One of the first questions that comes up when you begin making your own cosmetics is: 

Where do I actually buy all these ingredients?

The good news is that cosmetic ingredients are much easier to find than they may seem at first.

Some simple ingredients may already be close to you. Clays, common oils, herbs and dried botanicals can sometimes be found in herbal shops, supermarkets or health food stores. And I have a particular affection for buying beeswax directly from local beekeepers… it smells so good!

But as your little home lab begins to grow, specialized cosmetic ingredient suppliers become incredibly useful. They usually offer better prices and a much wider choice of oils, butters, emulsifiers, preservatives, botanical extracts, active ingredients, pigments and packaging. Also, a good cosmetic raw material supplier gives you something that is difficult to obtain from a supermarket shelf: technical information about the ingredient you are formulating with.

What I Look for Before Buying a Cosmetic Ingredient

A beautiful ingredient description is not enough. Before buying a new cosmetic raw material, I like to know exactly what I am working with.

Depending on the ingredient, I look for information such as:

• INCI name, so I know what it is. Sometimes commercial names don’t tell us enough or are misleading.
• Ingredient composition, particularly when the material is a blend rather than a single substance.
• Recommended usage level, including any maximum concentration.
• Solubility, so I know whether it belongs in the oil phase, water phase or requires another method of incorporation.
• Processing information, such as temperature sensitivity or the recommended phase of addition.
• pH requirements, when relevant.
• Storage conditions.
• COSMOS or other natural-cosmetics certification information.
• Technical documents available (data sheet, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, IFRA documentation, allergen declaration…). You will not necessarily find every one of these documents for every ingredient, but the more technical information a supplier makes available, the easier it becomes to formulate carefully and understand exactly what you are buying.

Where to Buy DIY Cosmetic Ingredients in Europe

Handymade
Ships to: Europe + UK and Switzerland
Web language: English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Polish, Slovak, Czech, Hungarian
Discount code: WONDERLAB for a 7% off.
Notes: My favorite and usually the first place I look when I want to discover something unusual or need professional cosmetic ingredients that are not always easy to find elsewhere. 
Handymade has a very impressive selection of DIY cosmetic ingredients, from familiar basics to much more specialized materials, including CO₂ extracts, pro active ingredients, optimized gums, chelators, pro emollients, pigments and packaging. I particularly appreciate the amount of technical information available, the variety of ingredients, the excellent quality and the competitive prices. It’s like a little paradise for DIY cosmetics makers! 
Another thing I really appreciate is the care they put into packaging the ingredients. Everything is usually very well protected during shipping, which makes a real difference with oils, extracts and other materials that can easily leak or arrive damaged, something that has unfortunately happened to me with other suppliers. Many liquid ingredients also come in practical glass bottles that I like to reuse, while powders, waxes and similar materials are often packed in convenient flat bags to save space.
They also add sample ingredients to orders, which is a lovely way to discover something new. Just remember to select your free gift from the cart page before checking out.
You can find my full Handymade review here, together with my ingredient suggestions and some of the discoveries I have made while exploring their catalogue. Some of my personal favorites are their raspberry water, Centifolia rose essential oil and especially their huge variety of CO₂ extracts, including chia, guggul, coconut, vanilla, sea buckthorn and many others.
 

Aroma-Zone
Ships to: Europe
Web language: French, English, Spanish, Italian, German
Notes: One of the most known websites for cosmetic raw materials. Their ingredient pages are particularly useful for learning how to work with a raw material, with practical information and formulation ideas. They offer a great variety of ingredients and their famous cosmetic heater, although advanced formulators may find the range less complete when it comes to more professional formulation materials. On the other hand, if you are looking for rare or unusual vegetable oils, essential oils and hydrosols, you will surely find something interesting there. I also appreciate that their catalogue is strongly focused on ingredients suitable for natural cosmetics. Aroma-Zone was one of my favorite places to look for unusual aromatic materials for DIY perfumery and over the years I have found ingredients such as iris CO₂ extract, mimosa, labdanum and floral waxes. Unfortunately, many of these are no longer available. Since Aroma-Zone expanded its ready-made cosmetic range, I have the impression that the brand is placing more emphasis on finished products, while the raw-material side feels slightly less adventurous than it once did.

Mi Cosmética Casera
Ships to: Spain and Europe
Web language: Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Italian, German and Polish
Notes: A Spanish supplier with a good selection of ingredients for DIY cosmetics. They place particular attention on the quality of their raw materials and have some rare and interesting options, especially among essential oils and hydrosols, where you can sometimes find unusual botanicals or several versions of the same plant, each one with a different scent.
I find it especially interesting for anyone who appreciates the natural scent of raw materials or enjoys DIY natural perfumery. Their aromatic selection is particularly beautiful, with rare fragrant materials such as mimosa, tuberose and neroli.


Cosmética Natural Casera Shop
Ships to: Spain, Portugal and selected South American countries.
Web language: Spanish
Notes: A well known Spanish shop specialized in raw materials for homemade and natural cosmetics. It has a very complete catalogue, including advanced active ingredients and some more professional formulation materials. I especially appreciate that they offer rare floral waxes, such as rose, mimosa and jasmine, as well as the good quality of their essential oils. Their violet natural fragrance is amazing!

Jabonarium 
Ships to: Spain, Portugal, France, Germany
Web language: Spanish, French
Notes: A useful Spanish supplier with a good selection of oils, butters, essential oils, extracts, emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives, thickeners, actives and cosmetic packaging.
They are specialized in soap making. 

Alexmo Cosmetics
Ships to: Most EU countries + UK, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand
Web language: German and English
Notes: It offers a wide variety of specialized formulation ingredients. Alongside oils and the usual botanical raw materials, they also offer more technical ingredients.
They have a good variety of extract, like the rare Edelweiss.

Dragonspice
Ships to: Germany and selected European destinations
Web language: German
Notes: A large botanical and cosmetic raw-material shop, mainly for German users (their website is in German only).


Formulator Sample Shop Europe
Ships to: EU countries and selected international destinations, including countries in Asia, Africa and India. For the USA and the Americas, check their US store (see below).
Web language: English
Notes: A very interesting shop for experimental and curious formulators because it specializes in specialty raw materials and innovative active ingredients, often in quantities suitable for testing. Its selection of botanical extracts and unusual actives is particularly fascinating. International customers should check local import requirements, as customs duties, taxes and related fees may remain their responsibility.
 

Where to Buy DIY Cosmetic Ingredients in USA and Canada

Bramble Berry
Ships to: USA and many international destinations.
Web language: English
Notes: A very complete and famous US supplier. Their catalogue includes oils and butters, emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives, humectants, botanical extracts, essential oils, fragrance oils, colorants, waxes, packaging, tools and ready-made bases.What makes Bramble Berry a little different is the enormous variety of fragrance oils (filter for the natural ones), colorants, molds, kits and creative soap-making materials, so it is particularly inspiring if you like the more playful and decorative side of DIY cosmetics. For international customers, always check the shipping restrictions for the specific ingredients before ordering, as import rules vary considerably by country and any additional customs, brokerage or storage fees remain the customer's responsibility.
 

Lotioncrafter
Ships to: USA and worldwide
Web language: English
Notes: A very interesting supplier, with an impressive and broad catalogue. Particularly interesting for active ingredients and more technical and rare cosmetic raw materials. They even have apple water! Many ingredients are available in relatively small sizes, which makes it practical for experimenting before committing to a larger quantity. 
They ship to most countries outside the USA, including India and Asia. However, international customers should check import restrictions and customs costs before ordering. 

MakingCosmetics 
Ships to: USA and worldwide
Web language: English
Notes: Its catalogue goes well beyond basic DIY ingredients and includes active ingredients, emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives, emollients and many specialty raw materials in different sizes. Product pages are especially useful because they provide formulation-oriented information such as INCI, recommended usage levels, solubility and processing guidance.
They ship to most countries outside the USA, including India and Asia, but keep in mind that any customs duties, import taxes or fees are usually the customer’s responsibility.

Formulator Sample Shop USA 
Ships to: USA, Canada and selected international destinations. For EU and Asia shipping, check their EU store (see above).
Web language: English
Notes: A very interesting shop for experimental and curious formulators because it specializes in specialty raw materials and innovative active ingredients, often in quantities suitable for testing. Its selection of botanical extracts and unusual actives is particularly fascinating.
International customers should check local import requirements, as customs duties, taxes and related fees may remain their responsibility. 

YellowBee
Ships to: Canada
Web language: English
Notes: Their catalogue includes actives, emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives, oils, butters, hydrosols, clays, waxes and other ingredients. They have a nice packaging collection and makeup making tools. 

Where to Buy DIY Cosmetic Ingredients in India

Formulators Inc
Ships to: India
Web language: English
Notes: A very complete Indian supplier with a huge catalogue of cosmetic raw materials, including emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives, active ingredients, botanical extracts, hydrosols, essential oils, fragrance materials and packaging. Their catalogue also includes candle-making and other non-cosmetic materials, so it is worth checking the product grade carefully before buying.
They also offer some unusual ingredients that are particularly interesting for formulators and DIY perfumery lovers, including different floral waxes (even pink lotus wax!) as well as rare essential oils and fragrant materials such as labdanum, mimosa and frangipani.

ASES
Ships to: India and international destinations.
Web language: English, Hindi
Notes: A very useful option for formulators in India, with an extensive catalogue ranging from basic DIY ingredients to more specialized cosmetic raw materials. You can find surfactants, emulsifiers, preservatives, humectants, oils, essential oils, hydrosols, active ingredients and professional formulation materials. Documentation is available on request for various raw materials, and I appreciate that many products are available in relatively small quantities, making the shop accessible to DIY formulators as well as professionals.
International orders are subject to the destination country's customs and import restrictions. Any applicable duties are the customer's responsibility.

Where to Buy DIY Cosmetic Ingredients in United Kingdom

The Soap Kitchen 
Ships to: United Kingdom and selected international destinations
Web language: English
Notes: A supplier for cosmetic and soap-making ingredients. They also have honey powder and dried jasmine.  

Aromantic
Ships to: United Kingdom, Europe and international destinations.
Web language: English
Notes: A long-established UK supplier specializing in natural and organic cosmetic ingredients. Their catalogue is broad and complete.
For international shipping, some ingredients may be subject to restrictions and any import duties or taxes are the customer’s responsibility.

Other non UK shops shipping to the UK: Handymade, Alexmo Cosmetics and Aroma-Zone. You can find more information about each of them in the Europe section above.

Where to Buy DIY Cosmetic Ingredients in New Zealand

Pure Nature

Ships to: New Zealand 
Web language: English
Notes: One of the most complete options for formulators in New Zealand. Its range includes active ingredients, botanical extracts, emulsifiers, surfactants, humectants, preservatives, thickeners, oils, waxes, fragrances and packaging. I especially appreciate their more unusual ingredients, such as floral waxes, different rose materials, distinctive active ingredients and Manuka honey derived materials. Many of the ingredients they have feel quite exotic and unusual from a European perspective, which makes the catalogue especially interesting to browse. Unfortunately, they currently ship within New Zealand only.

Before Filling Your Shopping Basket…

When you discover a cosmetic ingredient shop for the first time, it is very tempting to suddenly need seventeen botanical extracts, four exotic oils and an emulsifier you had never heard of ten minutes earlier. I know the feeling, but one of the lessons I have learned from keeping my own ingredient collection is to buy with a formula in mind. Before ordering, ask yourself:

What am I going to make with this ingredient?

Then check:

• whether you already own something that performs a similar function
• how much you realistically need
• how quickly the ingredient oxidizes or expires
• whether it requires refrigeration or special storage
• whether you understand how to formulate with it
• and whether you have access to enough technical information to use it correctly

A small but intentional collection of ingredients is much more useful than a cupboard full of beautiful bottles you are afraid to formulate with. Read this article to learn how to plan your next order, avoiding wasting ingredients and buying what you really need. And don’t forget to track them in my ingredients tracker (download it here), keeping everything organized and checking what’s going to expire soon.

Over time, your collection will grow naturally. An oil you bought for a face serum will find its way into a cream, an emulsifier will open the door to a new family of textures and a botanical extract may inspire an entire formula. And little by little, the shelf beside you begins to look less like a collection of ingredients and more like your own tiny cosmetic laboratory.

Come back and check this list regularly, as I may add new suppliers from time to time.