Signing a contract with a cosmetics laboratory is the first real ‘pinch me’ moment for most new brand owners. 

But if you’re not sure if you’re making the right decision… that excitement quickly turns into anxiety. 

That’s why we’ve created this fool-proof guide below to find the perfect manufacturer for your exact brand’s needs.

From the pre-search phase to the best places to find suppliers, and the key criteria to vet each lab, we’ve got you covered! 

Pre-Search Planning: Market Research, Brand Identity, & Brainstorming 

It’s tempting to rush straight into the search for a laboratory to produce your cosmetics, but careful planning is key to making the right choice for your business. 

Brainstorming A Product Line & Forming A Brand Identity 

Not all cosmetics laboratories are the same –  some specialize in skin care, many focus on makeup, a few cater to niche markets, while others offer a wider range of products, from makeup to hair care, skin care, and body care. 

Clarifying your product vision before you begin your search prevents the crushing disappointment of finding the lab of your dreams -  only to find out they can’t produce the types of products that you plan to sell. 

Consider your brand identity as a whole, not just the types of beauty products you’ll sell.

Launching a clean skin care brand that specializes in anti-aging products? You’ll need to find a lab that not only creates high-quality anti-aging skin care but also specializes in clean beauty ingredients. 

Learn more about branding in our full guide here.

Conduct Market Research 

One of the biggest mistakes new brand owners make is developing their own brand concept and product plan without testing it with the market first. 

To set your brand up for success, start with market research to find out exactly what the market wants and identify the areas that are currently underserved by competitors. 

Gather trend data from professional market research firms, hear from beauty consumers directly by keeping tabs on pain points discussed on popular beauty forums, and take a more active research role by hosting surveys and focus groups. 

eCommerce brands can find ‘hidden gem’ underserved beauty niches through keyword research - an important step if your initial marketing strategy focuses on free customer acquisition through SEO or social media.

Tools like Ahrefs, Google Ads Keyword Planner, Moz, and SEMRUSH reveal how many times a keyword is searched each month and how strong the competition is for that keyword.

Target specific beauty terms like ‘vegan red lipstick” or “skin care product for nasolabial folds” to find high-search-volume, low-competition keywords where your new business can compete. 

Searching For A Supplier Of Laboratory Cosmetics 

With a clear vision of the types of products you want to create, it’s time to begin the search for a supplier of your laboratory cosmetics. 

You can find quality manufacturers in directories, at tradeshows, and through referrals, but most new beauty brands find a supplier using a simple Google search.

Start with broad search terms such as: 

• ‘Manufacturers of laboratory cosmetics’ 

• ‘Beauty manufacturers in the US’

• ‘Suppliers of beauty products for brands’ 

Read through the main pages on each website and make a shortlist of all the options that satisfy your deal breakers.

Consider if a lab: 

• Aligns with your brand ethics

• Produces the types of products you want to sell 

• Offers your preferred manufacturing method

• Fits within your budget

Struggling to find the right manufacturer using one of the three methods above? Think outside the box. Beyond search engines, the internet can be an effective vetting feature if you know where to look:

LinkedIn:

Use LinkedIn’s advanced search feature to connect with professional chemists and R&D specialists in the cosmetic industry. These connections can provide insider information on lesser-known, high-quality cosmetic labs that fit your specific needs. 

Patent databases: 

Databases like Google Patents allow brand owners like you to search through the latest cutting-edge cosmetic formulas and find the specific labs linked to these innovative products. Look for manufacturers with a high number of filed patents to find the current biggest innovators in the industry. 

At Genie Supply, we offer a broad range of clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable skin care and color cosmetics for small home-to-lab brands like yours.

Client choice is important to us -  we provide multiple manufacturing options and accommodate a wide range of budgets through our tiered pricing system. Learn more about moving from home to lab in our full guide here. 

Evaluate Each Laboratory Based On The Quality Of The Cosmetics 

With your list of potential cosmetics suppliers ready, it’s time to narrow it down to the best options. Begin by vetting all the manufacturers based on product quality. 

Review each supplier’s website for details on their ingredient sourcing process, formulating experience, and read through client testimonials.

If they offer preformulated products, take a closer look at the ingredients lists. Note the length of the list and the strength of the key ingredients in each formula. 

Once you have evaluated all the websites and narrowed down your options to the top 5, it’s time to order samples from each lab on your shortlist. 

Test the product samples on the skin for at least two weeks to gauge their effectiveness. Note any changes to the skin within that time period and assess the product’s scent, consistency, and feel. 

At Genie Supply, we pride ourselves on the quality of our preformulated and customized cosmetics. We believe transparency is key, and list all ingredients in our preformulated products directly on our website.

Plus, we provide scientifically-backed information about the key active or stand-out ingredients on each product page. Learn more and order samples directly from our website here. 

Do They Align With Your Brand On Ethical Values? 

It’s not enough for a cosmetics laboratory to produce high-quality products - they must also align with the ethics of your brand. 

If you are looking for clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable cosmetics, you need to find a supplier that matches or exceeds these ethical standards. 

Many manufacturers will pay lip service to ethical issues in their mission statement, but true commitment is shown through their actions - not just words. 

Assess the clean, vegan, and cruelty-free credentials of each lab by taking a closer look at their ingredients lists:

• Do they use ingredients like phenylethanol as alternatives to traditional preservatives? 

• Do they choose Meadowfoam seed oil over traditional silicones? 

• Do their ‘cruelty-free’ formulas qualify for The Leaping Bunny certification? 

• Do their products pass the strict clean requirements set by retailers like Whole Foods, Credo, Ulta, and  Sephora?  

• Do they provide any details about sustainability throughout their supply chains?

At Genie Supply, we specialize in clean, cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainable cosmetics. Our product formulas are made without over 2,000 potentially harmful ingredients and exceed the clean beauty standards required by top retailers.

We also produce products that meet the requirements for many certifications, including The Leaping Bunny. Plus, we use innovative techniques like upcycling to make our production process more sustainable. Learn more about our commitment to clean beauty in our full guide here.  

Does The Manufacturer Offer Customization Options?

Once a lab ticks the product quality and ethics boxes, it’s time to consider its manufacturing capabilities.

Looking to build a brand that brings something new to the table? You need to find a supplier with customization options. 

There are three main levels of customization, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Private Label 

Private labeling involves purchasing a lab’s preformulated formula and adding your own customized branding on top.

Although this is the most budget-friendly option, there is no room for customization beyond fragrance options. Many manufacturers will also offer these preformulated formulas on a bulk basis. 

At Genie Supply, we offer over 60 preformulated skin care and color cosmetic products on a bulk or private label basis. Learn more about our full product offering and our pricing strategy in our latest catalog here. 

Custom Formulating 

Are you looking to create brand-new cosmetics from scratch?

Custom formulating involves working with a lab’s team of chemists to create unique makeup or skin care products from scratch. The result is highly customized products that stand out on the market, however, it is a much more expensive process than private label or custom product creation. 

At Genie Supply, we specialize in clean beauty, hybrid products, new-to-market concepts, and novel chemical research. Read more about the custom formulating costs and projected timeline in our full guide here. 

Custom Product Creation 

This method involves adding a limited number of ingredients to a lab’s pre-existing base formula. It’s a compromise between the more affordable but non-unique private labeling method and the highly customized but expensive custom formulating process. 

At Genie Supply, we have 100s of bases to choose from and offer two custom product creation packages to suit different budgets. Learn more about our custom product creation options here. 

The more manufacturing options to choose from - the better.

Choosing a lab with multiple production methods provides the range to progress from budget-friendly private label products to highly customized formulas as your brand grows. Learn more about the best manufacturing method for your brand in our quiz here.

In sum, there are 5 key steps to finding the best cosmetics laboratory for your brand: 

• Pre-search planning including market research, defining your brand goals, and brainstorming your product collection 

• Using a variety of methods to search for the best suppliers - including online, through trade shows, word of mouth, and directories. 

• Evaluating the product quality of the labs on your shortlist 

• Selecting the labs that align with your brand values and ethical standards 

• Narrowing down the list based on the manufacturing methods and customization capabilities of the lab 

Ready to create the laboratory cosmetics of your dreams? At Genie Supply, we offer clean skin care and color cosmetics on a preformulated or customized basis. Learn more by getting in touch through email: customerservice@geniesupply.com or by calling: (812) 329 1105.