What is Cosmetic Formulation?

Put simply, cosmetic formulation is the process of creating a formula for a cosmetic product including color cosmetics and other beauty products such as face masks and moisturizers. Cosmetic formulation is the first step to creating a beauty product, and arguably one of the most important ones. Creating a perfect cosmetic formulation will set the tone for your cosmetic line, and help to set the line apart from others.

Cosmetic chemists, also known as cosmetic formulators, are responsible for developing and testing new products, as well as modifying and improving existing ones. They work with a variety of ingredients, including emollients, surfactants, emulsifiers, preservatives, fragrances, and active ingredients, to create products that are safe, stable, and effective.

The first step in cosmetic formulation is determining the purpose of the product and the target market. You must consider and communicate the desired texture, scent, and performance of the product with your cosmetic chemist to create a mutually beneficial relationship. In the long-run, creating and communicating a clear vision with your cosmetic chemist will save time and money in the formulation process.

While it may seem tempting to formulate your cosmetic formula at home, hiring a professional is important to creating an effective, stable, and safe product.

Why Hire a Professional Cosmetic Formulator:

Knowledge of Cosmetic Chemistry:

Cosmetic formulators obtain education in the chemistry field, and this knowledge of chemistry is necessary to create cosmetic formulations. Cosmetic formulations use a variety of ingredients, and knowing how these ingredients will react with each other when mixed is important to creating an effective cosmetic formulation.

There are thousands of ingredients available for use in cosmetics, and formulators must consider factors such as compatibility, stability, and effectiveness. They must also ensure that the ingredients are safe for use, both individually and in combination.

Emulsifiers, for example, must be mixed a specific way to ensure they properly integrate ingredients together and remain stable throughout their shelf life. When not mixed properly many cosmetic ingredients will separate leaving your customers with a separated product months after purchase.

Insurance:

Another reason it is important to hire a professional cosmetic chemist for cosmetic formulation is because they are almost always insured. When working with a cosmetic lab like Genie Supply, you can rest assured that your cosmetic chemist is insured, and any incidents that may occur in the formulating process will be covered.

When formulating cosmetics there are several potentially hazardous tools and equipment being used such as a hot plate. While a great tool for cosmetic formulation, hot plates place a risk on its user for incidents such as fire or personal injury. To alleviate yourself from the risks posed by the equipment and processes used when formulating cosmetics, hire a professional!

Replication:

While creating small batches of cosmetics at home can be a fun experiment, creating a perfect replication of every batch using a home made formulation can be difficult. When cosmetic chemists, like the ones on staff at Genie Supply, create formulations, they carefully record the process of mixing the formulation using a variety of tools.

This includes the exact temperature of emulsion, recording evaporation rates, and ratio of ingredients, down to the 100th of a gram. Cosmetic formulation is an exact science, and using a uniform process to record the formulation process will allow you to create an exact replication of your product every time.

The formula must be balanced to ensure that the product performs effectively and has the desired properties every time it is created. Formulators use a variety of techniques to test the formula, including pH testing, viscosity measurement, and stability testing.

This is important because consumers love consistency!

Large Scale Manufacturing:

At Genie Supply we have experience moving manufacturing from the home to the manufacturing facility. Our own founder has even made the transition herself!

When formulating at home, the formulation created is most likely not up to standards for use in large scale manufacturing. Similar to our last point, it is difficult to replicate cosmetic formulations made at home because the process of mixing and adding ingredients needs to be extremely specific.

While it is nice to have a good idea of the ingredients and their concentrations you would like to use in your formulation, a professional cosmetic formulator will create a universal comprehensive process for your manufacturer to follow when mixing your formulation. Without this process being properly recorded, many manufacturers won’t manufacture your formulation due to the uncertainty and inconsistency that can occur when specific instructions are not provided and followed.

Hire A Cosmetic Formulator:

Cosmetic formulation is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires a deep understanding of both chemistry and consumer needs. Formulators play a crucial role in the development and improvement of personal care products. Hiring a professional cosmetic formulator will allow you to create a formulation that is ready for manufacture in any facility.

Formulate Cosmetics with Genie Supply:

Genie Supply can help create your cosmetic formulation. We are the beauty lab for entrepreneurs, and we specialize in formulating clean beauty products. With our staff of experienced chemists and customer service representatives, we can help you to create the perfect product. If you are ready to manufacture, we can help you with that too!

Once you have determined which product you would like to create with our cosmetic chemists, head over to our custom formulating page and schedule a consult to get started. Two samples rounds with feedback are always included with our services along with the testing you need to start selling your product to your customers! Although we hope you stay with us to manufacture your product, once the formulation process is complete, you own the formula and can take it anywhere to manufacture.

In the meantime, learn more about Genie Supply, our values and team members here.

Extra questions? Email us at customerservice@geniesupply.com or give us a call at 812-329-1105.