Explore the Zestchest Knowledge Library

Explore practical guides to cosmetic formulation, ingredients and product making, based on workshops and teaching by Dr. Soma Datta. Choose a topic below to explore detailed guides and focused answers to common formulation questions.

Explore Topics

Explore our knowledge guides by topic. Each collection brings together an in-depth guide and focused articles answering specific questions.

Cold Process Soap

Learn how oils, butters and other ingredients shape cold process soap. Explore hardness, bubbly and creamy lather, superfat, fresh ingredients and additives, fragrance, pH, troubleshooting and artistic soap design.

Liquid Castile Soap

Learn how different oils affect liquid Castile soap, from cleansing, lather and thickness to skin and household uses. Explore glycerin, shampoo use, clarity, dilution and storage through our practical guides.

Japanese Konjac Jelly Soap

Explore Japanese konjac jelly soaps—from the role of konjac and the cleansing system to its jelly structure, skin-care ingredients, different variations and practical formulation considerations.

Facial Cleansers

Explore different types of facial cleansers, including face wash, micellar water, cleansing oils, balms, milks and herbal powder cleansers. Learn how they differ, what they remove, how to choose between them and practical formulation considerations.

Advanced Treatment Creams

Korean Skincare

Explore Korean skincare through its ingredients, product types and practical principles. Learn about hyaluronic acid, rice-derived ingredients, snail mucin, toners, serums, skin polishes, exfoliation and how different products fit together in a skincare routine.

Sunscreen

Understand how sunscreen works, what SPF means, and why sunscreen can come as gels, creams, lotions, tinted products, powders and water-resistant balms. Explore guides on white cast, mineral ingredients, sunscreen textures, ingredient compatibility and practical sunscreen use.

Body Yogurt

Understand body yogurt from texture and skin feel to moisturizer comparisons, skin types and common questions.

Learn what body yogurt actually is, why it is called “yogurt,” how it differs from body butter and lotion, why some versions feel lighter than others, and how different textures may suit different skin types.

Perfume & Perfumery

Learn how perfume works—from top, middle and base notes to essential oils and fragrance oils, fragrance throw, perfume types, aging and application.

Explore how spray, water-based, solid and roll-on perfumes behave differently, why some fragrances project across a room while others stay close to the wearer, and what contributes to the character and value of a perfume.

Fabric Conditioner

Explore how fabric conditioner works, why it makes clothes feel softer and smoother, how to use it correctly, common mistakes to avoid, and practical considerations for different types of fabric.

Magnesium Body Products

Explore magnesium body products including magnesium oil, lotion and body butter—from how the different formats compare and why magnesium chloride is used to formulation stability, texture and choosing the right product for different skin needs.

Sulphate-Free & Paraben-Free Shampoo

Understand how sulphate-free and paraben-free shampoos work, from mild cleansing and lather to conditioning, texture and different hair concerns. Explore practical guides on SLS vs SLSA, coloured hair, oils and silicones, shampoo bars and choosing the right shampoo.

Herbal Hair Dye

Explore herbal hair dye and natural hair colouring—from grey coverage and the different behaviour of henna and indigo to ingredient roles, colour permanence, hair dryness and common colouring problems.

Ubtan

Explore Ubtan ingredients, benefits, skin types, traditional uses and formulation principles, with detailed guides to clays, turmeric, activated charcoal and powder versus paste Ubtan.

Nalpamaradi & Eladi Oils

Explore traditional Ayurvedic herbal oils for different skin concerns. Learn how Nalpamaradi and Eladi differ, their uses for pigmentation, tanning, irritated or itchy skin, and practical guidance on facial and scalp use, carrier oils, application and skincare layering.

Kumkumadi Oil

Explore Kumkumadi oil, its key ingredients, benefits and uses for pigmentation, acne-prone and dry skin, along with guides to facial application, saffron-infused oils, traditional preparation, clarity and cost.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy works with aromatic plant oils for applications involving fragrance, skin care, hair care, relaxation and other personal-care uses

There are two common ways aromatherapy is used:

Through aroma or inhalation
Through topical application in a suitable base

Learn Lipstick Making

If you want to go beyond understanding these individual concepts and learn lipstick making in a structured course, you can explore the ZestChest Institute Lipstick Making Course.