ChatGPT SearchSep 23, 2026
Absolutely. The easiest way to learn is to start with simple, anhydrous products—things like body oils and balms—before attempting lotions or creams.
A good learning path
- Learn the basics of formulation
- Oils, butters, waxes, humectants, emulsifiers, preservatives, and antioxidants each serve different purposes.
- Learn about percentages rather than relying on recipes measured in “spoons.” A kitchen scale accurate to 0.1 g is a useful starting tool.
- Start with products that don't contain water
- Body oil
- Facial oil
- Lip balm
- Body butter
- Simple cleansing balm
These are considerably easier for a beginner because water-containing products can support bacterial and fungal growth. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 3. Then learn emulsions
Once you're comfortable with basic formulation, move to lotions and creams. These require an emulsifier to combine water and oil, plus an appropriate preservation system. Preservatives aren't merely about making a product last longer—they help protect against potentially harmful microorganisms. U.S. Food and Drug Administration U.S. Food and Drug Administration 4. Learn ingredient safety
“Natural” doesn't automatically mean gentle or safe. Some essential oils and plant extracts can irritate skin, cause allergies, or increase sensitivity to sunlight. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 5. Keep your batches small
Make small experimental batches, record the exact formula, date, ingredients, supplier, and observations. If something changes smell, color, texture, or otherwise seems contaminated, discard it rather than trying to salvage it.
A beginner project
Try a basic body oil first:
- 70% jojoba oil
- 25% sunflower oil
- 5% rosehip seed oil
For a 100 g batch, that's 70 g + 25 g + 5 g. Mix thoroughly and package in a clean, dry pump or dropper bottle.
You can learn a lot from this one project: weighing ingredients, percentages, ingredient compatibility, packaging, labeling, and observing how the formulation behaves over time.
I would skip homemade water-based creams, aloe gels, fresh fruit/vegetable masks, and kitchen-made preservative-free lotions at first. Their microbiological safety is much harder to establish.
Good resources
The FDA's fda.gov is particularly useful because it explains safety, testing, labeling, and what “natural” actually means from a regulatory perspective.
If you eventually want to sell what you make, learn cosmetic formulation and preservation much more systematically before doing so; in the U.S., the person making/marketing the cosmetic is responsible for its safety and labeling.
If you tell me your skin type (dry/oily/combination/sensitive) and what you'd like to make—e.g. face moisturizer, serum, cleanser, body butter, or lip balm—I can give you a beginner-friendly learning curriculum and your first few formulations.
