam, a student at the School of Natural Skincare, shares her experience with of studying with us:

“Learning in-depth about essential oils, various raw materials, substitutions, and how to make my own formulation. I absolutely loved the videos and the modules. They are amazingly simple and effective. I also loved the manner in which the modules are spread out, and the basic yet so important safety tips!”

The Beauty Business Entrepreneur

Many students who come to us have already established a business. They’re making products, but they know these products could be even better. 

With students who fit into this category, the passion for natural & organic cosmetics shines brightly still; in fact in most cases, it burns brighter than ever! They have gone deep into the discovery of all things natural, organic and wonderful,  and have experimented with all manner of luxurious ingredients whilst scouring the planet for inspiration, information, and ideas.

There have been plenty of errors and frustrations along the way, but the vision of a world where truly natural & organic products (that actually feed, nurture, and nourish the skin) is something to which they are truly committed.

These students are motivated to fine-tune their skills, to ensure that the methods they’re following are correct, and to discover an even broader range of ingredients. They want to delve into some of the more high performance active botanicals, and to understand the science behind skincare formulation. They know they need to formalize their knowledge and skill and to make sure they’re doing things right. 

At this stage, students are not only learning to formulate to a professional standard, but to focus on the customer. They learn about the therapeutic properties that can help alleviate certain skin concerns and assist in the process of regenerating, reviving, and nourishing the skin.

These formulating techniques enable students to ensure that their products reflect their values, conform to the vision and ethos of the brand, and are created to solve specific skin types and concerns.

Students find themselves honing the ability to formulate a broader range, creating more complex products, and developing a more focused, elaborate idea for their brand in the process. 

Following the structured formulating techniques and product development process taught on our Diploma courses (Skincare, Haircare and Surfactants) and our Advanced courses (Advanced High-Performance Serum Formulation) has enabled many students to design and launch winning brands and sell award-winning products.

Rachel Carpenter, graduate of the School of Natural Skincare, and founder of the Good Flower Farm speaks on the challenges of learning to perfect natural skincare products:

“This doesn’t mean that formulating has to be difficult or hard to learn; on the contrary, it is simply about having proper guidance, which will make your journey exceedingly smoother than completely going it alone. I really do recommend taking a course from a reputable source in the natural skincare realm.”

What Do Our Students All Have in Common?

One thing that is true for everyone here at the School of Natural Skincare is that their passion for natural & organic skincare is burning bright, and so is their desire to keep on learning! 

They’ve gone down the rabbit hole and they keep finding out how much more there is to discover. Advanced formulation technique, high-performance ingredients and new emulsifiers and preservatives are just a few examples of the knowledge they begin to discover. As well as cosmetic regulations, labelling, pricing products, packaging, new product types, and so much more!

What is true for everyone in our student community is that they…

• Want to do something fun, creative and meaningful with their time.
• Want to create products that conform to their values and beliefs (products that are organic, natural, vegan, ethical, sustainable, plastic-free, package-free, fair trade etc).
• Want to create beautiful, effective and safe natural and organic products (for themselves or to start a business).
• Want to use high-performance botanical ingredients straight from Mother Nature.
• Are passionate about avoiding chemicals and synthetics.
• Want to know exactly what it is they’re putting on their skin.
• Want to avoid using products that contain harsh, undesirable or synthetic ingredients.
• Want to take back power and rely on their own skill set and knowledge.
• Want to create a range of beautiful, safe and effective natural skin care products free from petrochemicals, mineral oils, silicones, synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and parabens.
• Have a desire to understand the key properties and benefits of a wide range of raw ingredients including carrier oils, essential oils, butters, waxes and much more.
• Know the importance of understanding the key properties and benefits of a range of essential oils, including which skin types they are good for.
• Are looking to understand the roles of preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers and surfactants, and know when to use them or not.
• Want to be able to adapt recipes to suit different skin types and preferences, or create their own from scratch to suit specific skin types of concerns.
• Want to be confident and empowered with their new knowledge and skills!

Above all, they don’t ever want to stop learning. 

Our students have experienced how hard it is to find products that actually work. They know what it’s like to pay over the odds for those products, and to subject their skin to all manner of harsh or undesirable ingredients. And they’ve seen a better way… a way that fits with their conscience and value system a whole lot better. 

Our students are looking to do something good and meaningful for themselves, for their family – maybe for a whole group of people who’ve experienced similar issues to themselves. 

They’ve discovered natural and organic skincare and they’re ready to learn so much more.

Of all the courses we offer, our most popular courses and quite possibly the ones we get the most questions about are the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products and the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation. Both are excellent courses (if we can brag a little!) and both will set you on the path to creating amazing, effective, and safe natural skincare products. Both will help you understand the process of creating products, cover a range of ingredients, and are presented as interactive, multimedia online courses for easy access, anywhere in the world.

We’re here to help you decide!

Start With The End Goal

Much like the process of developing an effective and personalized formulation, beginning with the desired end result in mind can help you narrow down whether the Certificate or Diploma is the best choice. You are, in a sense, formulating your own perfect results as you embark on your studies!

What is it you wish to accomplish by taking a course from us?

In the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, we cover:

• How to create your unique brand based on your identified values and goals
• Inspiration for nailing your brand’s specific niche
• Exploring the key elements that create a winning brand identity
• How to identify and target your ideal customers
• Which products to develop to meet your target customers’ desires
• How to use a product development brief
• Perfecting your formulations so they’re consistent every time at any batch size
• How to evaluate and test your products
• The legalities of selling in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
• And more!

Match your Interests with your Skill Level

While many of our students intend to develop natural skincare businesses at some point, all of our students are interested in learning how to create the very best natural skincare!

Whether you have a general interest in natural and organic skincare, or have been struggling to find solutions for a specific skin challenge or concern, both the Certificate and the Diploma will get you on your way to making amazing, effective, hand-crafted products.

Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation 

How in-depth do you want to go?

Our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation is a more in-depth course that will take your skills to a deeper level. It teaches you how to develop an idea from a blank sheet of paper to a formulation and finally, to a finished product that is totally unique and customized. It is designed specifically for those of you who wish to design a range of professional products using your own recipes, and gain a solid foundation in the business skills you need: creating a brand, meeting the needs of your ideal customers, the legalities of selling, and more.

How big a range of ingredients do you want to work with?

Compared to the Certificate course, the Diploma course covers a much wider range of ingredients and in greater detail: More carrier oils, esters, butters, waxes, humectants, essential oils, emulsifiers and preservatives, vitamins, botanical extracts and cosmeceuticals (high-performance actives.) You’ll discover the art of creating your own professional formulations designed to suit your skin type or that of your customers. The end result is a range of beautiful, unique high-performance products designed specifically for your customers or yourself.

Which learning style do you prefer?

Additionally, there’s a slight difference in approach to learning between the two courses. The Certificate course covers the principles, starts with following recipes, and provides a foundation to make substitutions if you wish. The Diploma course has a more detailed, deeper approach to understanding theory, using our customizable formulation templates and formulation examples in order to create your own.

Depending on what kinds of products you’re interested in making, and whether you’re more comfortable working from recipes or learning how to develop formulations from scratch with our support, you can begin to determine which course might be the best fit. Do you want to work from our provided recipes and build your confidence with the basics, or do you want to go deeper and learn to formulate a range of professional-quality skincare products for yourself or your business? The choice is yours!

Investing in Your Future

In addition to your level of experience and immediate goals for study, your long-term plans also will help you choose the right course for you.

Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation 

Bundle Up and Save with our Beginner to Formulator Program

If you find that you’re still uncertain about your long-term plans, or you can’t choose between the two courses we’ve got you covered!

• Start with the Certificate, and gain a comprehensive introduction to some amazing natural skincare ingredients: carrier oils, butters, waxes, emulsifiers, preservatives, essential oils and more.

• Learn both the practice and the theory of making a wide range of luxurious products, and build from the 120+ recipes we provide, adapting to suit your own needs

• Then, move onto the Diploma, and take your skills to the next level. You’ll learn about a much wider range of ingredients and in greater detail, including an introduction to high-performance skincare ingredients, cosmeceuticals, and active botanicals.

• Using what you’ve learned, you’ll discover the art of creating your own professional formulations designed to suit your skin type or that of your customers.

• And, you’ll gain access to two supportive online communities, filled with students and skincare professionals who can help you as you develop your dream skincare business.

Still have questions? 

We invite you to take a look around our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products curriculum, as well as the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation curriculum, to make your best and most informed choice.

Or, get in touch with us! We’d be happy to set you up with a free trial of each course, to see what the best choice for you might be. (But you need to get in touch for that, so don’t be shy!)

Curious about the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products?

Wondering if it might be the right choice for you?

You’re in good hands! If you want to know what people are saying about our beginner’s certificate course, then you’ve come to the right place!

What makes this course special is it started out as a live, in-person class that Gail and Gareth ran for many years. The benefit of this? The material was tried and tested in a live classroom setting hundreds of times! The order of the topics has been carefully designed so that you build your knowledge as you go. We’ve anticipated all the questions you might have, before you have them. We also added some of the hands-on activities into the online course to an add an experiential element to your studies.

In 2014, when a student travelled over 10,000km (nearly 7,000 miles) to join our live class, we knew it was time to make it available online so it could be accessible to everyone who wanted to join it. It has since become a fully accredited, multimedia online course, and we’re so pleased to hear every bit of positive feedback from our students.

While many of our students come to the certificate course with some experience in DIY skin care, the only thing you really need to get started is interest and a willingness to learn and try!

The Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products is useful if you want to create products for yourself, family, and friends and primarily follow recipes rather than creating your own. You will gain a good foundation of knowledge of different types of products and different ingredients, when and why to use preservatives, emulsifiers, and antioxidants, and you’ll get lots of recipes to try out and adjust to suit your preferences.

After the certificate course, you may go on to try your hand at more in-depth courses, seek out new ingredients and techniques, or even become inspired to develop plans for your own skin care brand!

Here’s what they have to say!

What motivated you to take the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products course?

What challenges were you facing before you started the course?

How did the course help you overcome these difficulties? What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?

What did you enjoy about the course? What was most useful?

We think our courses speak for themselves, but hearing how our satisfied students expanded their knowledge, improved their skills, and even established their own brands never gets old! If you want to know more about the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products, then we encourage you to come and read more about what the course has to offer you. It’s a wonderful choice for beginners who are interested in making wonderful, effective natural, organic products for yourself, friends and family using tried and tested recipes, adapting them to suit your own preferences, and having the confidence and knowledge to sell them in the future.

What would it mean to you if creating skincare products could be more than just a hobby? Knowing that the passion you have could combine with skills and practical knowledge to allow you to share it with the world. Would it make your heart sing to be able to do something really successfully?

If you knew you had the skills to stand on your own two feet… what would you do with those skills?

Many of our students come to us with some amount of product creation under their belts, looking to expand their expertise and develop their products. They come to us with different dreams and goals, but all of them come to us because they love what they’re doing so much, they just have to share it. They take such pride in their creative work, and they’re ready to take the next steps to make their dreams a reality.

What does success mean to you?

In going through the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation coursework, each of our students gets the chance to define what success means for them. For some, the goal is to create the very best, most distinctive and effective products that nobody else is offering. For others, it’s to heal and treat a challenging skin problem area. Maybe your vision is to see your branded products on shelves in the stores you admire. Or your vision is to source ethical, sustainable, and effective ingredients to create skincare products that heal a little bit of the world, too.

We each have goals and dreams. What are yours?

And what could that be like, if your vision of success could become your reality?

For those of you who dream of having your own product line, your own business, what would it be like to be your own boss? In addition to creating and selling products, would you want to reinvest your skills as a teacher, work in contract manufacturing for others, become a consultant or run workshops? What is it that you value, and how might you develop that into the career you desire?

If this sounds exciting to you, we’d love to introduce you to someone who has done exactly that. Geraldine Quinlan, of Clann Botanicals.

Geraldine Quinlan: Clann Botanicals

Geraldine Quinlan is a student of ours who has done some amazing work, not only in the products she creates, but in the way she’s chosen to develop her business and branch out into so many other areas. We had a chance to sit down with her and chat about her experience, her goals, and the advice she’d give to those just beginning on the journey.

For Geraldine, there were a lot of things coming together in terms of making natural skincare products before she ever thought about it as a business. She’d worked for several years in the charity sector, and had wanted a change of scenery. After moving to the coast of Ireland, she found that many of the people in her area were small business owners. After meeting with a woman who was making her own skincare products, Geraldine got to thinking that perhaps she could do that as well.

Well, I always would have bought my skincare in a health food shop, thinking it was natural… but I started to realize actually that it’s not as natural as I think it is. I had never met anyone who was making their own skincare before, I just thought, “This is absolutely amazing.” That sort of got me thinking, and then when she left the country I just thought, “Well, what am I gonna do now?” So, I just started looking online.

Geraldine decided to further her skills in product development. Because of what she’d learned, she was able to create products that were custom-crafted for the needs of people in her life. Both her sister, who had been going through cancer treatments which made her skin painfully sensitive, and her nephew, who had struggled with stress-related breakouts, found that Geraldine’s products were soothing and effective, without being irritating.

It was these successes, and the encouragement of her sister, which persuaded Geraldine to truly consider making a business of the hobby she loved so much.

Geraldine’s products soon became known as the go-to treatment for frustrating and painful conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Her business, Clann Botanicals, was named after the Irish word for family, and she centered her family story—being able to help her sister and her nephew—within the heart of her business.

I enjoyed selling the personal touch… because I don’t really feel like I’m selling, I stand behind what I do, people are always amazed as well that I actually make them.

As her business grew, Geraldine began offering workshops and classes to those who were interested in learning more about natural skincare formulation. Although her initial vision for her business was simply to provide the best natural products to help these skincare issues, her business’ values were centered around nurturing and developing her own community. After a local paper picked up her story, she ran one initial class, and the demand afterwards made her consider running them regularly.

When it comes to workshops, they’re so enthusiastic, they’re so happy to be there. It was just great to do something that brought so much joy to people… they arrive in knowing nothing, and then they come away with four products that they learned to make, and it’s really empowering.

She initially began offering classes out of her own house, where she also had her workspace, but soon moved into a larger space for both of those needs. The classes, she reports, sell out every month.

Running the classes truly combined her passions and her experience; it brought together her background in community and group work with her new passion and skincare business. Geraldine found that it became very complimentary, running the classes and selling the products. “It’s about wanting to be generous with my knowledge,” Geraldine said. Her most recent avenues for sharing knowledge have been Facebook livestreams of product creation as well as showing her facial cleanses using her new favorite ingredient: Honey.

When Geraldine began creating her first products, she didn’t necessarily anticipate her business growing in all of these wonderful ways. And to hear her tell it, the business side of things still isn’t her favorite part of what she does.

I think I found when I started looking at the retail side of things, it was so much about margins and about all the business things that are obviously important, and they’re not my values, you know, I found myself going down a road that’s not me, it’s what I thought I should be doing, or something like that.

The process hasn’t always been easy, and the road hasn’t always been smooth; a recent health challenge caused her to reevaluate what her brand’s goals and vision truly were, and whether she had the energy to continue on the way she’d been going, trying to do it all. Currently, she sells her products via markets, events, word-of-mouth, Facebook, and the occasional Etsy purchase. At the start, her vision was to get her products into more shops than just the one, but she decided not to grow that side of her business, instead focusing on teaching and keeping her batches small and local.

For those just starting out on the journey, Geraldine offers some advice:

I would say learn how to formulate, know what you’re doing, and do your research in terms of being able to formulate creams. Have your niche, even if that might change, but it’s such a competitive market, I don’t think it’s enough to say, “I’m a natural product.” Because everybody’s saying that, even the ones that aren’t natural, and so I think have a niche in that.

In my experience, it’s going to take a lot longer than you think it will to grow your business, so have patience with that, and that’s okay.

And get help, because we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Have a mentor, someone who’s ahead of you, who will give you some good advice.

She also highlighted what she felt was her number one tip for selling a successful product: Being very clear and specific about the problem that your product is meant to solve. Just coming out with a natural product isn’t always enough to meet a customer’s needs.

It’s about having your messaging clear as well. I mean, there are lots of things that are key, but if you know why you’re making a product, then you know what type of ingredients you want to put in that product. Otherwise, you’re just looking at all the masses of amazing ingredients to put into a product.

In Geraldine’s case, all of her products contain two ingredients: Calendula oil, which she makes herself, and a local seaweed, which is still harvested by hand. Not only are those two ingredients wonderful for sensitive, irritated skin, they connect her to the land, and to the community that she serves.

Visit her on Facebook or at her Etsy Shop

Where can you go from here?

Geraldine’s story, and the story of Clann Botanicals, is a wonderful example of how much bigger a hobby can become when it grows out of the soil of your own personal values. When you are able to tap into those core values, then the rest of your business follows. Ultimately, we’re always most successful when we’re true to ourselves, and we stick to our own values and what’s important and what we enjoy. Following that inner truth means creating a more meaningful success, because you’re doing it your way.

Developing a skincare business isn’t just about making products, researching ingredients, and trying out different formulations. It can be about sharing knowledge and educating others on the topic. It can be about networking through social media, connecting through a website, standing on your own two feet in a store or at a marketplace.

If you are driven to create beautiful products which really change lives, or if you want to be able to customize products to create things you can’t find anywhere else, or if you just want to do something creative, meaningful, and passion-driven, you can find a way there. Our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation has helped countless others level up their skincare skills and begin to take the first steps towards crafting a business that is uniquely their own. We’ve worked with students who hate being stuck in an office, or want more time with their family, or just feel driven to define success on their own terms.

To learn more, head on over to the information page for the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation today.

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