Hi there, I am 46 and not your average work experience woman!  I want to get into making my own skincare and have done some courses etc but just lack that confidence to "start". I know that sounds daft but I would love to know how other people actually DO this and how they got going and what I really do need to get going!

Sooo, if there is anyone in the Manchester area who needs some help or is willing to show me what they do, I would love the experience!  I make a great cup of coffee, love to chat and have a giggle and just have a natural curiosity for natural skincare! Please PM me x

Most if not all of us have started slowly with research, testing, more research and even more testing before we had our first recipe to keep. Personally I don't think there are any shortcuts if you really want to know the details about ingredients, properties, the "why it works" and so on. Testing and making loads of notes is what gives a good base for creating skincare products IMHO.

You can learn a lot from a mentor of course, the procedure, what to consider while working and what papers are needed and so on but the final products will still be a result of your own research and testing.  :buttrf:

Thanks Eva x

The best way of learning is trial and error and asking lots of questions. Have you started making your own products, and what do you want to make?

Research the ingredients etc and then have a go at making a product. Make lots of notes. The main thing is to make sure you are able to make a particular product before moving on to something else. Many here have not done any courses, but have asked plenty of questions. There is usually someone here who will be able to answer whatever query you have.

Like the others have said it's hard work and a lot of research that provides both the ability and the confidence to produce your own products and also to teach others about them.  It's the only way you'll be able to explain why something has or hasn't worked when teaching.
If you're serious about starting a business, like any business it involves a lot of investment (both financial and physical).
Melinda Coss runs a one-to-one course in France which I would recommend - she has a wealth of experience as both a manufacturer and also in running a business.  You can find her website at http://www.makesoap.biz.  She also runs courses in London but these are much more about making products than they are about running a business.

Not sure that thee would be many people who would be willing to give you work experience as they would be giving you a lot of the information they've learnt for free without any protection that you wouldn't take their hard work and set up in competition to them.  You'd be better to look for that from a bigger company than most of us have.

Hope you manage to get the support you need to get your idea off the ground    :buttrf: