How To Find The Best Beauty Products Manufacturer [5 Steps]
Finding the best beauty products manufacturer for your brand is the first major step in your business journey, and it’s not a decision to take lightly.
But when you’re brand new to this market, knowing which green and red flags to look out for can be a challenge.
Struggling with the selection process? Innacos Labs is here to help.
Our in-depth guide below outlines a step-by-step guide on how to vet cosmetics manufacturers for beginner brands like yours.
We cover the importance of finding the right manufacturing process and why ethical considerations are more important than ever in 2024.
Planning Ahead To Find The Right Fit For Your Brand
The good news is there are lots of great beauty manufacturers out there, but finding the right fit for your brand requires more than just evaluating the quality of a lab’s products.
A manufacturer may have the best ingredients, chemists, and manufacturing equipment, but if they can’t support your business’ goals, your partnership could end in disaster.
Enter the manufacturer search process with a clear vision of your brand’s future in mind:
Who is your target market?
What are your brand’s mission statement and core values?
Will you sell makeup or skincare (or both)?
What type of makeup or skincare products will you sell?
Be open and communicative with potential beauty products manufacturers about your goals and plans, and ask how they can help bring your vision to life.
Think long-term from the start. Your brand is more than just your first product launch!
Is it your goal to move into new markets in a couple of years? Will you scale up production or expand into new niches? All of these future goals should impact your choice of supplier.
Although there’s room to grow, adapt, and change your plans over time, thinking far ahead in the early stages sets you up for success.
Choosing The Right Manufacturing Process For Your Business
Once you have a clear concept of what your brand stands for, and how it will fit into the beauty market, it’s time to consider the logistics of creating your products and set your budget.
Choosing your production process is one of the most important decisions before creating your first product line.
There are three main manufacturing methods, each with their own pros and cons:
Private Label
Private labeling involves adding your own customized branding to a lab’s existing formula. Although this method is quick and the most cost-effective, none of your beauty products will be unique.
At Innacos Labs, we offer over 60 clean and cruelty-free preformulated skin care and color cosmetic products to choose from. Order product samples directly from our website here.
Custom Formulating
Custom formulating involves working with a team of chemists to create brand-new skin care or makeup from scratch. The result is highly unique products unlike any other brand on the market, however, it’s expensive to formulate from scratch and a time-intensive process, too.
At Innacos Labs, we’re experts at novel chemical research, formulating new-to-market concepts and formats, hybrid products, and clean skin care. Learn more about our custom formulating costs and process here.
Custom Product Creation
Custom product creation is the middle ground between private label and custom formulating. This method involves adding a limited number of ingredients to a manufacturer’s base formula.
At Innacos Labs, we offer two different CPC packages to suit different budgets. Learn more about our custom product creation processes here.
Finding The Right Fit For Your Budget
Unsure which methods fit your budget? Enquire with multiple beauty manufacturers about the cost of manufacturing and calculate the average cost of each process.
Now is also a good time to think about product pricing. Run the numbers on roughly how much you would need to charge per product to earn a healthy profit margin using each manufacturing method.
Look for labs that offer as many manufacturing process options as possible. The more choices you have, the easier it will be to expand your product range in the future.
Hoping to launch highly customized products, but struggling to fit custom formulating into your budget? Consider mixing private label products with a few ‘star’ custom-formulated products for your first launch.
Shortlist the beauty manufacturers that can develop products that align with your goals and preferred manufacturing method.
Now it’s time to dig a little deeper to narrow down all your remaining options.
Vetting Beauty Products Manufacturers For Ingredient Quality
Customer loyalty comes down to one thing: high-quality products that keep them coming back for more!
But how do you differentiate high-quality products from the average?
Start your search by evaluating the product listings on a manufacturer’s website. The ingredient lists will tell you everything you need to know.
Look for high-performing evidence-backed ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.
When it comes to product formulation, it’s not just about what’s included, but also what’s purposefully left out. Clean, cruelty-free, and sustainable ingredients are not just for the ‘ethical’ brands anymore - they are increasingly becoming the standard in the beauty industry.
However, this is of course more crucial if your brand’s unique selling point (USP) revolves around one of these ethical values.
Make it a point to ask every lab about their ethical standards for formulating, and take a close look at the ingredient lists to guarantee they include clean and vegan options.
At Innacos Labs, we specialize in formulating clean, cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainable skin care and color cosmetics.
We formulate our products without over 2,000 ingredients that are potentially harmful to human health, and many of our products exceed the strict clean standards set by retailers like Credo and Whole Foods. Learn more about our commitment to clean and ethical beauty here.
If a beauty products manufacturer passes the ingredient ethics and quality test, it’s time for the sample testing phase.
Purchase samples directly from the lab’s website and try it out for a few weeks. Take note of the consistency, scent (if applicable), and if you notice any changes to your skin throughout the trial period. Order samples from our website here.
Suppliers Should Prioritize Ethical & Professional Standards
While comparing your manufacturing options, remember that ethics are important not just in the product formulas but also in the way the manufacturer runs their business.
Consumers are more conscious of the ethical and environmental challenges in the beauty industry than ever before, and expect brands to partner with ethical suppliers across the entire supply chain.
Consider the following:
Are this manufacturer’s workers paid fairly?
Where do they source ingredients?
Do they consider their impact on the environment?
As you vet manufacturers for ethical standards, don’t overlook how they treat their existing clients. Look for signs of professionalism and helpfulness.
Do they provide guidance and clarity about how the entire beauty product creation process works? New brand owners sometimes feel left in the dark during the manufacturing stage. It’s important to stay in the loop as you need to be as knowledgeable as possible about your products.
At Innacos Labs, we’re not just a manufacturer of ethical beauty products, we also pride ourselves on being an ethical business. From the way our employees are treated, to how we source our ingredients, we consider the ethical implications of our actions at every step of the way.
We also understand how difficult it can be for new brands starting out. That’s why we offer consulting services and also provide free home-to-lab guides on our blog.
Does The Beauty Products Manufacturer Offer Filling Services?
Vet your manufacturing options based on all of the services they offer.
Do they only provide the product formula, or can they cover filling services, too?
If they do not provide filling services, you will need to source the filling for your products separately. This can complicate the supply chain if these services are hard to find nearby.
At Innacos Labs, we offer a range of services including product formula, testing, and filling. Learn more about our full range of services on our website here.
In sum, finding the best beauty products manufacturer for your brand involves the following:
Planning ahead to define your goals and establish your brand vision
Identifying the correct manufacturing process for your business
Vetting supplier options based on ingredient and product ethics and quality
Looking for suppliers that adhere to strong ethical and professional standards in their business
Choosing manufacturers that offer filling services
Ready to partner with a beauty products manufacturer for your new brand? At Innacos Labs, we would love to work with your business. Get in touch to learn more via email: customerservice@innacos.com or by calling: (812) 329-1105.
