Last night I was reviewing one of the last formulas that will be released this year and suddenly I realized how much I enjoy pushing the boundaries of natural cosmetics to create unique products for your skin's delight.
I always like to talk about niche cosmetics; in fact, my formulas are aimed at people who take skin care seriously and understand the reason behind every ingredient I choose. You don't need chemistry knowledge to use them, but it is true that all of us who enjoy them have a common denominator: an inner scientist eager to know more. And it is this mixture of curiosity and enthusiasm that has led us to create a community that believes, like me, that "the formulation of natural products is a science, not an experiment."
These are my five golden rules about what I keep in mind when formulating:
– Safety first: It is essential to understand maximum dosages, potential interactions with other ingredients, and the stability of the formula over a period of time without signs of degradation.
– The Twelve Beauty community is more demanding, which is why I have to step out of my comfort zone and look for high-performance ingredients that are not common but are backed by science and, of course, come from accredited sources.
– There's no rush to launch a new product. You have to take the time to formulate, which can be seen as a loss of commercial opportunities, but it takes months, if not years, to put on the finishing touches. In my case, it's always about launching a natural cosmetic product that is safe but effective.
– Small batches work better. And when I say small, I mean even 50 units a month, like The London Mask. Over the years, I tried to increase production to meet demand or incorporate new distribution stores. Allow me this confession, I Failed (with a capital F) every attempt I made. The control over quality in small batches is incomparable. From what I've seen, the texture, appearance, and stability I get in small batches are completely different when I prepare larger volumes.
– Never compromise on quality. You always have to be generous with the dosages; it's not about making a long list of ingredients, it's about choosing what works for the formula and adding a lot, lot, lot of love.
