You want to get started in the cosmetics industry by becoming a cosmetics and skincare manufacturer. Fantastic! Our 5-step guide will help you on your way.

Selecting ingredients and developing formulas

You need high-quality ingredients to create superb skin and hair care products. But before you start ordering your raw materials, you need to make a few decisions.

• Who is your target market (young, 20-the 30s, 40-50s, mature, babies, men)?
• What category will you start with (dry skin, oily skin, anti-aging, brightening, sensitive)?
• What products do you intend to develop (creams, serums, cleansers, toners, tanning, sunscreen, grooming products, body lotions, cosmeceuticals)?

The next step is to take your concept to a qualified cosmetic chemist. They will use the latest research to develop or improve your idea, keep you up-to-date with industry trends, innovations and breakthroughs, and advise you on cutting-edge ingredients. Only then can you start purchasing your raw materials.

Sourcing raw materials

Start by doing a background check on suppliers to ensure you only select ingredients from trusted companies that can provide the consistency and quality of their products.

When sourcing raw materials locally or overseas, ask the company for evidence of their Quality Management System. Then check the materials against industry standards and specifications.

Trulux offers different cosmetic raw materials like Active Ingredients, Conditioning agents, Smoothing agents, Emulsifiers, Surfactants, Polymers, etc.

Once you have taken delivery of the ingredients, the cosmetic chemist can start developing and testing your formulas. Using cutting-edge ingredients, such as peptides, botanicals and vitamins, the chemist can transform your concept into something unique for your brand.

Manufacturing, quality control & assurance

Setting up a facility to manufacture your products can be costly, so investigate alternatives, such as a private-label skin care manufacturer. Look for companies that have a team of qualified chemists, technical support staff, and a factory equipped with sophisticated equipment to manufacture your products. Skincare, haircare, baby care, and many more are available at Trulux's shop.

If you need more expertise to develop your products, the private-label skincare manufacturer can usually provide services from inception to production.

To ensure first-class manufacturing, you need documentation for every batch and production method to guarantee strict quality control and assurance guidelines are met.

Packaging, labelling, artwork

The next step, the fun, really starts – selecting the packaging and designing the artwork.

Top tip: to attract customers to your product, package it in something that stands out from your competitors!

Will you be using elegant glass, lightweight plastic, or tubes? What type of closures will they need (screw top, pump pack). Perhaps your formula calls for an airless pouch container or a container that won't mix unstable ingredients with the other ingredients until it's pumped into the hand.

Revolutionary airless pouch containers by Lumson comprise a thin, collapsible pouch shaped inside the plastic bottle for easy, fast top filling. Because of this, no special tooling is required.

The pouch prevents air from penetrating your formula, helping protect sensitive ingredients from deteriorating. Think retinol and vitamin C.

Every bottle has a tamper-resistant Eco-lock top that snaps on after filling to prevent it from being removed, protecting your product from contamination.

State-of-the-art design

The innovative Lumson design can be used for low and high-density formulas. Plus, the bottle functions in any position, even upside down, and is made from recyclable, bright, thick plastic, which makes it easy to transport and stock.

Another bonus of the airless pouch containers is that less than 5% formula is left in the bottle after total dispensing. This ensures customers get what they pay for.

Finally, when your packaging is sorted, hire a graphic designer to create a fabulous label. Private label manufacturers will often offer this service, too.

Shipping

The final step is logistics. Where is your product being transported? Do you have a warehouse it can be shipped to? Or will it be delivered straight to the market or shops it is intended for?

Lastly, for more information about becoming a skincare manufacturer, read our blogs on Getting started in the cosmetics industry and Becoming a private-label cosmetics manufacturer.

Image courtesy of Lumson