Beauty · All levels
A self-paced programme that turns ingredient lists into a clear map of function, concentration and delivery.
Most skincare decisions are made at the shelf, in a hurry, with a label that promises more than it explains. The front of the bottle talks about glow, renewal or hydration; the back lists names that look like a chemistry exam. Without a way to read that list, you are left comparing slogans, prices and packaging.
Cosmetic chemistry gives you a different starting point. It asks what each ingredient is doing, at what concentration it is likely to appear, and whether the formula around it supports or undermines that job. That is not a secret reserved for laboratories. It is a practical skill you can learn step by step.
This course was built for people who want to move from guessing to reading. You will learn how a cosmetic formula is put together, how to separate active components from supporting ingredients, and how delivery systems change what a product can realistically do. The aim is not to memorise every INCI name. It is to build a repeatable method for judging any product you pick up.
By the end, you will have a clearer vocabulary for talking about formulas, a worksheet for comparing products side by side, and the confidence to explain your choices without repeating marketing language.
The course builds practical skills you can use on real products, not just theory.
Identify the likely function of the main ingredients instead of skipping over unfamiliar names.
Recognise which ingredients carry the product's main claim and which keep the formula stable, pleasant or preserved.
Ask how an ingredient is carried, protected or released, and whether the format supports the promise.
Notice when concentration, pH, packaging or incompatible ingredients may weaken an active.
Use a consistent framework to judge formulas in the same category, not just their marketing.
Choose a focused set of products for a skin type, climate or routine goal with clear reasons.
Talk about ingredients and formula logic in plain language with clients, friends or your own notes.
The programme is self-paced and built around short recorded lessons. Each module opens with the core idea, then moves into examples of how that idea appears on real ingredient lists. You can watch in order or jump to the module that answers a question you have right now.
Every module ends with a practical task: a list to annotate, two products to compare, or a claim to test against the formula. These tasks are designed to be done with products you already own or can find in a shop. The course does not ask you to buy specialist equipment or ingredients.
All materials are available in your account after purchase, and access does not expire. You can work through the lessons in a few focused sessions or spread them over several weeks. The suggested pace is four lessons per week, but the course is designed to fit around work and other commitments.
Six modules move from the basic structure of a cosmetic formula to a complete ingredient audit.
Everything is delivered digitally and stays available after purchase.
Six modules that move from formula basics to a full ingredient audit.
Concise reference notes for each lesson, so you can review without rewatching.
Quick-reference tables for common solvents, humectants, emollients, actives and preservatives.
Step-by-step checklists for reading a label, evaluating an active, comparing products and auditing a routine.
A structured worksheet for judging products in the same category on the same criteria.
Short tasks after each module to test your reading and build confidence.
Return to the lessons and materials whenever you need them, with no expiry date.
Every product can be read in three passes. The first pass is literal: what is on the list, and what is each ingredient likely to do? The second pass is structural: how do those ingredients work together, and what does the format tell you about stability and delivery? The third pass is comparative: how does this formula compare with another product making a similar promise?
The course teaches that sequence deliberately. You start with vocabulary, because you cannot map a formula if every second name is unfamiliar. Then you learn how to group ingredients by function, so the list becomes shorter in your mind. Finally, you practise comparing products on the same criteria, which is where most marketing claims become either credible or vague.
The method is designed to be repeated. Once you have used it on a moisturiser, a serum and a cleanser, you can apply it to almost any category. The goal is not to declare one product universally best. It is to understand what a formula is trying to do, whether it has the ingredients and structure to do it, and whether that fits your needs.
After the final module, you will be able to pick up a product and read it with a clear sequence of questions. You will know which ingredients are likely to carry the main claim, which are there for texture or stability, and which parts of the formula deserve a second look. You will also have a worksheet that keeps your comparisons consistent.
For beauty professionals, that means a stronger technical vocabulary and a more defensible way to explain product choices. For shop owners and consultants, it means recommending from formula logic rather than from the loudest package. For skincare enthusiasts, it means buying with less second-guessing and more understanding of what you are paying for.
You will not finish with a list of miracle ingredients or a single routine that suits everyone. You will finish with a method you can use on the next product, the next launch and the next client question. That method is the real outcome of the course.
The course is self-paced. A comfortable pace is four lessons per week, which means about six weeks from start to finish. You can go faster or slower; the lessons are short and the materials stay available.
No. The course starts with the basics and explains terms as they appear. If you already work with cosmetics, you will find the early modules a useful reset; if you are new, you can follow the sequence from the first lesson.
After checkout you receive access to your account, where all recorded lessons and downloadable materials are collected. You can start with the first module immediately and return whenever you like.
The lessons are recorded video sessions with accompanying notes, reference tables and practical tasks. There are no live sessions to attend and no fixed class times.
Access to the course materials does not expire. You can revisit the lessons and download the worksheets whenever you need them.
You can request a refund within 14 days of purchase. If the course is not right for you, contact the storefront support before the 14-day window closes.
No. The focus is on analysing and evaluating existing cosmetic formulas. You will learn how formulas are structured and how delivery systems work, but the course is not a lab manual for manufacturing products.
Yes. The comparison worksheet and checklists are built for real product decisions. You will practise matching formulas to skin type, climate and routine goals, and explaining your reasoning.
No. This is an ingredient-analysis course, not a clinical or therapeutic programme. It focuses on cosmetic formulas, ingredient function and product evaluation. It does not provide diagnosis or treatment advice.
One payment of €299.99 gives you access to all six modules, 24 lessons and the practical materials.