Beginner

Natural Skincare Foundations

Make your first cleanser, toner, moisturizer and serum at home with a short, safe ingredient list.

24 lessons, about 4 hours

$79

lifetime access

What's inside

01Skin and Setup6 lessons

1
Welcome and how to use this course
Know exactly what you will make and how to work safely from day one.
6 min
2
How skin works
Explain how the skin barrier works and why it should guide every ingredient choice.
12 min
3
Reading ingredient lists
Read any skincare label and judge what is really in the product.
10 min
4
Your starter toolkit
Buy only the equipment you need for the 8 course recipes, under a realistic budget.
9 min
5
Hygiene and sanitising
Sanitise tools, containers and your workspace so products stay safe.
10 min
6
Patch testing and records
Test a new product on yourself safely and keep records that protect you later.
8 min

02Cleansers and Toners6 lessons

7
Cleansing basics
Choose the right type of cleanser for your skin. You'll cover how cleansers lift oil and dirt: surfactants (soap-like) vs oil-based cleansing and why high-foaming, high-pH washes strip the barrier.
9 min
8
Make an oil cleanser
Make a 100 g oil cleanser that rinses clean. You'll cover sample ratio: about 75% carrier oil, 20% light oil like jojoba, 5% emulsifier for rinse-off and weigh, warm gently to 40 degrees C, stir and bottle in a pump bottle.
14 min
9
Make a gentle gel-style cleanser
Make a mild water-based cleanser and keep it safe with a preservative.
15 min
10
Understanding skin pH
Test and adjust pH so your products suit the skin. You'll cover skin sits around pH 4.7 to 5.5; most cleansers aim for 5 to 6 and use pH strips or a pen meter; calibrate pens with buffer solution.
8 min
11
Make a hydrating toner
Make a 100 ml hydrating toner with a clear shelf life. You'll cover base: 90% distilled water or hydrosol, 3 to 5% glycerin, 1 to 2% aloe and preserve it and adjust pH to 5 to 5.5.
12 min
12
Make a clarifying toner
Make a toner for oily or combination skin without over-drying.
12 min

03Moisturisers and Serums6 lessons

13
Moisture: humectants, emollients, occlusives
Build a balanced moisturiser from three ingredient types.
10 min
14
Make a face oil
Make a 30 ml face oil for your skin type. You'll cover dry: 50% rosehip + 40% avocado + 10% jojoba. Oily: 60% grapeseed + 30% jojoba + 10% squalane and add 0.5 to 1% vitamin E (tocopherol) as an antioxidant.
14 min
15
Make a hydrating serum
Make a lightweight water-based serum. You'll cover base: water, glycerin, aloe and 0.5 to 1% hyaluronic acid solution and thicken with a small amount of xanthan gum (about 0.3 to 0.5%).
15 min
16
Make a simple balm
Make an anhydrous balm that is stable without a preservative.
12 min
17
Make a light lotion
Make your first lotion with a ready-made emulsifier. You'll cover water phase 70%, oil phase 25%, emulsifier 5%, preservative at supplier rate and heat phases to 70 degrees C, combine and blend for 2 to 3 minutes.
18 min
18
Sun, lips and body basics
Know what natural products cannot do and make a lip balm.
12 min

04Your Daily Routine6 lessons

19
Designing your routine
Build a simple morning and evening routine. You'll cover evening: oil cleanse, gentle cleanse, serum, moisturiser and morning: rinse or gentle cleanse, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen.
10 min
20
Seasonal adjustments
Adapt your routine for dry or humid conditions. You'll cover winter: richer balm, more oil, less foaming cleansing and summer: lighter lotion, serum, gel cleanser.
9 min
21
Troubleshooting your products
Spot and fix the five most common problems. You'll cover separation: re-emulsify or discard if preserved water has gone off and smell change, mould, colour change: discard immediately.
14 min
22
Shelf life and storage
Set realistic shelf lives for everything you make. You'll cover anhydrous products: 6 to 12 months; preserved water-based: 6 to 12 months; unpreserved: do not keep and keep away from heat and light; use pumps or tubes to avoid finger contamination.
9 min
23
Making gifts safely
Give homemade products safely. You'll cover label with ingredients, batch date and patch-test advice and declare allergens like nuts, essential oils and beeswax.
9 min
24
Next steps and your 30-day plan
Plan your next 30 days. You'll cover review your batch log: what worked, what did not and pick one product to refine with a second batch.
8 min