Surfactant function
Understand what surfactants do, how they cleanse, and why different surfactants are chosen for different product types.
- Primary and secondary surfactants
- Foam and cleansing action
- Mildness and compatibility
Specialist certificate
Certificate in Cosmetic Cleansing Products
Learn how to formulate gentle, effective cleansing products for skin, hair and body care.
This specialist course helps you understand surfactants, cleansing systems, foam, viscosity, mildness and performance so you can create more polished cleansing products with confidence.
This course includes Foundations of Cosmetic Formulation
When you enrol in this specialist course, you will also receive access to our complete Foundations of Cosmetic Formulation & Ingredient Safety course. It introduces the ingredient, safety, documentation and good manufacturing principles used throughout your specialist training.
Course at a glance
Understand what makes cleansing products work.
Cleansing formulation is about more than bubbles. Learn how to balance performance, mildness, viscosity and feel.
Surfactant systems
Learn how cleansing ingredients work together to remove oil, dirt and impurities.
Gentle cleansing
Understand how to formulate with mildness and skin or hair feel in mind.
Viscosity control
Explore ways to adjust thickness, flow, texture and application experience.
Product performance
Create cleansers that feel considered, balanced and more professional.
Why this course matters
Move beyond harsh or basic cleansers.
Cleansing products can be deceptively complex. Foam, viscosity, pH, mildness, conditioning feel and rinse-off performance all influence how a cleanser behaves and how pleasant it is to use.
This course gives you a structured way to understand cleansing systems so you can formulate products that are not only effective, but also more refined and user-friendly.
- Understand the role of surfactants in cleansing products
- Learn how to balance foam, mildness and performance
- Explore viscosity, texture and product feel
- Create cleansing products for different skin and hair needs
- Start troubleshooting thinning, separation and harshness issues
What you’ll learn
Build the skills behind effective cleansing products.
Learn the principles that help you design, adjust and improve rinse-off and cleansing formulations.
Texture and viscosity
Learn how cleansing products are thickened, adjusted and refined to create a better application and rinse-off experience.
- Viscosity adjustment
- Salt curves and thickening
- Texture and flow behaviour
Performance and troubleshooting
Explore how to improve feel, reduce harshness, refine foam and troubleshoot common cleansing formulation issues.
- Foam quality and rinse-off feel
- pH and product suitability
- Common formulation problems
Products you can develop
Create cleansers for face, body and hair.
Cleansing formulation skills can be applied across a wide range of cosmetic products, from gentle facial cleansers to shampoos, body washes and more specialist cleansing formats.
Facial cleansersBody washesShower gelsShampoo systemsCream cleansersFoaming cleansersCleansing gelsHand washes
Course outcomes
Finish with a more confident cleansing formulation process.
The aim is to help you understand how cleansing systems behave, so you can formulate with more purpose and control.
By the end of the course, you should feel more confident with:
- Choosing suitable surfactants for product goals
- Balancing cleansing power with mildness
- Adjusting viscosity, texture and application feel
- Understanding pH considerations in cleansing products
- Troubleshooting foam, harshness, thinning and separation issues
Ideal next steps
- Progress into scrubs, masks and treatment products
- Explore bars and waterless cosmetic formats
- Build towards the full Diploma in Cosmetic Formulation
- Develop a broader face, body or haircare product range
- Continue refining product feel, stability and performance
Course details
Practical online learning at your own pace.
Designed for learners who want to understand cleansing products more professionally without needing in-person classes.
Online access
Study through a clear digital learning area.
Self-paced
Work through the course at a schedule that suits you.
Learning resources
Use structured materials to support your formulation work.
Certificate course
Complete a specialist course within the wider diploma pathway.
Our Testimonials
Real stories, genuine progress
Learners share how structured training changed the way they formulate.
4.9 rating from verified learners
“The structure helped me stop guessing and start understanding how each ingredient works.”
Sarah M.
Skincare formulation student
“I finally had a process for creating, documenting and improving my product ideas.”
Amira K.
Brand founder
“The lessons made the science approachable and gave me confidence to formulate from scratch.”
Laura B.
Independent maker
Specialist certificate
Start formulating better cleansing products.
Build your understanding of surfactants, mildness, viscosity and cleansing performance so you can create more polished products.
-
Coming Soon