Cream Bases for Herbal Skin Care - Accredited Online Course - 29-AUGUST-2026

• PART 2 of Herbal Skin Craft: The Art of Tailored Herbal Skin Care 3-part accredited online training for naturopaths, herbalists and formulators

Pre-approved by NHAA for 3 hours of CPD in the Formal Learning category.

Date & Time

SATURDAY 29-AUGUST-2026 10.00am-12.00pm AEST (replay is available for 6 months if signing up for this course only or for 12 months if taking part within the Herbal Skin Craft offering)

Do you struggle to make stable herbal creams and lotions?

Do you use commercial cream bases but your are not satisfied with their performance?

Would you like to know how to make your own herbal cream or lotion and how to fine tune its composition to make fit-for-purpose products that suit your clients' skin needs?

Are you overwhelmed by emulsifier and preservative choices?

Do you have doubts about the making process?

If you answered YES at least once, then this class is for you!

Course synopsis

Naturopaths and herbalists commonly add herbal extracts into neutral cream bases to create tailored herbal creams. A successful cream base accommodates additional herbal extracts while maintaining its thermodynamic and microbiological stability. This is often not the case with commercially available cream bases, which often separate or turn too runny following the addition of herbal extracts. But it is not just commercial cream bases that can suffer from instabilities: hand-made herbal creams can separate, too.

This class will guide you through the process of formulating and manufacturing stable cream bases that allow for addition of herbal extracts. Emphasis is placed on a fit-for-purpose formulation of creams and lotions that are tailored to specific skin needs.

Format & Resources

The class is delivered as an online presentation complemented by visually engaging slides, and detailed photographs. The class is recorded and you will have access to the recording for 6 months. You will further receive extensive Class Notes (replete with examples formulas) and a practical Cream Base Calculator to make your formulation experiments a breathe. 

Topics:

• Introduction to herbal emulsions: Which ingredients do you need?
• How the amounts of each ingredient influence the quality, purpose and consistency of an emulsion.
• Selection of suitable emulsifiers (6) and preservatives (5).
• Fine-tuning additional ingredients selection to tailor-formulate a cream or lotion for particular skin needs.
• The making process in detail.
• Activating cream bases with herbal extracts.
• Example formulas to make at home / in your lab.

You will

• Develop detailed understanding of basic cosmetic chemistry principles to formulate stable emulsions.
• Gain the capacity to choose from various emulsifying waxes and preservatives.
• Understand how to activate cream bases with herbal extracts to create tailored herbal creams. 
• Solidify your knowledge of the manufacturing process and enrich it with plenty of practical tips.

This class is a part of the 3-part series on the art of tailored herbal skin care: Herbal Skin Craft. You can sign up for the whole series, or take part in the Cream Bases module only.