Kylie Phillips’s path into the world of natural skincare began with a series of life-altering events, leading her from an administrative career to becoming a devoted carer for her family. Her story is one of resilience, driven by personal experiences with sensitive skin conditions, a journey that ultimately led her to the transformative doors of the School of Natural Skincare.

The Prelude to Natural Skincare

Before delving into the realms of formulating natural skincare, Kylie’s life had taken a different trajectory.

“Since I left high school, I fell into administration, until I ended up with an RSI injury. Then after losing my position due to that injury not healing I moved back home, which turned out to be a good thing, because after my dad retired, he got sick. So, I became a carer for my parents.”

Kylie’s daughter’s battle with eczema and her own skin sensitivities sparked a quest for natural remedies. While she was breastfeeding, she noticed a pattern: when her daughter became allergic to something, she would develop the same allergy within months.

In addition, her daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD and ASD, “so there’s a lot of sensitivities there with regards to diet and what goes on the body and into the body.”

Determined to find a solution, she ventured into the world of natural skincare.

“That led me to find somebody who was into making natural products and learning more about tox-free living. And so, I learned a little bit, went online and saw some recipes and things, and then I decided it would be a good idea to actually learn something properly.”

The Quest for Knowledge  

In her pursuit of a solution, Kylie came across the School of Natural Skincare. Enrolling in the Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products provided her with a glimpse into the possibilities of formulating natural skincare products.

With an insatiable appetite for knowledge, she continued to the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, immersing herself in the science behind skincare and the alchemy of ingredient blending. Through this journey, she unlocked the secrets of crafting chemical-free, nature-based skincare solutions.

“I really enjoyed all of the science, learning how the skin works to why the skin doesn’t work at times, and getting into learning about all of that was brilliant.”

Soon, it wasn’t long before Kylie discovered the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club; a membership portal packed with learning resources, from courses and classes, to templates and charts, experiments and reports, formulations, guides, video tutorials and more.

“I’ve learned a lot through [the Club] as well with the extra courses, particularly the mini-courses on pricing and product photography. So now I do all of my own photography.”

Unveiling the Practice, Art and Science of Natural Skincare Formulation

The courses ignited a passion within Kylie, empowering her to experiment and create products tailored to her family’s unique needs. The process was not without its challenges, but armed with newfound knowledge, she mastered the art of formulation. Her confidence surged as she fine-tuned products, addressing concerns like eczema, dermatitis, and skin irritations prevalent within her family.

“It’s given me the confidence that I can make these products, that I can experiment. It’s okay if it flops, because that’s how you learn. And if something hasn’t quite gone right, then I’ve been able to then just go back and have that knowledge to be able to review it…. and altering that formulation to then be able to create that product that we really love.”

Embracing the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Kylie’s journey didn’t just culminate in personal revelations; it ignited an entrepreneurial spark.

Studying at the times she wanted and not being restricted by a set timetable or deadlines worked out perfectly for Kylie, who needed that freedom for health reasons;

“Being somebody that has permanent injuries and two types of arthritis, I needed to find something that I can do at home, that I can set my own hours and work around my body. So, being able to do that, that’s really given me that avenue to be able to now grow into an income stream and hopefully in time be able to support my family using my brand.”

Kylie’s brand, KP Natural Skincare, still in its blossoming stages, has garnered attention at local markets and is progressively expanding online. Through her product range she extends her passion to others seeking natural solutions.

One particular product of interest is Kylie’s Hydrating Body Butter, which has colloidal oatmeal and other ingredients in it to really help hydrate and smooth the skin, especially irritable skin. Hand and Body Lotions, in a range of scents (from strawberries and cream to vanilla) and Foot and Halm Balms, Kylie has developed a number of products that use natural ingredients, to build “a core and solid range”.

Words of Encouragement for Others Natural Beauty Lovers

Her advice to budding formulators resonates with her journey: embrace education, experiment fearlessly, and seek the knowledge needed to craft solutions. She advocates for perseverance and the resilience to learn from failures, as these are the building blocks of success.

“Absolutely look at the course, because that will give you all the knowledge that you do need to be able to gain that confidence, to be able to make the things for yourself and to be able to find everything that you need ingredients-wise.

Because the course does cover so much internationally, which is fantastic, it’s given me the knowledge to know where to go, how to look for the products, how to look for the ingredients, using the INCI names and things like that rather than the trade names to be able to search them in my location.”

Kylie’s Journey Doesn’t End Here

Her vision extends to making KP Natural Skincare a sustainable income source, balancing familial needs and health considerations. She’s on a trajectory to expand her online presence, diversify her product line, and resonate with a broader audience seeking natural skincare solutions.

“I love that creative process. I love to formulate. And that’s what you need when you’re going forward, especially when you’re getting a little bit older. You really need something that you love to do, something that gives you that passion to get up every day and really enjoy it. My passion for the future is to keep that alive, keep that passion and keep that joy in doing what I do.”

Kylie’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of education, passion, and personal experiences in crafting a brand centered on nature’s remedies. Her commitment to creating natural skincare solutions not only benefits her family but also extends a guiding light to others seeking a natural, chemical-free approach to skincare.

“The whole journey has meant so much to me.”

Kylie is an Inspiration! Could You Do Something Similar?

Kylie’s story shows that it doesn’t always have to be about launching your own brand or selling your own natural skincare products. What comes first is a love for natural skincare and a desire to do something meaningful for yourself which was the single most important factor for Kylie.

Through her healing journey she not only managed to solve many of her own skincare problems (as well as her daughters!) but she was able to help many other people in the process and that got her thinking about the possibility of selling her products. It was the natural next step but what helped her to get to that stage was seeing the difference her products made and the fun and creativity she got out of her passion and hobby for making her own skincare products.

Natural skincare products can do so much for us. They can be a great source of joy, fun and creativity. They can be the catalyst to solving skincare problems and promoting healthy, glowing skin. They can be the start of something much greater – a natural beauty brand that offers the same benefits to other people.

All of this is made possible by learning to formulate your own natural skincare products for yourself and that’s something we make possible with our online courses and programs. We teach [people the professional art, science and practice of natural skincare formulation which sees our students bring their passion and DiY spirit and we bring all of the professional methods, techniques and science. This enables students to go beyond the limitations of DiY products and instead into the realm of professional quality natural products that are ready for sale should they wish to do that. 

We teach students of our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation to create products as if they were doing it for their future brand (or their existing brand). This means that they come out with professional quality products as well as the very essence of their brand identity. This is the best place to start for anyone interested in creating their own complete range of products and it helps them to do so without following other people’s recipes.

Take a look at our website here for more information where you can also download a course prospectus and take a free trial. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email us on hello@schoolofnaturalskincare.com .

Lubna Melhem’s path to owning her own natural skincare brand is an inspiring tale of resilience and transformation. A 45-year-old entrepreneur from Tripoli, Lebanon, with an unconventional background in business computer science and HR, Lubna’s journey was set in motion by a life-altering event – a car accident. This accident opened her eyes to the remarkable healing power of natural ingredients and “the power of nature”.

Discovering the School of Natural Skincare

As Lubna embarked on her journey into natural skincare, she felt the need for a better understanding of ingredients and the anatomy of the skin. 

This need led her to the School of Natural Skincare, where she found a wealth of knowledge and resources to nurture her growing passion. Her pursuit wasn’t solely driven by her entrepreneurial spirit; it was about delving deeper into the science and art of natural skincare.

The pivotal point of Lubna’s journey was enrolling in the School of Natural Skincare’s Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation. Her motivation was to create exceptional serums for the face, products that would provide a natural, radiant glow while enhancing the skin’s health. To achieve this, she needed to learn the intricate details of ingredient selection, formulation techniques, and the science behind the products. The course opened up a world of natural skincare possibilities.

Enrolling in the Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation, Lubna learnt everything she needed to know to formulate her own natural, high-performance facial serums and oils from professional cosmetic scientists.

“I enrolled in the advanced serum course because the skin of the face is very sensitive and delicate. So in order to produce a very good serum for the face that gives you the glow and the softness for the skin I have to learn about skin.”

Studying the Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation meant Lubna could learn about skin anatomy, formulating for different skin types; mature and aging, dry, oily and acne-prone skin, sensitive and healthy skin. 

The course also teaches students from around the world about new cutting-edge ingredients like plant oils, esters, botanical extracts, AHAs, BHAs, advanced functional ingredients, vitamins and over 75 active ingredients (that are toning, anti-aging, skin brightening and much more!). 

It is these super-power ingredients that Lubna was attracted to. With a passion for plants and hydrosols, Lubna could advance her knowledge and aptitude. Growing her own plants, she would then “extract from it hydrosols and oils because I know what I’m putting in my products because no chemicals are added to my plants. It’s a trying process, but it’s very beautiful.”

Studying with the School of Natural Skincare

The course at the School of Natural Skincare proved to be an invaluable asset on Lubna’s journey. It offered a structured approach to skincare formulation, covering various aspects, from the ingredients suitable for different skin types to the intricacies of humectants and emulsifiers. Video demonstrations added a practical element to her learning, providing a clear understanding of how to combine ingredients effectively.

“I loved how they categorized each part, like skin for mature skin [etc], and where I can find all the ingredients worldwide. Each session they give to the student, the whole knowledge, the whole package together and the videos… It was amazing.”

The knowledge she gained through the course breathed new life into her passion. It wasn’t just about creating products anymore; it was about creating products that were backed by science, that could truly make a difference for her customers. 

“The quality of [my] products has [gone] to a higher level since I started the course. And the vision of my products and the mindset of how I deliver the product and talk about the product to the customer have changed since I took the course with [the] School of Natural Skincare.”

Advice for Budding Formulators

For those aspiring to venture into the world of natural skincare, Lubna has some valuable advice. She stresses the importance of changing one’s mindset, as it’s the mindset that ultimately shapes the journey; “Always change your mindset. Your mindset is where you are going to reach. Nothing is easy, but you have to work hard for what you dream of”.

Lubna’s story serves as a testament to the fact that hard work, determination, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge can lead to fulfilling one’s dreams.

The Essence of Lubby Lubs

Lubna’s brand, Lubby Lubs, stands for more than just skincare. It represents a commitment to using ingredients she grows herself to ensure quality control. Her products are organic and eco-friendly, packaged in glass containers to minimize the environmental footprint. 

Ultimately, Lubna’s brand is “about anti-aging skincare”: skin brightening face serums with vitamin C for people with hyperpigmentation and dark circles; hyaluronic serums; anti-aging under eye and face creams… “So it’s everything [the customer] needs for the face in anti-aging”.

Lubna’s passion about natural skincare grows every time she receives a call from an elated customer; “When you get a call from your customer telling you, ‘Thank you so much, you saved my life. I have very beautiful skin, that gives you the passion to do more and more and more!” So much so that Lubna is now venturing into products for men like beard oil and balm!

Looking to the future

Lubna’s vision for Lubby Lubs extends far and wide. Her plan is to make her brand accessible to a global audience, leveraging the power of e-commerce and social media. Lubna’s commitment to her craft, her journey from accident recovery to natural skincare entrepreneur, and her dedication to her vision are a source of inspiration for anyone seeking to make a mark in the world of natural skincare.

In Lubna’s story, we find a reminder that success is not just about creating products but about creating products that resonate with a higher purpose – nurturing and enhancing the skin, leveraging the power of nature, and inspiring customers. As she extends her brand, Lubna Melhem is not just crafting skincare; she’s crafting a legacy.

Where to start your own natural skincare journey

If you would like to create something similar to Lubna and follow in her footsteps, then the School of Natural Skincare is here to help you! With a portfolio of online courses, online programs and a membership community, covering the entire natural & organic cosmetic spectrum, we have a course, class or program for you!

From beginners courses such as our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products that teach you to make products by following recipes created by our Cosmetic Scientists to accredited Diploma courses in Skincare Formulation, Haircare Formulation, Makeup Formulation, Soap Formulation and Zero Waste Formulation that teach you how to create your own products from scratch like a professional without following other people’s recipes.

For the more advanced natural cosmetic formulators, you could choose the same course as Lubna, our Advanced Certificate in High-Performance Serum Formulation or become a member of our Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club. This is where you’ll dive into the world of high-performance ingredients, advanced formulation techniques and all manner of topics from formulating natural household cleaning products, creating your own extracts, using bio-fermented ingredients, incorporating probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in your products…and so much more.

If you have any questions, please email our customer service team at hello@schoolofnaturalskincare.com. We’re excited to hear from you and to welcome you to our student & graduate community.

Sometimes a pastime can go beyond just experimenting for fun. Sometimes it can develop into an amazing career or business. And that is just what happened to Adrienn Major, whose budding soapmaking hobby was to become the start of a successful cosmetics brand, thanks to the School of Natural Skincare.

Living in Chile, Adrienn was a passionate vegan, living and cooking by her vegan standards and striving for a colorful, plant-based lifestyle. She regularly bought soaps from her friend, and loved how natural and organic they were. It was that friend who taught Adrienn how to make the soaps herself.

After her first guidance on learning the basics of soapmaking, Adrienn rushed home, opened her kitchen cupboards, and looked for ingredients to color her soaps. This was the beginning of a new passion; “Even though I could only make a few things at that time, I thought that this is going to be my future and I’m going to set up my own business, and I wanted to change my life.”

But it would prove to be a lot more difficult than she first imagined.

The Need for a Credible Natural and Organic Ingredient School

When Adrienn moved to Mexico in the Caribbean, where the climate was very different, “everything turned upside down”. The humidity of her new home was off the charts. No longer could Adrienn make soaps with the same ingredients and amounts as before; “I had to reformulate my formulas, so it was really challenging.”

After some online searching, Adrienn found some not-so helpful DIY sites that offered limited help. “I knew that there’s so much information out there and it’s really difficult to filter what is right, what is not.”

A course was needed that Adrienn could get her teeth into. A course that would help her adapt her formulations to suit the new climate. One that would help her create natural, scientifically truthful and safe products, and that would lead to the business she had dreamed of – “I felt that I needed structured information and something that I can trust”.

Shortly, Adrienn found the School of Natural Skincare and enrolled on some free courses on offer; “I started to dive into this whole new world, and it was really fascinating.”

After the free courses she enrolled onto the hugely popular Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, and “really liked how it’s structured”. Adrienn discovered that the course was “really practical and the information [was] really clear, understandable.”

The Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation changed the way Adrienn created her products. With expert lessons, guidance, and assessments from qualified cosmetic formulators, a more confident side to Adrienn was starting to emerge.

Soon, Adrienn began to use her new knowledge and qualification to start her own natural skincare brand. The need for professionalism was paramount:

“If it was only a hobby, it would be a different thing. But this is my main only source of income, so this is really my business and I know that I have to be focused and structured.”

And it was this focus and attention to detail that came about after her School of Natural Skincare studies:

“I [used to] get this ingredient and I want to make this, and I just jump into it and I do it. But now I try to always sit down and say, okay, get the product development brief, and try to think first, okay, why am I doing that?”

As the teaching continued, Adrienn “gained a lot of confidence during the course” and helped her to “polish” her formulas. The jargon of “ingredients with funny names” was no longer like a foreign language to Adrienn, and she learned more about the business side of formulating, too.

“I was struggling a little bit with the business vision. So, it was really, really helpful how the course shows you how to set up a business and to bear in mind that, okay, you can play formulating for yourself, but if you want to do it for sales, you should always [remember] the steps, why am I doing it? Who am I doing it for? It was really, really helpful.”

From basic products born of a passion for natural ingredients, to a scientific understanding and grasp of business essentials and cosmetic regulations, the Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation covered everything Adrienn needed to know to have a successful brand, and more.

Values that Underlie the Business

But at the heart of what Adrienn creates is her values, many of which are shared with the School of Natural Skincare.

When she first started, veganism was definitely high on Adrienn’s list of values to incorporate into her brand, as was cruelty-free, natural ingredients and avoiding synthetic elements. An additional value that is becoming more and more conventional in natural cosmetic brands, is zero waste.

“When I had this idea to have my own brand, I was only making soaps and shampoo bars, so it was a perfect start for zero-based products. And also living here in the Caribbean, I’m quite obsessed with recycling and the rubbish.”

Adrienn has witnessed the impact non-recyclable packaging can have on the environment, so decided to use as little packaging as possible, and what she did use had to be recyclable.

This important issue of reducing your environmental impact, and upcycling ingredients is explored in our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation, where you can create an entire skincare and haircare range in solid bars or powder concentrates.

“I live 10 minutes from the ocean, it’s a village beach, so it’s always clean, but you go a little bit further and you have all the trash that comes with the ocean.”

Aside from the serious issues of health and the environment, Adrienn hasn’t forgotten the pure enjoyment that comes from creating and formulating.

“It’s creative! It’s really beautiful when I start and then different things come out. I found it fascinating to make different creams and according to oils and extracts and stuff that I mix in, then it comes out one black, one orange, one pink. It’s really beautiful.”

What are These Beautiful Products?

“My brand is called Sayab which means, in Maya, the source of life. My vision was to make a fusion of cosmetics and herbs. So what I do is I include herbs in some forms in each of the products, whether it’s in powder, in the soaps, in the shampoo bars, or an infusion in oils.”

There is one product, Divine Connection, a serum facial oil, that uses ingredients such as energy-cleansing copal (a resin) from the ceiba tree that, according to Mayan mythology, is sacred. Another is Sayab’s Mayan Magic face serum, which harnesses ingredients from the tepezcohuite tree.

“One of the very important characteristics of my brand is that I try to make a fusion of cosmetics and herbalism. So, I use herbs in each of my products. And since I live in Mayan lands, I try to use local herbs.”

Targeted toward “people who care about plants” and the conscious consumer, for whom it’s “important for them not to buy something that comes in plastic”, the Sayab brand is sold on the brand’s website, in vegan stores in four cities, various seasonal markets and even in five-star hotels. The sky really is the limit for Adrienn.

The Future for Sayab Cosmetics

So, what does the future have in store for Adrienn and her business? Ingredients-wise, “I really would like to work with local communities to source the local herbs. Or even maybe to make the production when it’s too big for me to do it alone, to get involved with local people”. 

Regarding the brand’s profile, “…online publicity like Instagram, how to get more followers and all these things are what I need to work on. So, my next step will be to work on the website and online selling.”

And, what advice would Adrienn give to all the formulators out there that have an idea, a dream, a values-driven passion for natural ingredients, but who are doubting their decision to make their hobby a business?

“I think that if you have the call to do this, you should try. I know that sometimes there are difficulties or sometimes there are some obstacles, but if you really feel that you should do this, you should try.”

“It’s really not expensive to make a small production and go to a local market. You can start it very small and try it out to see how it works, and maybe you can go to the next step!”

At the start of Adrienn’s journey she “learned the very, very basic” recipes for making cosmetics, just starting with soapmaking. Now, she has a successful natural, vegan-inspired cosmetic range and a thriving business. What an inspiration!

“I feel quite proud of myself that if I look at where I started it from, the whole design was really basic and the packaging was really basic. And where I got now, it’s like there’s a huge difference. There’s a huge evolution.”

How to kickstart your dream to launch your own natural beauty business?

What we love about Adrienn’s story is how fuelled with passion and desire it is. Adrienn has taken it upon herself to make it happen and she has now turned it into her sole and main source of income.

Whether you believe it to be possible or not, our students are living proof that it can be done and we’re immensely proud of Adrienn’s achievements and we’re extremely grateful to have been part of our journey.

Learning to formulate your own natural skincare products is an art and science and it takes practice too! That’s why we teach all of those facets – the art, science and practice of natural skincare formulation – inside our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation. 

This is an accredited online diploma course that teaches you everything you need to formulate your own complete range of natural & organic skincare products. We teach professional processes and methods using the very highest of industry standards which means that you come out with products that are a cut above the rest – DiY of course but made to professional standards ready to sell and be part of a successful brand.

What’s more, the way we teach students to formulate their own products is as if they were doing so for their brand, or future brand. The process you go through to formulate products is very similar to the process you’d go through to design and create your brand. So why not do both at the same time?

If you’re more interested in creating haircare products, you can check out our Diploma in Natural Haircare Formulation. For soap making, we have our Diploma in Soap Making and for makeup and color cosmetics we have our Diploma in Formulating Natural Makeup and Advanced Color Cosmetics. And finally, for those more interested in zero waste cosmetics, you’ll want to enroll onto our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation.

Please do get in touch with us with any questions you may have. We’re available to help you and all you need to do is email us on hello@schoolofnaturalskincare.com 

Exfoliating sugar scrub bars are a wonderful kind of solid, zero waste skincare product! They can be formulated as body scrub bars or even facial scrub bars. 

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!

If you are a student of ours, or have been following us for a while, you’ll know that many skincare and haircare products need preservatives. Preservatives prevent microbial spoilage that would make the product unsafe for consumers.

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. 

In addition to making and using zero waste beauty products, another fantastic way to create less waste is to use fewer beauty products!

Embracing multi-purpose products and knowing a few beauty hacks can help reduce the number of products you need to make or buy, and therefore the amount of waste you create.

Many of us have been guilty of products gathering dust on bathroom shelves or products not being used up before their expiration date. When you have separate products for every part of your body and products targeted for very specific functions then you are very likely to end up wasting some of them.

In developing our Diploma in Zero Waste Haircare and Skincare Formulation we formulated some gorgeous zero waste products that can easily double up for multiple purposes.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Multi-purpose zero waste beauty products

Some of these products have been formulated to have a dual purpose, eg exfoliating and moisturizing, and others typically have one purpose but can easily double up as something else too, eg using a shampoo bar as a body wash bar.

Solid shampoo bars as body wash bars and shaving bars

Solid shampoo bars are not soap bars. They are made of cleansing surfactants, conditioning emulsifiers and nourishing emollients such as oils and butters. They are gentle cleansers with a hair and skin-friendly pH.

Solid shampoo bars can therefore easily be used as body wash bars too and are also useful if you shave your legs, as they create just the right amount of foam without drying on the skin.

Solid shampoo bars as 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner bars

Shampoo bars can be easily formulated to contain conditioning ingredients too (cationic ingredients, oils, butters and other specialist conditioning ingredients) meaning if you only need a light conditioner for your hair then a shampoo bar can be formulated and used as a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.

Solid facial wash bars as body wash bars

Solid facial wash bars are another surfactant-based bar. They used gentle surfactants and emollients to create a foaming bar that cleanses without drying. Facial wash bars could easily double up as body wash bars, too. 

Hair conditioner bars as in-shower moisturizers or shaving bars

Hair conditioner bars are made from nourishing oils and butters, and conditioning emulsifiers. 

They can double up as shaving bars for those of us who shave our legs as they provide slip and glide for the razor and leave the skin smooth. They can also be used as in-shower moisturizers! 

Solid cleansers and makeup removers

Oil-based cleansing bars also work a treat at removing makeup. The oils in the bar melt away makeup, sunscreen and other oil soluble impurities from the skin.

Exfoliating and moisturizing bars

Solid scrub bars contain nourishing emollients in addition to exfoliating particles meaning your skin is exfoliated and moisturized in one step!

Solid scrub bars can be formulated for the body or the face by choosing the type and amount of exfoliant carefully.

Hand/body wash powder

Powder concentrates are mixed with water at home by the consumer to become liquid products!

Our concentrated hand/body wash powder is suitable to use as a liquid hand wash or a body wash meaning you don’t need two separate products.

Cold process soap bars

Cold process soap bars are a really useful product to have at home as they are perfect for washing the hands and body.

They are a great addition to a zero waste lifestyle as they last a really long time and are economical to make.

Clay-based exfoliating cleansing bar and face mask

Clay-based bars have a solid, pliable, dough-like texture. When mixed with water a soft paste is created which is then applied to the skin, massaged and rinsed off.

To use a face mask, leave the paste on the skin for ten minutes before rinsing off.

To make a 3-in-1 cleanser, mask and exfoliator, add some exfoliating particles to the bar.

Make your own zero waste beauty products

We are so passionate about zero waste beauty products that we have created an entire course dedicated to showing you how to make your own zero waste beauty products, either for yourself or to establish a zero waste beauty brand.

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

Lotion bars are a really popular skincare product to make, especially for beginners, as they are simple to make and effective. 

Lotion bars are one of more than 21 solid, zero waste beauty products you can make. They are so popular that we include them in both our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products and our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation.

Most lotion bar recipes contain beeswax (or another wax) to help create their solid form, but lotion bars don’t need to contain beeswax. 

If you want to create a vegan product, prefer a product with a lighter skin feel, or don’t like the feeling of wax on your skin, then you may be wondering how to make lotion bars without beeswax

Keep reading for our Chocolate Orange Lotion Bar recipe without beeswax. The recipe uses just 4 easy-to-find ingredients and is super simple to make.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• What is a lotion bar?
• Ingredients in a lotion bar.
• Benefits of lotion bars.
• How to use a lotion bar.
• How to store lotion bars.
• Lotion bar molds.
• How to package lotion bars.
• How to make lotion bars without beeswax.
• Chocolate Orange Lotion Bar recipe without beeswax.
• How to make lotion bars step by step.
• Varying the lotion bar recipe without beeswax.
• How to make a lotion bar less oily.
• Adapting lotion bars for different climates.
• Face lotion bars.
• In-shower lotion bars.

Let’s dive in!

What is a lotion bar?

Lotion bars are solid moisturizing bars. They contain nourishing oils and butters like regular lotions do but unlike regular lotions they don’t contain any water.

Lotion bars work wonderfully as moisturizers, providing the skin with nourishing emollients that smooth and soften the skin, helping to keep the skin moisturized by preventing transepidermal water loss. 

However, as they are anhydrous and don’t contain water or humectants, they don’t hydrate the skin in the same way that regular lotions do.

Depending on the ingredients chosen they can be formulated as body lotion bars, facial serum bars, massage bars or in-shower lotion bars.

Ingredients in a lotion bar

Lotion bars contain:

• Butters.
• Carrier oils.
• Waxes (optional).
• Essential oils (optional).
• Vitamin E (optional).

As the bars need to set and stay firm at room temperature they will either contain a wax such as beeswax or a high quantity of a hard butter such as cocoa butter.

Essential oils are a nice addition to a lotion bar and Vitamin E will help extend the shelf life.

Benefits of lotion bars

We love making lotion bars! They are:

1. Really easy to make. Simply melt and mix all of the ingredients and pour them into a mold to set.
2. Use just a few ingredients – butters, oils and sometimes waxes.
3. Zero waste. Their solid format means that they don’t need to be packaged in a bottle or jar like a regular lotion or cream.
4. Long lasting. As they are very concentrated products you only need to apply a little, meaning they last for a long time.
5. No preservatives required. As they are anhydrous (waterless) they don’t need preservatives.

How to use a lotion bar

If you’re new to lotion bars you might be wondering how to use them. Lotion bars are really easy to use, you simply rub the bar onto your skin and the warmth of the skin will melt a little of the product. Rub in the melted product for soft and smooth skin. Apply to legs, arms and torso as required.

How to store lotion bars

As lotion bars melt when they get warm, the most important factor when choosing how to store lotion bars is to keep them somewhere cool. This usually means away from sunlight and other warm places. Storing them somewhere cool and dark is ideal. If you live in a very hot climate you may like to store your lotion bar in the fridge.

Lotion bar molds

To create the solid shape of a lotion bar, a mold is required. Silicone molds work really well and there are lots of shapes and sizes to choose from. 

Silicone molds are flexible, making it easy to remove the finished bar once it’s set.

How to package lotion bars

Lotion bars themselves are solid bars and therefore don’t require typical lotion packaging such as bottles, jars or tubes. 

To keep your lotion bar in good condition it’s a good idea to store it in a reusable container between uses. Any kind of container would work such as a tin, jar or box. Just remember that the bar contains oil, so something made of cardboard or paper may get oily.

How to make lotion bars without beeswax

Beeswax is an oil thickener and occlusive, and is often used in lotion bar recipes to help create the solid form of the lotion bar. It is really effective at this but it is also possible to make a lotion bar without beeswax if you wish to make a vegan product or don’t like the feeling of wax on your skin.

You could use an alternative vegan wax such as candelilla wax or carnauba wax, or you could omit wax altogether and instead use a higher percentage of butters to create the solid form of the bar.

Using a wax will give a firmer consistency and will create more of a barrier or protective (occlusive) layer on the skin. 

While cocoa butter is also an occlusive that will help to prevent transepidermal water loss and keep the skin moitsurized, cocoa butter is more easily absorbed and has a lighter skin feel than beeswax.

In our recipe, we have decided not to use any wax and use more cocoa butter instead. 

Cocoa butter also gives our lotion bar a wonderful chocolate aroma!

Chocolate Orange Lotion Bar recipe without beeswax

To make our lotion bar without beeswax you need just 4 ingredients!

This lotion bar smells absolutely wonderful, just like chocolate orange, and is so lovely to use on the skin. It is vegan and 100% natural, and can be 100% organic, too, if you choose to use organic butters and oils.

If you enjoy the smell of chocolate then make sure you don’t use deodorized cocoa butter. On the other hand if you don’t like the smell of chocolate then a deodorized cocoa butter would be a good choice.

For a 100 gram batch (about 3.5 oz) you will need:

80g cocoa butter

18.9g cold pressed sunflower oil (or another carrier oil of your choice such as peach kernel, apricot kernel, etc)

1g orange essential oil

0.1g Vitamin E

How to make lotion bars step by step

For the greatest accuracy, we recommend using digital scales to weigh all of your ingredients (including the liquid ones). This is far more professional and accurate than using cups, spoons, drops, etc.

You’ll need to melt the ingredients together by creating a double boiler (bain-marie) or by using a laboratory hot plate if you have one.

1. Place the cocoa butter and sunflower oil in a heat proof container, like a Pyrex jug or lab beaker.
2. Place your container in a double boiler/bain-marie or on a hot plate, and heat gently until the butter has melted. Stir with a spoon or spatula to ensure the mixture is fully melted and combined.
3. Once melted, remove the container from the heat and let it cool a little.
4. Add the essential oil and Vitamin E, and stir well. 
5. Pour your product into your chosen molds.
6. Place the molds in the fridge for one to two hours to cool and harden.
7. Once your lotion bar has cooled and hardened it can be removed from the mold and stored in a dark and cool place.

Varying the lotion bar recipe without beeswax

The recipe provided is a reliable recipe and a great starting point for creating a custom recipe if you wish.

You can substitute the carrier oil for any other carrier oil of your choice, or use a combination of several carrier oils. 

You can also use any essential oil of your choice (or a combination). For fun, you could also add some colored mica for a hint of sparkle.

When you become a more skilled skincare formulator you can experiment with different butters, too. As this recipe relies on butter for its solid form you need to be careful to use enough hard butters in the recipe.

You may also wish to adjust the recipe for your climate.

How to make a lotion bar less oily

People often ask how to make a lotion bar feel less oily. Simply put, as lotion bars are made almost completely of butters, oils and waxes, they are always going to be a more oily feeling product. 

We like the emolliency provided by lotion bars and if you use just a little and allow time for the oils to absorb, then the afterfeel is soft and smooth rather than greasy.

You can choose to use lighter or drier feeling carrier oils but ultimately you can’t change the oil-based nature of these products.  

Adapting lotion bars for different climates

The consistency of your lotion bar will be affected by the temperature at which it is stored, which means that you might need to adjust the recipe for your climate or current season of

the year. 

In hotter months and in warmer climates, the recipe may require more cocoa butter for the lotion bar to stay firm. If you find the recipe provided too soft, decrease the amount of liquid oils by a few grams and increase the amount of hard butters by the same number of grams. 

On the other hand, if you find the bar is too hard and doesn’t melt easily when rubbed on the skin, decrease the amount of cocoa butter and increase the amount of liquid oils in the recipe. This will likely take a bit of trial and error to adjust the recipe for your climate

perfectly. Start by changing the amounts by 2-3%.

In hot climates it can also be helpful to add wax to the recipe to increase the melting point further if necessary. Vegan waxes can be used if preferred.

Face lotion bars

Typically, lotion bars are used on the body, but it is possible to make a solid face lotion bar or even solid facial serum. 

Solid facial serums contain a higher percentage of speciality or luxury oils and butters, along with oil soluble active ingredients, vitamins and botanical extracts that provide special benefits to the skin such as Vitamin C and coenzyme Q10. Melt a little of the bar onto the fingertips and apply to the skin. 

You’ll learn to formulate solid facial serum bars as part of our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation

In-shower lotion bars

In-shower lotion bars, also known as in-shower body oil/moisturizers, are a wonderful variation on a lotion bar. They are used in the shower as the final step of a shower routine: rub against the skin after cleansing to leave the skin feeling moisturized and soft. 

You’ll learn to formulate in-shower lotion bars as part of our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation

Make your own zero waste beauty products

If you like the solid and zero waste nature of lotion bars plus how easy they are to make, then you’ll be excited to discover there are many more solid beauty products you can make, too!

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, and 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 new course!

It’s possible to replace almost every product in your skincare routine with a solid, zero waste product!

But did you know that not all solid bar formulas are the same?

There are actually five main types of solid bar formulas that you can make: emollient-based bars, surfactant-based bars, powder-based bath bombs, clay-based bars and cold-process soap bars! Each serves a different purpose and is suitable for different types of products. Let’s delve in and learn more!

1. Emollient-based bars

These are fairly simple formulations that use emollients (eg carrier oils and butters) as the base and lipid thickeners (eg waxes, fatty alcohols) to give them their solid form. The ingredients are heated together so the solid ingredients melt, then poured into a mold. 

To make emollient-based bars easier to wash off you can include emulsifiers in the formula.

It’s even possible to add certain kinds of surfactants to these products to aid with rinse-off, but note that as surfactants are water soluble not all surfactants are suitable for solid oil-based products. In our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation we’ll explain which surfactants you can include and how to incorporate them.

You can include exfoliants to make them into scrub bars for the face or body!

Emollient-based bars need to be formulated to melt easily on the skin, but remain solid at room temperature. This means the formula needs to be adapted to the climate, since hotter climates will require harder bars with a higher percentage of lipid thickeners.

Cleansing bars, make-up remover bars and scrub bar

Emollient-based bars are great for oil cleansers, makeup removers and exfoliating scrub bars.

The oils in the bar melt away makeup, sunscreen and other oil soluble impurities from the skin, making them a perfect choice for step one of two-step face cleansing.

The bar is used by rubbing it on dry or wet skin, so that the emollients melt and release a gentle cleansing oil. Massage the oil on the skin, then rinse with warm water.

Solid moisturizers, lotion bars, serum bars and massage bars

Emollient-based bars work wonderfully as moisturizers, providing the skin with nourishing emollients that smooth and soften the skin and helping to keep the skin moisturized by preventing transepidermal water loss.

Depending on the ingredients chosen they can be formulated as lotion bars, facial serum bars and massage bars!

Hair conditioner bars

Solid hair conditioners also fall into the category of solid emollient-based bars. The main difference is that they need to contain a high amount of a specific kind of emulsifier that will provide conditioning properties to the hair.

Bath melts

Bath melts are another type of solid emollient-based bar. Simply drop one in the bath for a relaxing bath and emerge with soft, nourished skin. You can even include special emulsifiers to help the oils disperse in the bath water.

2. Surfactant-based bars

Surfactant-based bars are very good at cleansing. As the name suggests, these are mainly based on surfactants, which give the products their cleansing function and which also create lather and foam.

In order to make them solid enough, the majority of surfactants need to be in solid form (powder, prill, pellets) with just a small quantity of liquid surfactants. 

To make them more gentle, nourishing emollients (such as carrier oils, butter or fatty alcohol) can be added to the formula.

Two main methods can be used to make surfactant-based bars and you’ll learn both on our Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation. 

To use a surfactant-based bar, simply rub it on wet skin or hair. Massage the skin or hair with your hands to create some lather, then rinse off.

Solid shampoo bars

Solid shampoo bars are a great example of surfactant-based bars. True shampoo bars are not soap bars but rather use surfactants to provide effective and gentle cleaning of the hair and scalp.

Body wash bars and facial cleansing bars

If you prefer not to use soap bars then you’ll love body wash bars and facial cleansing bars. They may look like soap bars but they are not!

Surfactants provide gentle cleansing, and emollients provide skin moisturizing and nourishing properties.

Bubble bath bars and shower bombs

A fun use of surfactant-based bars are bubble bath bars! They are crumbled under running water to create an abundance of foam and are a wonderful replacement for liquid bubble baths packaged in a bottle.

Shower bombs become a creamy, foaming paste that can be lathered against the skin to cleanse it, creating a novel shower experience.

3. Powder-based bath bombs

Bath bombs fall into a category of their own! They contain a variety of powders – citric acid and sodium bicarbonate are the main ingredients – and are pressed into molds to create solid shapes.

It is really fun to experiment with different colors and shapes, and including extra ingredients like dried botanicals or sparkly mica.

Bath truffles are similar to bath bombs but they contain butters to make them extra nourishing.

4. Clay-based soft bars

A third type of solid formulation is based on clay. These products do not have the same solid consistency as the first two formula types but instead have a soft pliable dough texture that can be molded into a bar shape.

Perfect for multi-purpose cleansers and face masks, these zero-waste cleansing bars create a tactile, sensory experience as the user transforms them into a soft paste by mixing them with water. The paste is applied to the skin, massaged and rinsed off. 

5. Cold pressed soap bars

Cold process soap bars are a category of zero waste beauty product in their own right! Soap bars provide gentle and effective cleansing for the skin.

Cold process soap bars are made via saponification; the chemical reaction that takes place between fat (for example, plant oil, plant butter or animal fat) and sodium hydroxide, also called ‘lye’. 

The fatty acids and unsaponifiables in the natural oils and butters used to make soap give the soap nourishing and softening properties. Soap contains glycerin too – a humectant that moisturizes the skin.

When choosing which zero waste beauty products to make, you can choose to get into cold process soap making too, or not. As you can see, the choice of solid, zero waste beauty products you can make is huge even without soap bars. 

Make your own zero waste beauty products

We hope you are excited by all the formulations it’s possible to create!

Our brand new online Diploma in Zero Waste Skincare and Haircare Formulation teaches you to formulate the first four types of solid products – and you can add on cold process soap bars too, if you like!

You’ll learn to formulate a huge range of zero waste beauty products 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.