Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science

The Certificate in Advanced Cosmetic Science teaches the essentials of advanced cosmetic science and formulation skills to ensure the development of safe, stable and efficacious formulations along with essential quality checks. Learners will learn how to create basic and advanced skin, hair, body, sunscreen and cosmeceutical personal care and cosmetic products.

See an example of study material and assessment here…

What will I learn to formulate? Please click here…

On completion of this course, learners will be able to:

evaluate and select the right type of ingredients for a variety of cosmetic and personal care formulations
research various materials to determine suitability to various formulation developments
develop safe, stable and effective formulas to cover a wide range of personal care products
conduct microbial evaluations of raw materials, finished products, equipment and the facility and implement GMP
prepare, implement and evaluate stability protocols to ensure suitable shelf life

This course will benefit the following careers:

Research and Development Scientists
Formulating Chemists
Product/Compounding Managers and assistants

This course is ideal for:

Research and Development Scientists
Compounding personnel
Raw material suppliers
Product development personnel in the practical development of products
Technical staff involved in practical development and/or manufacturing

On successful completion, learners can continue on to study our Diploma of Personal Care Formulation with a credit in 6 subjects. In order to study this course you will need to purchase or have access to standard laboratory equipment; or the following equipment if studying from home:

Scales that measure up to at least 1.2kg in 0.01g increments
3 x 1.1L stainless steel mixing bowls
1 x 8 wire whisk (250 – 300mm)
2 hot plates (or normal stove top)

Duration:

This course consists of 6 full units + 4 half units from the Diploma of Personal Care Formulation
3 months part time (15-20 hours per week)
Flexible, extended study possible for up to 9 months (5-10 hours per week)
Study load consists of:
- guided training and practical work = 240 hours
- extension research and practical activities = up to 60 hours

Training and assessments:

On-line lectures to support learning and activities within the texts
Electronic text for 6 full units and 4 half units
Box of raw materials and packaging to work through various practical activities and prepare practical samples
Written assessment comprising theoretical questions and workplace simulated scenarios

Course units:

PCFECI001: Investigate and evaluate cosmetic ingredients (full unit)	Covers the origin and functions of the common ingredients used in personal care products for an understanding of what gets used in products and why. Learn how to: accurately identify what constitutes ‘organic’, ‘natural’ and ‘synthetic’ ingredients and processing investigate and evaluate the origins and functions of the many and varied ingredients used in personal care products apply this knowledge when promoting products in the market place.
Cosmetic ingredient compliance	Teaches how to identify compliance requirements for appropriate ingredient selection; incorporating searches involved to determine compliance requirements. Learn how to: search compliance requirements of AU, EU, US and JP select ingredients in accordance with compliance requirements
PCFSPF006: Select preservatives for personal care formulas (full unit)	Covers the identification and selection of appropriate preservatives in the development of personal care formulations. It also covers aspects such as self-preserving formulas, use of antioxidants and other agents to prolong shelf life, and challenge testing. Learn how to: identify and evaluate the suitability of various preservatives in their application to a personal care formulation select appropriate preservatives for a variety of personal care products and applications
PCFRMF007: Select rheology modifiers for personal care formulas (full unit)	Covers the evaluation and selection of appropriate gums and thickeners for use in a variety of personal care formulations. Learn how to: determine suitable aspects of flow investigate, evaluate and select gums and thickeners to suit the specific needs of various product formulations
PCFSLF008: Select lipids for personal care formulas (full unit)	Covers the evaluation and selection of appropriate lipids for use in a variety of personal care formulations. Learn how to: recognise the consistency altering, emollient and skin feel properties of various lipids investigate, evaluate and select lipids to suit the specific needs of various product formulations
Emulsions	Covers the application of emulsion science to formulate a variety of safe, effective and stable personal care products. Learn how to: improve the stability of emulsions process using suitable manufacturing (compounding) methods select appropriate materials to create your emulsion system
Surfactants	Covers the chemistry of surface science and how it applies to formulating safe, effective, stable personal care products. Learn how to: formulate with surfactants to attain specific performance attributes select suitable surfactants to formulate a variety of surfactant based personal care products
Formulation development	Covers the development of products from a product development brief to meet specific organisational preferences for a variety of personal care products. Learn how to: follow steps involved in formulating products using the development process to yield a suitable finished product sample develop a formula and method for your products
PCFMCI005: Plan microbiological control of cosmetic ingredients and manufacturing environment (full unit)	Covers the identification of microbiological concerns specific to personal care products; and the application of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles to ensure product safety. Learn how to: test raw materials, products, equipment and the facility for microbial presence identify methods to reduce microbiological burden with in the facility and finished products using GMP.
PCFPST013: Plan and interpret stability testing (full unit)	Covers the methods used to test the stability of products for determination of appropriate shelf life. Learn how to: examine formulas to determine factors contributing to instability and methods to correct these factors develop appropriate stability protocols to ensure performance characteristics of products are maintained over their shelf life formulate to accommodate the stability needs of various products test the stability of a variety of personal care products.