Do you know the #1 most important tool you can have as a DIY skincare crafter? It’s not a set of stainless steel bowls and glass beakers, or a pricey overhead mixer. It’s not a really fancy pH meter.
Truth is, you don’t need those things to get started making beautiful DIY skincare at home.
But there is one tool that is a must-have in every DIY skincare crafter’s toolbox: a skincare formulating journal (AKA skincare recipe journal).
Why Every DIY Skincare Crafter Needs a Formulating Journal
Keeping a skincare formulating journal is a game-changer. This simple yet powerful tool will help you stay organized, track your progress, and fine-tune your DIY skincare recipes over time.
If you’ve never kept one before, don’t worry! In this blog post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about starting and using a skincare formulating journal.
What Is a Skincare Formulating Journal?
A skincare formulating journal is a dedicated notebook or workbook where you record all the details about your DIY skincare creations. It’s where you jot down recipes, ingredient substitutions, measurements, and notes about your crafting process.
Think of it as your personal skincare lab notebook!
Whether you use a physical notebook or a digital document, this journal serves as a record of your formulations, helping you keep track of what works and what doesn’t.
Why Keep a Skincare Formulating Journal?
If you’re wondering, “Do I really need to write down every recipe?” The answer is yes! DIY skincare is a blend of science and creativity, and having a journal helps you:
- Keep all your recipes in one place for easy reference.
- Avoid repeating mistakes by tracking what didn’t work.
- Make intentional improvements to your formulations over time.
- Stay organized with ingredient lists, measurements, and notes.
- Experiment with new ideas while still keeping records of past successes.
Even if you only make skincare occasionally, having a journal ensures you don’t forget important details the next time you recreate a product.
True story (and, if you’ve followed me for a while you’ve likely heard before, because I can’t stop whining about it): I formulated the most perfect creamy, naturally tinted pink lip balm, and was certain I would remember the recipe.
But just 3 weeks later when I was ready to make another batch, I was stumped. I couldn’t remember exactly the ingredients I used (was it mango butter? Or shea butter?) And I certainly didn’t remember the ratios I used (30/30/40? 20/25/25/30?)
Lesson learned. So the moral of the story is: write everything down!
Even if you’re following a recipe you found online. After several weeks’ worth of time and life go by, you may forget you actually substituted an ingredient that made all the difference in your finished product.
Benefits of Keeping a Skincare Formulating Journal
A formulating journal isn’t just about keeping recipes—it offers so much more! Here are some of the key benefits:
1. Organization and Consistency
By keeping all your notes in one place, you create a system that allows you to easily find and revisit recipes whenever you need them. No more searching through notes on random loose pieces of paper, or searching through various notebooks looking for a particular recipe.
2. Better Tracking and Improvements
Over time, you’ll notice patterns in what works well for your skin type and preferences. You can make adjustments based on past notes to create the perfect formulation. If you aren’t making note of these patterns, it makes it difficult to actually track what is working and what isn’t.
3. Easy Substitutions and Experimentation
If you ever swap ingredients due to availability or personal preference, your journal lets you track how those changes affect the final product. Keeping track of your experimentations and their results will help you grow your DIY skincare crafting skills immensely.
4. Helps You Troubleshoot
If a batch doesn’t turn out as expected, you can look back at your notes to pinpoint what went wrong and adjust accordingly. Your process is just as important as the ingredients you use! Having a good tracking process to troubleshoot will help you save time and money (no more wasted ingredients!)
5. A Personalized Skincare Guide
Over time, your journal becomes a valuable reference guide full of customized recipes tailored specifically to your skin’s needs. And isn’t that the goal of making your own skincare? Creating custom products that work perfectly for you!
I Am a Beginner/Just Make Skincare Products for My Family. Do I Need a Formulating Journal?
Absolutely! Even if you’re just starting out or making products for personal use, a formulating journal will be incredibly helpful. Here’s why:
- As a beginner, tracking what you do helps you learn faster and see your progress.
- If you make skincare for family members, it ensures you can recreate their favorite products exactly how they like them.
- It saves time and prevents wasted ingredients by helping you refine your recipes efficiently.
- If you ever decide to sell or expand your creations, you’ll already have well-documented formulas ready to go!
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What Do I Record In My DIY Skincare Formulating Journal?
To make the most of your formulating journal (and save yourself from those “Wait… how did I make this face cream again? And is this the recipe I liked or hated?!?” moments), there are a few key details you’ll want to jot down every time you create a new DIY skincare product.
Here’s what to include:
Recipe Name: Give your creation a name! Whether it’s “Soothing Lavender Body Butter” or “Mom’s Favorite Lotion Bar,” naming it makes it easier to find later. This sounds basic, but I’ve found notes I’ve written with ingredients and no mention of what the recipe makes. Silly mistake but it happens!
Source: Where did this recipe come from? Write down the book title, website, or even a note like “inspired by a product I found at Lush!”
Date and Version: Record when you made it and whether it’s version 1.0 or an updated masterpiece. This helps you track changes over time.
Ingredients: List everything you used, including specific measurements and any substitutions you made. If I’m using an ingredient where brand would make a difference, I include that too. An example would be ‘Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil from From Wholesale Supplies Plus‘ versus ‘Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil from Nurture Handmade.’
Process: Note how you made it, including temperatures, mixing techniques, and anything else that might affect the final product. Remember, the crafting process is just as important as the ingredients you use.
Final Results and Thoughts: How did it turn out? Did it feel luxurious, absorb too quickly, or feel too greasy? It’s these notes that give you a jumping off point for improvements. Again, you’ll think you will remember how the product felt on your skin, but I find the nuances are easily forgotten over time. This is where you start making those personalized changes that make all the difference.
Ideas for Improvements: What would you tweak next time? More shea butter? A different essential oil? Make note of any adjustments you’d like to try for the next version!
Also make note of any other details that feel important. Maybe this is the lotion bar that your mom loves, or the lip balm your best friend won’t stop raving about. You better believe they will ask for more, and you don’t want to be caught guessing which formulation you made for them!
The more notes you take, the easier it will be to recreate (or improve upon) your favorite recipes in the future.
How Do I Start a DIY Skincare Formulating Journal?
Your formulating journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy. The key is that it is easy for you to use. Because if it’s a pain in the bum to use, you’ll likely not use it.
Some of my favorite options:
3-Ring Binder: This is a super easy way to start your formulating journal, and a method that I used for years. Print out recipes from the web, stick ’em in your binder, done! As you craft the product, make your notes on the back of the printed page. Simple. I also like having tab dividers for product types (soap, facial products, bath and body) and one section labeled “Recipes To Try” so that those new and exciting recipes have a dedicated space.
Digital Journal: If you’re more of a digital gal, you can create a digital journal instead. You can keep a dedicated folder on your computer, or keep your notes in an project management platform like Notion. It doesn’t matter how you create your digital journal, as long as you’re able to keep notes and links to your favorite recipes, and it’s easy for you to access while you’re crafting.
Print Formulating Workbook: If you’d rather have a done-for-you type option, I’ve used my years of experience to create a print formulating journal workbook for you. It contains everything you need to keep an effective skincare journal: plenty of worksheet to record all of your recipes and notes, prompts to ensure you’re keeping track of all necessary info to help you make adjustments and improve upon your recipes, plus cheat sheets for at-your-fingertips info all skincare formulators need to know. You can take a look inside the Handmade Skincare Formulating Journal here.
Create, Learn, and Perfect–One Entry at a Time!
Keeping a skincare formulating journal is simple, fun, and rewarding. Whether you jot down notes in a notebook or use a digital method, this small habit will make a big difference in your DIY skincare journey. I love going through my old journals and seeing the progress I’ve made (and getting reaquianted with awesome skincare recipes I’d forgotten about!)
Starting a skincare formulating journal is one of the best things you can do as a DIY skincare crafter. It helps you stay organized, learn from your experiences, and improve your recipes over time. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned formulator, this journal will become your best friend in the creative process.
So why not start one today? Take a look inside the print formulating journal I have available for you, or start pulling together resources to create your own journal. Either way, your future self (and your skin!) will thank you! Happy formulating, my friend!
