I make skincare products. I teach other people how to make skincare products. I believe in handmade formulation, ingredient education, proper procedure, preservation, stability, testing, and understanding what we are actually making before we put products on our skin or into someone else’s hands. But there is a hard line. DIY sunscreen is where handmade skincare needs to stop. This is not me being anti-handmade, it’s literally what I’ve been doing for over 24 years. This is n

There is a big difference between making a product and formulating a product. And honestly, this is one of the most important conversations indie makers need to have before they start selling lotions, creams, serums, cleansers, micellar waters, gels, toners, or anything else that contains water. Because a lot of people use the word “formulating” when what they really mean is “following a recipe.” That is not meant as an insult. DIY making has value. It is how a lot of people

The words clean, natural, non-toxic, and chemical-free get thrown around constantly in the handmade skincare and soapmaking world. You see it in Facebook groups, social media comments, product descriptions, ingredient fear lists, and even from makers who are trying to sound more trustworthy to their customers. And I understand why it happens. People want safer products. They want to avoid unnecessary irritation. They want to feel confident about what they are putting on their

How supplier product names hide ingredient overlap, confuse inventory, and cost formulators money Cosmetic makers often buy the same raw material twice because suppliers sell identical INCI ingredients under different trade names. Here’s how to spot duplicates, compare suppliers correctly, and organize your inventory smarter. You do not always need more ingredients. Sometimes you just need to realize you already own them. One of the biggest mistakes beginning formulators make