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Learn how to formulate and create professional-grade natural skincare products for home or retail.
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*Please note that many of the associations listed under ‘CEUs/PDAs’ do not formally pre-approve online courses for credits, and thus require the student to track their own online course hours to submit for approval for their annual CEU/PDA requirements.
Nicolina, a visionary entrepreneur in the world of holistic skincare, embarked on a remarkable journey that took her from a small hobby farm in Finland to becoming the founder of a successful natural skincare company in Canada. In her early twenties, fueled by an insatiable curiosity for the world, Nicolina set out on a life-changing adventure of global exploration. Her travels exposed her to diverse cultures, traditional skincare practices, and the bountiful benefits of indigenous botanicals. Drawn by Canada's captivating landscapes and bountiful medicinal nature, Nicolina decided to settle down on beautiful Vancouver Island, eager to contribute her knowledge and experiences to the skincare world. Embracing her love for holistic wellness, she pursued formal training in skincare formulating and holistic nutrition. Nicolina's unwavering dedication to the principles of natural beauty and wellness led her to establish her own natural skincare company. Armed with her knowledge of traditional herbalism and modern formulating, she crafted a range of products that quickly attracted a devoted clientele. Beyond building a thriving business, Nicolina has become an educator and social figure, empowering people to embrace natural skincare practices that resonate with their individual needs. Through online courses, 1:1 consultations, and insightful content, she is guiding others on the path of holistic self-care and the art of nurturing their skin and bodies with the gifts of nature. In the ever-evolving landscape of beauty, Nicolina's story remains a testament to the power of passion, exploration, and a deep-rooted love for all things natural. As she paves the way for a more conscious approach to skincare, Nicolina's impact reaches far and wide, touching lives and leaving a lasting legacy of genuine beauty and well-being.
In a world of giant corporate beauty conglomerates trying to keep up with the increasingly popular clean beauty trend, greenwashing has become a big selling strategy to make a product seem greener, cleaner, and more natural. But, if you have a basic understanding of cosmetic ingredients, it’s easy to see that many of these “all-natural” products are anything but natural. As a matter of fact, there aren’t any standardized criteria for what a clean or natural cosmetic product is. Therefore, this aspect falls solely on the manufacturers’ discretion. As a result, the independent beauty (“indie beauty”) movement bolstered, referring to beauty and cosmetic brands that exist without any significant financial backing from umbrella cosmetics companies and are independently owned and operated.
This is where Nicolina enters. She’s a certified esthetician (ESTI) and registered holistic nutritionist (RHN) with a major in chemistry. She have been formulating and making skincare products since 2010, and founded the all-vegan indie beauty brand Matka Botanicals in 2018, creating clean, plant-based and affordable skincare products.
Ever wonder what it would be like to formulate your own high-end beauty products with a full understanding of the process and control over the quality and ingredients? It’s easier than you think, and you don’t need to be a scientist to become one.
This course was created for anyone who wants to learn more about true natural skincare and how you can start making your own beautiful, nourishing, and clean formulations from home to share with your family and friends and even start selling.
This course is meant to educate and provide knowledge and understanding of the basics of formulating using proper techniques and equipment, safety standards, sanitization protocols, recipe creation and scaling, preserving your products, filling out and submitting cosmetic notification forms to Health Canada if you intend on selling your products in Canada, along with a set of easily adaptable recipes and video demonstrations that the student will be able to tailor to their own needs and unique desires.
Specific recipes covered in this course will include:
Every recipe comes complete with a live demonstration, detailed instructions, full ingredient lists, and step-by-step guidance. All ingredients are chosen for easy sourcing and utilize only kitchen equipment readily available at home, allowing for effortless adaptation and customization based on your unique needs and preferences.
This course not only teaches you the basics of skincare formulating, but it will also take your fundamental skills to the next level and set you apart from your competition with high-end, more advanced skills and techniques of a cosmetic formulator.
Excited to get started? This course offers flexible options to suit your goals and budget:
Want a sneak peek at the ingredients and equipment you’ll explore? Just drop us a line at support@pacificrimcollege.online, and we’ll happily share an example list.
Remember, this course is all about your personal formulation adventure. Start small or go all in – the choice is yours!
Section I | Introduction
1. Introduction
2. Course Outline
Section II | Getting Started
3. Equipment
4. Skin Types
Quiz
Section III | Formulation Basics
5. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
6. Sanitizing your workspace and equipment
7. Converting a skincare recipe from % to g
Quiz
Section IV | Raw Material
8. Carrier oils, butters, waxes
9. Essential oils, fragrance oils, hydrosols
10. Emollients, humectants
11. Preservatives, antioxidants
12. Emulsifiers, co-emulsifiers, fatty esters, gums, solubilizers
13. Surfactants
14. Colorants
15. pH modulators, chelators
16. Active ingredients, botanical extracts, fruit extracts
Quiz
Section V | Recipes + Demonstrations
17. Infusions
18. Brightening Lemon & Papaya Cleanser
19. Anti-redness Rose Toner
20. Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Boosting Serum
21. Rich Ceramide Moisturizer
22. Soothing Avocado Face Mask
23. Arctic Berry Resurfacing Drops
24. Lightweight Nettle Hair Growth Oil
25. Raspberry Sorbet Body Scrub
26. Nourishing Coconut Body Butter
27. Minty Shower Gel
Section VI | Batch Tracking & Stability Testing
28. Batch tracking and stability testing
Quiz
29. Conclusion
End of course quiz
Enjoy the highest quality online education, from curriculum through to production.
“I am an esthetician and am considering making my own skincare…Nicolina taught this course very well. She provided a lot of valuable and important information. I feel like I learned a ton. “
Heather - California, USA
“Recommended for all levels. Inspiring, and intriguing.”
Tara Mundy - Burns Lake, BC, Canada
“This is a beautifully created course jam-packed with excellent information. Nicolina is a fantastic teacher who gracefully balances teaching an abundance of content without being overwhelming. Overall, this is a comprehensive course, particularly for its length, and I highly recommend it. I would love Pacific Rim College to make more!”
Barbara B. - Los Angeles, Cal, USA
“A very educational course. Would recommend it to anyone looking to get started in making and selling their own natural products.”
Karisa Neufeld - Chilliwack, BC, Canada
“I really enjoyed this course! I found it engaging, informative and demystifying. Making high quality products at home is not as complicated or intimidating as it once seemed, and I’m grateful to have learned not only how to make but also how to think about formulating cleansers and other products that are better suited to my skin type AND less expensive than the ones I have been buying for years.”
Ashton - Langford, BC, Canada
“I have been using Nicolina’s professional skincare products for about a year now. My skin has never looked better. They are such high-quality, all-natural ingredients, and really work. I am so excited to now be able to make some of my own products.”
Gillian - Kamloops, BC, Canada
“Such clear teachings from a true expert. I think I may make a couple of these products as Christmas gifts this year!”
Student - BC, Canada
“Wow, this course is exactly what I was looking for. As an herbalist, I’ve been making my own basic salves and scrubs for years, but this has taken my skills and knowledge to a whole new level. I’ve been using the products I made in this course and they are so beautiful and luxurious plus, my skin feels calm and happy. I’m customizing the recipes I learned in the course, and hope to start selling my own skincare products later this year. Thank you Nicolina!!”
Liz - Victoria, BC, Canada