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SKIN SCIENCE · FORMULATION

Understanding Skincare Ingredients with a Cosmetic Chemist & Esthetician

Learn how ingredients and formulas really work, from a cosmetic chemist and Renée.

Taught by
Renée Rouleau & Valerie George
Best suited for
Estheticians, skincare professionals, product formulators, skincare enthusiasts, and medspa practice owners

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Renée Rouleau and cosmetic chemist Valerie George cut through skincare ingredient and formulation confusion to help you better understand what matters when evaluating skincare. Learn how to look beyond ingredient trends and marketing claims and think more critically about formulas, ingredients and how products actually work.

Course content is educational and is not medical advice. It is not a recommendation of any one product or routine. See a qualified professional about any skin concern.

What's in This Course

6 modules

  1. What an Ingredient List Can (and Can't) Tell You

    Discover what ingredient labels reveal, what they leave out, and why they can't tell you everything about a product.

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  2. Three Skincare Ingredient Myths You Should Know

    Learn why common beliefs about ingredient order, percentages, and complicated ingredient names can be misleading.

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  3. Why the Finished Formula Matters More Than You Think

    Discover why similar ingredients don't always deliver the same results and why skincare dupes and ingredient checkers can be misleading.

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  4. How to Evaluate Skincare Products with Confidence

    Learn how an esthetician and cosmetic chemist evaluate products and what to consider beyond the ingredient list.

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  5. Bonus Part 1: Renée & Valerie Answer Your Skincare Questions

    Get practical answers to questions about skincare ingredients, formulations, treatments, and more.

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  6. Bonus Part 2: Renée & Valerie Answer Your Skincare Questions

    Get practical answers to questions about skincare ingredients, formulations, treatments, and more.

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Your Educators

  • Renée Rouleau

    Renée Rouleau

    Celebrity Esthetician & Founder

    Creator of the Renée Rouleau 9 Skin Types™ philosophy, Renée brings almost four decades of hands-on experience and 25,000+ faces treated to every course. She has earned the trust of clients like Sabrina Carpenter, Demi Lovato, and Keke Palmer. Now she’s sharing what she has lived and learned.

  • Valerie George

    Valerie George

    Award-Winning Cosmetic Chemist, Educator and Co-Host of The Beauty Brains Podcast

    Award-winning chemist, industry leader and globally-recognized formulation expert, Valerie George has a passion for innovation and quality ingredients. She started Simply Formulas, after more than a decade of beauty-industry leadership with high-visibility brands, including Paul Mitchell, to support companies in unraveling the complications typically associated with product development. Today, she is an educator known for making skin and hair science clear and practical.

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FAQs

  • No. Many of our courses are created for estheticians and skincare professionals, and skincare enthusiasts are welcome too. Each course page explains who it's best suited for. Our courses are available online to students in the U.S. and select countries.

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