Plain-language, fear-free technical guidance for indie and natural-leaning skincare brands — from a working cosmetic chemist who formulates, writes and teaches in Gqeberha, South Africa.
Three ways to work together — whether you are commissioning your first formula or checking the claims on a label that already exists.
An honest, second pair of eyes on the technical side of your product — before you spend money on a run you cannot sell.
Theoretical formulas built around your brief, your budget and the ingredients you actually want to use — with the reasoning written out.
Hands-on sessions in Gqeberha and online, for makers who want to understand what they are doing rather than follow a recipe blindly.
Lab testing — stability, challenge and compatibility testing — is arranged through accredited partner laboratories. I prepare the brief, interpret the results and tell you what they mean for your product.
I am a cosmetic chemist based in Gqeberha, South Africa, and the person behind Amino Molecule. I started this studio because too much skincare advice online is either technically wrong or designed to frighten you — and neither helps you make a better product.
I hold a Diploma in Personal Care Formulation and I am the founder of the skincare brand Luyun, so I know what it is like to sit on the other side of the bench: the sampling, the stability wait, the label that has to be right the first time.
I also write the Amino Molecule blog, where I unpack ingredients, INCI names and marketing claims in the same plain language I use with clients. No fear-mongering, no miracle claims — just what the science actually supports.
Free, accurate cosmetic science writing — for founders who want to understand their own products, and for anyone curious about what is really in the bottle.
Why the phrase cannot be true, what it usually means in practice, and how to write a claim that is honest and still sells.
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Order, naming rules and the five things a label tells you before you ever open the jar.
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What preservation actually does, why water-containing products need it, and how to choose a system for a small batch.
Read the postRegular posts on ingredients, claims, formulation and the business of making skincare — written for people who are not chemists.
A growing plain-language glossary of INCI names, what they do in a formula, and which ones are worth the money.
One marketing claim at a time, examined against the evidence — what it can say, what it cannot, and how to phrase it legally.
Small, hands-on sessions where you make something real and leave understanding why it works. All materials are provided, and every workshop ends with a written recipe and notes you can keep.
Working with brands at the very start of their formulation journey.
Aamina read my INCI list and found two claims I could not legally make. She rewrote them in a way that still sounded good — and explained exactly why the originals were a problem.
I had a formula I loved and no idea whether it was stable. The feasibility check saved me from ordering packaging for a product that would have separated in three months.
The lip balm workshop was the first time chemistry made sense to me. I now formulate my own balms and I understand every ingredient I put in them.
Tell me where you are in the process — an idea, a half-finished formula, or a label that needs checking. I will reply with an honest view of what you need next.
Book a 30-minute call and bring your questions, your ingredient list or your rough formula.
Book a call