Learn the fundamentals of skincare formulation and discover how ingredients work together to create effective, stable DIY skincare products. From understanding percentages, emulsifiers, humectants, preservatives, pH, and shelf life to learning how water, oils, and other ingredients affect a formula, these guides will help you build your formulation skills step by step—from beginner basics to more advanced techniques.
Body butter is one of my favorite DIY skincare products to make because it is rich, customizable, and relatively simple to formulate. But there is one frustrating problem that can ruin an otherwise beautiful batch: graininess. You whip your body butter until it looks smooth and fluffy, only to open the jar a few days
Why is my Body Butter Grainy and How do I Fix It? Read More »
Have you ever looked at a list of skincare ingredients and wondered how to turn them into a product that actually works? Understanding what an ingredient does is an important first step in DIY skincare formulation. But knowing that glycerin attracts water, shea butter adds richness, and an emulsifier helps oil and water combine is
If you’ve ever made a DIY lotion, body butter, scrub, or other skincare recipe and wondered how people come up with percentages like 5% emulsifying wax or 10% oil, you’re not alone. The good news is that converting a recipe to a formula is actually pretty simple. In this guide, I’ll show you how to
If you’ve ever made a lotion, serum, or cleanser and thought, “Why is this so runny?” — you’re not alone. That’s where thickeners come in. Thickeners are one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of skincare formulation. They control texture, improve stability, and help create the luxurious feel people expect from a finished product. In this guide,
Thickeners in Skincare: What They Are and How They Work Read More »
If you’re getting into DIY skincare, it’s easy to think you need a full lab setup. You don’t. This guide shows you exactly what you need to start—and what you can skip—so you don’t waste money or overcomplicate things. The Truth About Equipment You can make high-quality skincare with simple, affordable tools. Most beginner recipes (scrubs,
Skincare Equipment for Beginners (What You Actually Need) Read More »
What Are Humectants in Skincare? Humectants are ingredients used in skincare that attract and bind water molecules. Their main job is to increase hydration in the skin by pulling moisture from the environment or deeper layers of the skin and holding it in the outer layer (stratum corneum). In simple terms: 👉 Humectants are “water magnets” for your
Humectants in Skincare: How They Hydrate Skin and How to Use Them in Formulation Read More »
