Cosmetic Formulation Science
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Cosmetic Formulation Science
This course is part of Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients Specialization
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What you'll learn
Develop skills in selecting and using cosmetic raw materials
Understand the essentials of cosmetic formulation and laboratory safety
Learn effective documentation techniques for cosmetic science.
Acquire practical knowledge in writing and processing cosmetic formulas
Skills you'll gain
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There are 5 modules in this course
This course is part of the Cosmetic Science Specialization. This course explores the science and practice of cosmetic formulation, guiding you from foundational raw material selection to advanced product optimization and performance evaluation. You will examine surfactants, emulsifiers, preservatives, rheology modifiers, and additives, while developing safe and effective laboratory practices, accurate documentation, and quantitative formulation skills. As the course progresses, you will apply formulation mathematics, interpret Certificates of Analysis, and compare skincare system designs to support stable, high-performing products. In the final module, you will integrate testing data, troubleshoot formulation challenges, and justify product design decisions using real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, you will be prepared to design, evaluate, and refine cosmetic formulations with scientific rigor and professional confidence.
Welcome to Cosmetic Formulation Science. This is the second course in the P&G Cosmetic Science Specialization program. In this module, you explore the fundamentals of cosmetic formulation with a specific focus on cosmetic raw materials and their role in product development. You examine how raw materials contribute to different cosmetic product functions, how they are classified by formulation purpose, and how compatibility, stability, and performance influence selection decisions. Through guided learning, discussions, and applied activities, you begin to develop the analytical skills needed to evaluate raw material choices in real formulation contexts. This module establishes the essential foundation for deeper study of formulation chemistry, laboratory practice, and product design in the modules that follow. Let’s begin!
What's included
8 videos9 readings4 assignments2 discussion prompts
8 videos•Total 30 minutes
- Introduction to the Program•4 minutes
- Course Introduction•3 minutes
- What Is Cosmetic Formulation?•3 minutes
- Goals of Cosmetic Formulation•2 minutes
- Importance of Raw Materials•5 minutes
- Types of Cosmetic Raw Materials•4 minutes
- Selection, Sourcing, and Impact of Raw Materials in Cosmetic Science•4 minutes
- Formulation Goals and Trade-Off Decisions•3 minutes
9 readings•Total 103 minutes
- Course Syllabus•5 minutes
- Meet Your Instructors•10 minutes
- How To Be Successful in This Course•3 minutes
- Foundations of Cosmetic Formulation•15 minutes
- Cosmetic Formulation Goals•15 minutes
- Skincare Product Categories•15 minutes
- Impact on Formulation•15 minutes
- Early-Stage Formulation Stability Factors•15 minutes
- Exemplar: Raw Material Case Brief—Match Ingredients to Stability Goals•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 160 minutes
- Checkpoint: Module 1•50 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Basics of Cosmetic Formulation•20 minutes
- Hands-On Activity: Raw Material Case Brief—Match Ingredients to Stability Goals•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Cosmetic Fomulation Raw Materials•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 90 minutes
- Introduce Yourself•45 minutes
- Everyday Beauty: Your Cosmetics Encounter•45 minutes
Welcome to the Raw Materials module. In this module, you focus on the ingredient systems that shape cosmetic formulation, including surfactants, emulsifiers, preservatives, rheology modifiers, and functional additives. You examine how molecular structure, charge, and compatibility influence cleansing, foaming, stability, texture, and overall product performance. You also use the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) system to guide emulsifier selection and consider preservation approaches based on the mechanism of action, pH, and microbial risk. Through guided learning and applied analysis, you begin to justify raw material choices in relation to product claims, safety, and consumer use. Let's begin!
What's included
25 videos7 readings7 assignments
25 videos•Total 100 minutes
- General Surfactant Structure and Behavior•4 minutes
- Anionic Surfactants•6 minutes
- Cationic Surfactants•4 minutes
- Amphoteric Surfactants•5 minutes
- Nonionic/No Charge Surfactant•4 minutes
- Introduction to Emulsions and Types of Emulsifers•5 minutes
- The HLB Scale•4 minutes
- Anionic Emulsifiers•4 minutes
- Cationic Emulsifiers•3 minutes
- Nonionic Emulsifiers•4 minutes
- Liquid Crystal and Polymeric Emulsifiers•3 minutes
- What are Preservatives?•5 minutes
- Classes of Preservatives•4 minutes
- Traditional Preservation—Parabens and Formaldehyde Donors•4 minutes
- Determining Risk: When Do You Need Preservation?•5 minutes
- What Is a Rheology Modifier?•5 minutes
- Starches and Gums•5 minutes
- Fatty Acids and Waxes•3 minutes
- Polymers and Synthetic Materials•3 minutes
- Fragrances and Flavors•3 minutes
- Extracts and Plant-Based Functionals•3 minutes
- Colorants•3 minutes
- OTC Active Pharmaceutial Ingredients (APIs)•3 minutes
- Formulating with Fragrances, Colorants, and OTCs•5 minutes
- Understanding Polymer and Rheology Behavior•6 minutes
7 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Raw Materials•2 minutes
- Surfactants•15 minutes
- Designing Stable Cosmetic Emulsions•15 minutes
- Comparing Anionic and Cationic Emulsifiers in Cosmetic Formulation•15 minutes
- Formulation Hurdles—the Impacts of Preservatives•8 minutes
- Exemplar: Hurdle Technologies•10 minutes
- OTC Ingredient Use in Cosmetics•15 minutes
7 assignments•Total 245 minutes
- Checkpoint: Module 2•50 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Surfactants•30 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Emulsifiers•40 minutes
- Hands-On Activity: Hurdle Technologies•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Preservatives•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Rheology Modifiers•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Additives•35 minutes
Welcome to the Working in the Lab module. In this module, you focus on safe, compliant, and effective laboratory practice in cosmetic formulation. You learn how to interpret laboratory safety designations, select and use appropriate personal protective equipment, and apply best practices that protect product integrity and regulatory compliance. You also examine the correct use of processing and analytical equipment, as well as accurate documentation methods that support traceability and reproducibility. Through guided learning and applied practice, you develop the practical judgment needed to work responsibly in a cosmetic laboratory environment. Let’s begin!
What's included
13 videos7 readings6 assignments
13 videos•Total 58 minutes
- Appropriate Dress and PPE•3 minutes
- Laboratory Safety Equipment•5 minutes
- Best Practices in a Cosmetic Laboratory•4 minutes
- Overhead Mixers and Stirrers•3 minutes
- Propellers and Blades•6 minutes
- Homogenizers and Dispersers•7 minutes
- Heating Equipment and Consumables•5 minutes
- pH Probes•3 minutes
- Viscometers•4 minutes
- Pycnometers•4 minutes
- Overview—Scientific Process and Importance of Record Keeping•4 minutes
- Note-Taking and Labeling Practices•3 minutes
- Lab Calibration and Density Testing•8 minutes
7 readings•Total 87 minutes
- Working in the Lab•2 minutes
- Safety Systems and Protective Equipment in the Cosmetic Laboratory•15 minutes
- Best Practices for Safety, Quality, and Compliance in the Cosmetic Laboratory•15 minutes
- Exemplar: Appropriate Dress and PPE•10 minutes
- Overhead Mixing and Controlled Shear in Cosmetic Formulation•15 minutes
- Laboratory Notebooks: Digital and Tangible•15 minutes
- Digital Records•15 minutes
6 assignments•Total 175 minutes
- Checkpoint: Module 3•50 minutes
- Hands-On Activity: Appropriate Dress and PPE•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Safety and PPE •10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Technical Processing Equipment•20 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Heating Equipment & Consumables•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Documentation•20 minutes
Welcome to the Formulating Products module. In this module, you focus on the core principles used to design and document effective skincare formulations. You learn how to interpret and apply INCI, trade, and IUPAC names, calculate and convert weight percentages, and organize ingredient addition to support stability and efficient processing. You also compare common classes of skincare formulations based on function, texture, and target skin needs. Finally, you examine how Certificates of Analysis and product specifications are used to confirm raw material quality and formulation performance. Together, these skills support accurate, stable, and well-documented cosmetic product development. Let's begin !
What's included
9 videos5 readings6 assignments
9 videos•Total 40 minutes
- INCIs, Trade Names, and IUPAC Names•7 minutes
- Weight Percent, Mass Percent, and Mass•5 minutes
- Order of Addition and Phases•4 minutes
- Oil-in-Water Emulsions•4 minutes
- Anhydrous Formulations•3 minutes
- Surfactant Systems•4 minutes
- Gel Systems•4 minutes
- What Is a Certificate of Analysis?•3 minutes
- Formulation Troubleshooting and Phase Stability•7 minutes
5 readings•Total 55 minutes
- Formulating Products•2 minutes
- Water-in-Oil Emulsions•15 minutes
- Determining Specifications•15 minutes
- How To Write Cosmetic Product Specifications•15 minutes
- Exemplar: Determining Product Specifications in Cosmetic Formulation•8 minutes
6 assignments•Total 230 minutes
- Checkpoint: Module 4•50 minutes
- Activity: Create a Processing Procedure•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Formula Sheets•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Common Classes of Skincare Formulations•25 minutes
- Hands on Activity: Determining Product Specifications in Cosmetic Formulation•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Certificate of Analysis and Analytical •20 minutes
Welcome to Advanced Cosmetic Formulation Practices, the final module in this course. In this module, you will apply formulation knowledge to real-world cosmetic product development. You will analyze product briefs, interpret laboratory test results, and evaluate performance against defined specifications and compliance requirements. You will investigate formulation challenges, optimize ingredient selection and processing conditions, and justify evidence-based design decisions. The module concludes with professional documentation and communication of formulation outcomes, preparing you to translate laboratory work into clear technical and regulatory reporting. By the end of this module, you will be able to integrate scientific reasoning, testing data, and formulation strategy to support effective cosmetic product development. Let’s begin!
What's included
8 videos12 readings7 assignments
8 videos•Total 44 minutes
- Formulation Overview •5 minutes
- Interpreting Sample Data and Test Protocols•5 minutes
- Testing Protocols in Cosmetic Product Evaluation•6 minutes
- Interpreting Compliance and Quality Reports•5 minutes
- Identifying Formulation Failures and Root Causes•6 minutes
- Documentation and Continuous Improvement•6 minutes
- Documenting Product Finalization•5 minutes
- Ethical Responsibility and Transparency in Cosmetic Science•6 minutes
12 readings•Total 165 minutes
- Understanding the Product Brief and Requirements•15 minutes
- Translating Objectives Into a Formulation Plan•15 minutes
- Exemplar: From Brief to Bench—Translating Product Concepts into Lab Practice•10 minutes
- Setting and Interpreting Product Specifications•15 minutes
- Performance Testing and Consumer Claims Substantiation•15 minutes
- Assessing Quality: From Data to Decision in Cosmetic Product Evaluation•15 minutes
- Adjusting Raw Materials and Process Parameters•15 minutes
- Revalidation and Comparative Testing•15 minutes
- Writing Technical and Regulatory Reports•15 minutes
- Communicating Results to Stakeholders•15 minutes
- From Bench to Boardroom: Communicating Cosmetic Science With Integrity•15 minutes
- Course Wrap-Up•5 minutes
7 assignments•Total 295 minutes
- Checkpoint: Module 5•50 minutes
- Hands-On Activity: From Brief To Bench—Translating Product Concepts Into Lab Practice•60 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Applying Formulation Science to a Real-World Product Brief•25 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Evaluating Product Performance and Specification Compliance•25 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Formulation Optimization and Problem-Solving in Cosmetic Product Development•20 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Documenting and Justifying Cosmetic Formulation Outcomes•25 minutes
- Project: Create Your Cosmetic Formula•90 minutes
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Reviewed on Dec 17, 2025
Amazing course with well defined modules perfect for new learners of cosmetic formulation science
Reviewed on Jun 15, 2024
Good course, but some questions are asked before you even get to that part of learning.
Reviewed on Sep 24, 2024
This course has given me a more in-depth understanding of the cosmetic formulation process.
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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