Formulate skincare that actually works.
Professional formulation guides and written one-on-one consulting for indie brands and serious DIY formulators. Exact percentages, real chemistry, sources you can check. Written by a chemical engineer with 15 years in industry, not a content team.
Guides that read like a formulator's handbook
Every guide includes complete formulas with exact percentages, the chemistry behind every choice, and troubleshooting for when things go wrong.
Facial Oil Serum Formulation Guide
Oil phase design by fatty acid profile, actives in anhydrous systems, skin-type targeting.
Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Guide
Surfactant-based bars from first principles: SCI, mildness, cure time, pH.
Emulsion Face Cream Formulation Guide
O/W and W/O systems, emulsifier selection, stability, and why creams break.
The Cosmetic Actives Handbook
A decision guide to actives: use levels, pH windows, compatibility, stability, evidence.
Formulating with Niacinamide
One active, mastered: stable serums, toner, mist, eye serum and creams with exact percentages.
Buy the guides together and pay less than buying them one by one.
Skincare Formulation Starter Bundle
Three core guides to start: Emulsion Face Cream, Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bar, and Facial Oil Serum.
Complete Formulation Bundle
Everything: the Actives Handbook plus Emulsion, Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bar, and Facial Oil Serum. 1,140 pages of reference.
Start with real formulas, not guesswork
First Formulas is a 16 page guide with three complete water-free formulas: a botanical body oil, a brown sugar scrub, and a lip butter balm. Exact percentages, full INCI names, ingredient breakdowns with smart substitutions, and a troubleshooting page. Not a recipe list.
Join 190+ formulators.Need expert eyes on your formula?
Written consulting with fixed prices and clear deliverables. No calls to schedule.
Formulation Audit
A written technical review of your existing formula: stability, compatibility, pH, preservation, INCI.
Custom Formula Development
A complete formula built for your product idea: percentages, process, suppliers, claim guidance.
Brand Formulation Roadmap
A written action plan for founders without a formulation background: what to make, learn, and claim.
Pick a service and check out. For the Audit and Roadmap you pay first; for Custom Development we confirm scope before any payment.
You get an email asking for your formula, goals, and constraints. The more detail you share, the sharper the result.
You receive a written deliverable you can act on. Everything is handled in writing, no calls to schedule.
I take a maximum of 4 client projects per month. See all services →
Hi, I am Ashley. I came to skincare from industrial chemistry, and it shows.
I have been a chemical engineer since 2011 and hold an M.Sc. in the field. I did not start in cosmetics. I started in industrial coatings, where a formula that separates, thickens, or fails on the shelf is a problem you have to solve, not a post you get to delete.
Emulsions, rheology, surfactants, dispersion stability: it is the same physics. Since 2020 I have applied it to skincare. SwonLab exists because most formulation content online is either oversimplified recipes or locked behind expensive courses. My guides sit in the middle: deeply researched, honestly priced, and written for people who want to understand why a formula works.
- Every claim backed by published research
- Exact percentages in every formula, no ranges
- Real email support. I answer every question myself
What formulators say
I've been studying formulation for a few years and I've spent a lot of money on courses that ended up being mostly fluff... This bundle is different. I love the scientific approach, it's not just recipes, it actually explains the 'why' behind everything... Ashley is great and actually replies to messages, which is rare to find. Definitely worth the investment if you're serious about formulating.Anabel · Verified Etsy buyer
This is a useful book for understanding the chemical process behind making solid shampoo. I believe it is necessary to understand this aspect if one wishes to enter this field... Overall, it is a useful compendium for reference.Geraldine · Verified Etsy buyer
Wonderful resource, clearly laid out, easy to follow. Just what I needed and will return to it time and time again. Love the formulas and excited to try out the eye oils.Selina · Verified Etsy buyer
Ready to formulate with confidence?
Start with the guides, or get one-on-one help with your own formula.