Finding a Cosmetic Chemistry Consultant
In order to formulate a new cosmetic product, you will almost always need help from a person that specializes in cosmetic chemistry. Whether you are looking to formulate a completely new product or workshop an existing formulation, a cosmetic chemistry consultant can assist you in in creating an effective and safe cosmetic formulation.
A formulation consultant can help you create and develop new products, troubleshoot existing formulations, and offer guidance on regulatory and compliance issues. With so many consultants available, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Today we will discuss how to find a cosmetic chemistry consultant and what information you should have prepared when meeting with a consultant for the first time. Let’s go!
The 3 main avenues to find a cosmetic chemistry consultant:
1. Trade shows and other beauty industry directories:
If you are just getting started in the beauty industry, you may find yourself at a trade show. A trade show is where you will find a variety of beauty industry professionals including formulators, private labelers, and contract manufacturers. Trade shows are a great way to build your beauty industry network whether you are just getting started or are simply looking to expand your network.
At these trade shows you may get the opportunity to meet with a cosmetic chemist in-person and discuss your idea. This may also give you the chance to explore your options in one fowl swoop.
While trade shows can be extremely informational, they are oftentimes expensive to attend and difficult to navigate as someone new to the beauty industry.
You can also ask for recommendations from industry colleagues or reach out to professional associations or trade groups for leads. If a cosmetic chemist is a member of a professional trade association, you can be sure they are an experienced professional in the field of cosmetic chemistry.
Cons:
Sometimes costly
Difficult to navigate
Pros:
In-Person Interaction
Find many experts in one place
2. Find an independent contractor:
Another way to find a cosmetic chemistry consultant is to look for one on contracting websites. This avenue will require you to do more independent research to determine if the chemist is reliable. Virtually anyone can jot down some cosmetic ingredients and their percentages on a document, but whether a formulation is stable, safe, and effective is another story.
If you choose this avenue, there are several websites you may use to find a cosmetic chemist. To start, try looking through independent contracting websites such as:
Each of these websites has hundreds of individual cosmetic chemists that may be able to assist you through a cosmetic formulation, but we must warn you…
Check the contractor’s credentials including reviews on previous projects before partnering with them.
Cons:
Requires more research to determine contractor’s qualifications
Formulation testing usually not offered
Pros:
Easy to find
Several options
Usually less costly
3. Work with a cosmetic lab:
Working with a cosmetic lab to create a new formulation or workshop an existing on another great option. Cosmetic labs specialize in cosmetic formula creation and will be able to work with you throughout the process to create an effective formula. In addition to formulating services, cosmetic labs frequently include formulation testing in their cosmetic consulting services.
Working with a lab that can ensure your formulation passes all needed tests is the largest advantage to working with a lab compared to the other 2 options. If you formulate with an individual contractor that does not offer testing, you may be required to reformulate your product before manufacturing it if it does not pass testing.
Cosmetic labs, like Genie Supply, offer the full process of cosmetic formulation including samples and testing.
You can find cosmetic labs by simply searching google or another search engine and looking through the lab’s website to determine if they meet your needs.
Cons:
More Costly
Pros:
Easy to find
Qualifications are easy to identify
Sample rounds typically offered
Formulation testing offered
What to prepare before working with a cosmetic chemistry consultant:
What you will bring to your cosmetic chemistry consultant often depends on your own level of experience, but at the very least you should bring your idea!
Here are some questions you should consider before going to a cosmetic chemistry consult:
What will the main effect of your product be?
What will the star ingredient of your product be?
What is your price range?
What certifications do you want your product to meet? -clean?
Are there any ingredients you absolutely don’t want in your formulation?
Your cosmetic chemist will have even more questions for you regarding your formulation, but these are just some thinking points to get started with.
Work With Genie Supply:
Genie Supply is the clean beauty lab from entrepreneurs. We love creating new and innovative beauty products and watching our client’s ideas come to life.
At Genie Supply we offer custom formulation, which is the process of creating an entirely new beauty idea from scratch.
Stability testing and 2 sample rounds are always included with custom formulation!
If you already have a formulation and are just looking to workshop if or bounce some ideas off of a cosmetic chemist, we can help with that too! We offer consults with our on-staff cosmetic chemists.
Head over to our custom formulation webpage to learn more about our cosmetic chemistry services.
Schedule a consult with a cosmetic chemist or share your idea with us to get started.
Extra questions? Email us at customerservice@geniesupply.com or give us a call at 812-329-1105.
