Beauty Business
Essentials

Online FIT Certificate Course
Explore the business of beauty with FIT faculty and founders behind brands like Glow Recipe and C.O. Bigelow. Learn how a beauty product goes from concept, formulation, and packaging to market, and leave with a hero product project for your portfolio.
Taught by FIT Faculty & ExpertsExclusive FIT Certificate100% Online & Self-Paced
5Online Modules
FITFaculty & Experts
< 40 hrsTo Complete, Self-Paced
CertificateFIT
Learn From the Best

Taught by People Who Work in the Beauty Business

Learn from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) faculty alongside working professionals across the beauty business.

Christine Chang

Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe

Sarah Lee

Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe

Virginia Bonofiglio

Associate Chairperson, Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing Program, FIT
FIT

Karen Chambers

Executive Vice President, Iman Cosmetics
Iman Cosmetics

Ian Ginsberg

President, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries
C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries

Elizabeth Forsyth

CEO, Sheencolor USA
Sheencolor USA

Ron Robinson

Cosmetic Chemist; Founder, BeautyStat Cosmetics
BeautyStat Cosmetics

Elana Drell Szyfer

CEO, RéVive Skincare
RéVive Skincare

Delphine Horvath

Professor, Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing, FIT
FIT
Why This Course

Built to Launch Your Career in the Beauty Business, Not Just Your Knowledge

01

Real Industry Projects

Hands-on, project-based assignments grounded in how the the beauty business industry actually works.

02

Start Immediately

On-demand video lessons and projects you can begin the day you enroll.

03

Insider Expertise

Learn from the Fashion Institute of Technology faculty and working the beauty business professionals.

04

A Fashion Institute of Technology Credential

Earn a certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a credential employers recognize.

Course Outcomes

What You'll Be Able to Do

  • Understand the major segments and careers of the beauty business
  • Take a product from idea through sourcing, costing, and manufacturing
  • Build a unique brand identity, name, and story
  • Develop marketing using social, influencers, and data
  • Plan retail and distribution across DTC, ecommerce, and retailers
  • Create a comprehensive hero product project for your portfolio

Skills You'll Gain

Beauty entrepreneurshipProduct developmentCosmetic formulationSourcing & costingBrand buildingBeauty marketingInfluencer marketingRetail & distributionEcommerce strategy

Build Your Portfolio

The course is built around hands-on projects, so you leave with real, portfolio-ready work, not just a certificate.

01

Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship

Trace how the beauty industry evolved and the leadership skills founders use to go to market.

02

Product Development & Production

Learn how a beauty product is formulated, produced, and manufactured on time and on budget.

03

Building a Successful Beauty Brand

Examine the decisions behind branding, from naming to a consistent identity across channels.

04

Beauty Marketing Strategies

Understand the marketing techniques and technologies a beauty brand needs to find its consumers.

05

Retailing and Distribution

Master the retail and distribution fundamentals that make a beauty brand lucrative.

Inside the Course

The Full the Beauty Business Curriculum

Each module is broken into short video lessons with assignments and hands-on projects you complete at your own pace.

Module 01

Beauty Industry Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship

  • The beauty business landscape
  • Business models
  • Management & leadership skills
Module 02

Product Development & Production Management

Learn how a beauty product is formulated, produced, and manufactured. Begin ideating your beauty product through understanding how to set price points, contract manufacturing, and sustainability in the production process.
Module 03

Building a Successful Beauty Brand

Navigate the critical decisions behind the branding process. Ideate packaging for your beauty product and present consumers with consistent brand identity through labeling and web-based marketing.
Module 04

Beauty Business Marketing Strategies

Reach your customer with transparency marketing, and working with PR and media.
Module 05

Retailing and Distribution

  • DTC & B2B channels
  • Ecommerce strategy
  • Strategic pop-up retail
Sample certificate
The Credential

Proof You Can Do the Work

Finish the course and earn a Certificate of Completion from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), ready to add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

  • Shareable on LinkedIn and your resume
  • Issued by a globally recognized institution
  • Signals practical, applied expertise
What Learners Say

Results, Not Just Lessons

Through this course, I've been able to refine not only my brand direction but also the structure behind how I present and position the business. I've strengthened my understanding of branding, customer experience, and long-term scalability.

Sadé C.

I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in learning more about the beauty industry beyond the creative or consumer-facing side of the business. It provides a helpful introduction to how beauty brands and products are developed, marketed, distributed, and brought to market.

Crystal V.

It was an excellent course that helped me learn many new things and better understand how the beauty industry works in real-world settings. It was absolutely worth the investment, and I do not regret spending money on this course at all.

Eunsil K.

Since taking the course, I have started Noya BeautyWorks, a disruptive product development consulting firm.

Sarvangi S.

The way I view how the beauty industry works from a business perspective has changed.

Zoe D.
Enrollment

Choose How You Pay

Same full course either way: 5 modules, real industry projects, and your Fashion Institute of Technology Certificate of Completion.

Best Value

One-Time Payment

Pay once, save the most

4 Monthly Payments

Split it over four months

12 Monthly Payments

Lowest monthly cost

Have a discount code? Add it at checkout.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is This Course For?

Aspiring beauty entrepreneurs and professionals at any career stage who want to understand the business side of the beauty industry.

How Long Does It Take to Complete?

5 self-paced modules. Most learners finish in under 40 hours on their own schedule.

Is It Fully Online?

Yes. The course is 100% online and on-demand, so you can study on your own schedule from anywhere.

What Do I Earn at the End?

A non-credit Certificate of Completion from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Do I Need Prior Experience?

No. The course starts with the fundamentals and is designed for newcomers as well as those already working in the field.

Is Financial Assistance Available?

Yes. Request the course catalog and a program advisor can walk you through payment options and any current offers.

What Does the Course Cover?

Beauty Business Essentials includes five on-demand courses covering topics such as Beauty Industry Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship, Product Development and Production Management, Building a Successful Beauty Brand, Beauty Business Marketing Strategies, and Retailing and Distribution. Each course is 2 to 3 hours and is broken into shorter modules and activities that you complete at your own pace.

Who Are the Instructors?

Courses are taught by Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) faculty. You will also receive career insights from industry experts and leaders.

What Can I Expect to Accomplish by the End?

By the end of the course, you will have developed the skills and knowledge of a beauty entrepreneur or to advance a career in the beauty business, explored the various career paths in the industry, and identified your areas of passion. You will also receive a non-credit certificate from FIT that you can add to your LinkedIn profile and resume.

Are There Any Age Requirements?

Students must be at least 13 years old to enroll.

How Long Do I Have Access to the Course?

Enrollment includes unlimited access to all course videos and materials for one year from your enrollment date. If you need more time after that, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to extend your access.

What Payment Methods Do You Accept?

Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. If you enroll outside the United States, tuition is charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.

What Is Your Cancellation Policy?

You can withdraw within 24 hours of enrollment for a full refund. After that, you have up to 7 days to withdraw for a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds are issued after 7 days. Subscription plans can be canceled before your renewal date by emailing [email protected].

How Much Does the Course Cost?

Tuition is $999 when paid in full. Two payment plans are also available at checkout: 4 monthly payments of $269 or 12 monthly payments of $99.

Get the Full Course Catalog

See the complete syllabus and enrollment details. We will email it straight to you.
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