GET TO KNOW
YOUR SKIN.
Understand how your skin actually works. Build better routines, decode ingredients and learn how to make informed decisions.
EXPLORE THE LEVELS
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL.
A clear route from the basics to advanced knowledge. Open a level, start with a lesson, and work your way through the exams.
Beginner skincare
29 lessons in five clear chapters with only one final level exam.
01Full beginner curriculumProgressive lessons without chapter exams
01 / Know your skin
- 01Open →
How your skin works
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 02Open →
Oily, dry, combination or normal?
Distinguish skin types using clear observations, and separate type from temporary dehydration and sensitivity.
- 03Open →
Dry skin vs dehydration
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 04Open →
The skin barrier: how skin holds on to water
Explain the outer barrier and why harsh cleansing or excessive exfoliation can cause tightness and stinging.
02 / Cleanse moisturize and serums
- 05Open →
Choose a cleanser that cleans comfortably
Understand cleansing, separate foam from performance, and decide when a separate makeup-removal step helps.
- 06Open →
Types of cleansers
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 07Open →
When to double cleanse
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 08Open →
Moisturizer: hydration, softness and water retention
Understand moisturizer functions and choose a useful texture, including for oily skin.
- 09Open →
What is a serum?
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 10Open →
Choosing a serum by concern
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
03 / Sun protection
- 11Open →
UVA and UVB
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 12Open →
Mineral and organic sunscreen filters
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 13Open →
Sunscreen: read the label and use it well
Distinguish SPF from broad-spectrum protection and understand application, reapplication and shade.
- 14Open →
How much sunscreen and when to reapply
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
04 / Acne irritation and pigmentation
- 15Open →
Types of acne lesions
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 16Open →
Why acne happens
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 17Open →
Acne, pores and texture are different things
Distinguish acne from marks and normal pores, and recognize the limits of home care.
- 18Open →
Irritation versus allergy
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 19Open →
Causes of hyperpigmentation
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 20Open →
Types of dark spots
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 21Open →
Marks, pigmentation and dullness: tell them apart
Identify the type of appearance change and choose a realistic care and observation goal.
- 22Open →
Exfoliation, AHA and BHA: differences and use
Distinguish physical exfoliation from acids and choose by purpose and tolerance rather than strength alone.
- 23Open →
An active-ingredient map: choose a purpose first
Distinguish hydration, exfoliation, retinoids and antioxidants, with realistic expectations.
05 / Build your routine
- 24Open →
Active ingredients by concern
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 25Open →
Introducing actives safely
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 26Open →
Build a skin routine
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
- 27Open →
A simple routine with a purpose for each step
Build morning and evening routines and distinguish a useful addition from duplication.
- 28Open →
Body care: dryness, keratosis pilaris and friction marks
Separate common body texture and colour concerns instead of scrubbing every problem.
- 29Open →
Nails: growth, breakage and cuticle care
Understand where nails grow, distinguish growth from retained length, and learn useful daily care.
Level certificate
Intermediate · 40 lessons
Eight chapters, realistic cases, evidence-aware decisions and one final examination.
02Full intermediate course40 lessons followed by one exam
01 Case assessment
- 01Open →
Analysing a skin case with multiple concerns
Learn structured intake and priority setting before proposing products.
- 02Open →
Tightness, itch and burning: interpreting similar symptoms
Learn which symptom clues matter and where self-assessment stops.
- 03Open →
Causation versus coincidence in skin changes
Evaluate temporal patterns and confounders before crediting products.
- 04Open →
Hormones, weather and daily habits as skin variables
Understand environmental and hormonal contributors without overclaiming.
- 05Open →
When to refer: the limits of cosmetic skincare
Recognise situations needing assessment rather than self-treatment.
02 Acne in depth
- 06Open →
Comedonal versus inflammatory acne: different decisions
Choose a mechanism-based strategy rather than one exfoliant for all acne.
- 07Open →
Salicylic, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene and azelaic acid
Compare four commonly used acne therapies by mechanism and risk.
- 08Open →
Hormonal, friction-related and product-associated breakouts
Use location and timing as clues, not stand-alone diagnoses.
- 09Open →
Not every bump is acne: rosacea and folliculitis
Recognise patterns that deserve differential assessment.
- 10Open →
Acne recurrence, meaningful progress and scarring prevention
Measure new lesions, recurrence, scarring and tolerability.
03 Pigmentation reasoning
- 11Open →
PIH, PIE and melasma: practical distinctions
Identify the type of change being tracked before choosing an active.
- 12Open →
Pigment pathways, hormones and UV triggers
Explain recurring pigment triggers instead of treating only color.
- 13Open →
Brightening ingredients: niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, azelaic
Compare plausible mechanisms and evidence limitations across ingredients.
- 14Open →
Visible light, iron oxides and melasma protection
Explain where tinted protection adds value without confusing labels.
- 15Open →
Pigmentation plans: prevent new marks and track existing ones
Design a practical monitoring plan for pigment and inflammation.
04 Irritation and barrier
- 16Open →
Recognising routine-induced irritation
Identify product stacking, exposure time and friction as possible triggers.
- 17Open →
Retinoid and acid irritation: expected effects versus warning signs
Separate possible early dryness from excessive reactions.
- 18Open →
Rosacea, eczema and contact dermatitis patterns
Learn differential clues and when referrals are needed.
- 19Open →
Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in barrier care
Connect barrier lipid structure to useful moisturizing strategies.
- 20Open →
Reintroducing actives after a disrupted routine
Build a careful reintroduction plan with defined stopping rules.
05 Active ingredients
- 21Open →
Retinol, retinal, adapalene and tretinoin compared
Understand molecule identity, evidence quality and clinical use.
- 22Open →
Vitamin C forms, stability and formula performance
Evaluate vitamin C actives without assuming chemical equivalence.
- 23Open →
Peptides and the difference between mechanism and proven outcome
Separate laboratory plausibility from tested clinical benefit.
- 24Open →
AHA, BHA and PHA: designing a sensible exfoliation choice
Match exfoliant type and contact pattern to concern and tolerance.
- 25Open →
Layering active ingredients: benefit versus irritation
Understand functional overlap and decide when to simplify.
06 Formulation literacy
- 26Open →
Reading INCI: useful signals and what it cannot reveal
Understand ordering rules and why an ingredient list is not a formula dossier.
- 27Open →
Why a higher active percentage is not automatically better
Distinguish label concentration, delivered exposure and measured effects.
- 28Open →
Leave-on versus rinse-off: how contact changes exposure
Relate contact time and directions to safety and realistic effects.
- 29Open →
pH, stability and packaging in finished skincare formulas
Recognise why pH and packaging can matter without pretending to assay a formula.
- 30Open →
Same active in serum, cream and toner: do results match?
Evaluate whole formulas rather than ingredient-only comparisons.
07 Advanced sun protection
- 31Open →
SPF, UVA-PF and PA: interpreting protection claims
Interpret sunscreen measures without converting labels into hours.
- 32Open →
Visible light and targeted tinted protection
Know when tinted iron-oxide formulations are relevant.
- 33Open →
Sunscreen with makeup, sweating and outdoor activity
Plan realistic protection under makeup and during sweat and water exposure.
- 34Open →
Sunscreen troubleshooting: eye stinging, white cast and pilling
Diagnose practical application issues without under-applying sunscreen.
- 35Open →
Sunscreen case selection: melasma, retinoids and reactive skin
Adapt sunscreen selection to concern, tolerability and exposure.
08 Integrated cases and review
- 36Open →
Case study: oily skin, inflammatory acne and dark marks
Build a phased routine separating acne control from pigment management.
- 37Open →
Case study: dry reactive skin and early fine lines
Balance barrier comfort with an evidence-aware fine-line goal.
- 38Open →
Case study: combination skin, daily makeup and sweat
Adapt cleansing and protection for mixed zones and daily activity.
- 39Open →
Body case: keratosis pilaris, back bumps and friction marks
Distinguish common body conditions and avoid one-size-fits-all peeling.
- 40Open →
Eight-week routine review: meaningful outcomes and decisions
Build a structured, safe monitoring framework for a skincare routine.
Level certificate
Advanced
Understand formulation chemistry, read tests and evaluate outcomes.
Advanced Skin Biology
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
Skin Conditions & Complex Cases
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
How Skincare Really Works
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
Advanced Formulation Science
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
Clinical Evidence & Research
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
Anti-Aging & Skin Longevity
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
Personalised Skincare
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
The Skincare Expert Lab
Five evidence-led lessons, bilingual quizzes, references and licensed images
40 lessons across eight chapters. Final examination and certificate require separate validation before publication.
01Barrier and formulation3 lessons
- 01Open lesson →
The barrier: hydration and water loss are different measurements
Understand what a hydration test measures and what it cannot establish about barrier repair.
- 02Open lesson →
Cleanser formulation: beyond foam and pH
Explain surfactants and compare cleansers using formulation and use conditions, not one number.
- 03Open lesson →
Moisturizers and actives: reading evidence carefully
Separate the cream base from an added active and interpret niacinamide and peptide evidence.
Stage exam
12 questions · 18 minutes · 80% pass
02Understanding active ingredients3 lessons
- 01Open lesson →
Retinoids: identity, conversion and formulation
Understand why percentages cannot rank different retinoids and how to evaluate renewal claims.
- 02Open lesson →
Acids and pH: understand the numbers before ranking strength
Distinguish acid concentration from formula acidity without making home-treatment recipes.
- 03Open lesson →
Vitamin C: identity, stability and study interpretation
Distinguish vitamin C forms and understand why colour or percentage alone cannot establish performance.
Stage exam
12 questions · 18 minutes · 80% pass
03Evaluate outcomes and build a routine3 lessons
- 01Open lesson →
Evaluating pigmentation: did the colour actually fade?
Separate pigment change from lighting and redness, and evaluate outcomes fairly.
- 02Open lesson →
SPF and broad-spectrum protection: tests and real use
Understand SPF without turning it into permitted sun time or adding product numbers.
- 03Open lesson →
Build a purposeful routine and review it with a clear decision
Combine learning into a simple plan with a goal, follow-up and clear reasons to adjust.
Stage exam
12 questions · 18 minutes · 80% pass
Level certificate
Read by topic
Continuous topic explanations without quizzes, ready to revisit.
Pick up where you left off
Start a lesson and find it here when you return.
Continue lessonChoose your route through skincare and fragrance
Start with a concern, a product category or a question. Explore the range alongside practical SESH Academy lessons.
