How To Find The Best Wholesale Natural Skin Care Products
Finding high quality wholesale natural skin care products is not as simple as it seems.
From identifying natural alternatives to popular synthetic ingredients, and complying with the looming Natural Cosmetics Act, only the most dedicated manufacturers correctly cater to this niche.
Our in-depth guide below outlines the three key reasons why formulating natural skin care requires more effort than other beauty categories.
We discuss how to find and vet wholesalers for natural products, and explain why focusing on clean beauty instead of natural skin care alone can be a better strategy for your brand.
Creating ‘Natural’ Skin Care Is Not As Straightforward As It May Seem
You’ve decided to launch a skin care line and noticed potential within the natural skin care niche.
There’s no denying the opportunity in natural skin care - GrandViewResearch estimates that the natural skin care market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% between 2022 and 2030.
However, producing natural skin care products that are legally compliant, highly effective, and safe is more complex than it seems.
Natural Is Not Always Best
First things first: contrary to popular belief, natural is not always best. The ultimate goal of your natural skin care brand should be creating high-performing products that are better for the skin, not just using the ‘natural’ label as a marketing gimmick.
As cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson explained to Rose Inc, natural ingredients are sometimes irritating to the skin, while synthetic ingredients are at times safer and more effective.
Black-and-white thinking that natural = ‘good’ and synthetic = ‘bad’ can hurt the overall effectiveness and quality of your formula.
Focus on using natural ingredients where they add value to maximize the quality and safety of your products, instead of adopting an all-or-nothing natural approach.
Limit Your Use Of Non-Renewable Natural Resources
Secondly, it’s important to consider the impact of going natural on the environment - specifically the responsible use of non-renewable natural resources.
Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong of Lab Muffin explains that the overharvesting of natural ingredients used in skin care (in particular licorice extract and Indian sandalwood) is playing a role in the endangerment of natural resources.
Consider incorporating innovative manufacturing processes, such as upcycling the byproducts of natural ingredients, to minimize your brand’s impact on the environment.
Learn more about upcycling at Genie Supply in our full blog post here.
Be Cautious With The ‘Natural’ Skin Care Label
Thirdly, be cautious before branding your wholesale skin care products ‘natural’.
Although claims about ‘natural’ skin care are not tightly regulated in the US as of 2024, this is likely to change soon.
Congress introduced the Natural Cosmetics Act in late 2021. If the act passes, it will require the FDA to define the terms ‘natural’ and ‘naturally derived ingredient’ for skin care and other personal care products.
The sale of skin care labeled ‘natural’ or ‘naturally derived ingredient’ on its packaging will be banned unless the product meets the requirements established under this bill.
Consequences For Misleading Claims
Even today, labeling your products ‘natural’ can result in legal challenges. Cosmetic Business explains that multiple beauty brands faced legal action from the FTC for allegedly misleading consumers with claims of ‘natural’ products – particularly claims of ‘100% natural’ formulas.
If natural beauty is central to your brand philosophy, ensure that all ‘natural’ claims are legally compliant.
As it’s difficult to formulate 100% natural skin care, we recommend widening your target niche to clean beauty as a whole. Focus on a combination of natural ingredients with kinder-to-skin clean preservatives that appeal to a large range of customers.
If formulating natural beauty products sounds overwhelming, you’re not alone. Choose manufacturing labs that offer consulting services to help you formulate effective and legally compliant clean/natural skin care.
At Genie Supply, we manufacture clean wholesale beauty products and also provide consultancy services for creating natural skin care: including advice on chemical marketing language, regulatory compliance, and FDA labeling. Read more about our consulting services here.
Finding The Best Wholesale Natural Skin Care Products Manufacturer
Now that you have a clear vision of the type of natural or clean skin care products you want to create, it’s time to search for a wholesaler.
Making a list of potential suppliers is the easy part: searching the internet is your best bet to find as many options as possible, and you can also find labs through word of mouth, in directories, or at trade shows.
Consider the wholesaler’s location, read through client testimonials, and check whether they offer product samples before you add a lab to your prospect list.
At Genie Supply, our diverse team prides itself on our transparent communication and the personalized attention that we show to every client. Based in the US, we sell product samples directly from our website. Order samples from our website here and review our client testimonials here.
Vetting Labs Based On Natural And Clean Beauty Formulas
Once you have compiled a list of potential prospects, it’s time to narrow down your options based on their ability to manufacture the type of wholesale natural or clean skin care products you want.
Look for labs that clearly state a focus on natural or clean wholesale skin care products on their website.
Some suppliers talk the natural talk but don’t walk the natural walk. Verify their natural credentials before you commit to any lab. Look through product pages and assess each ingredient list to verify that they genuinely choose natural alternatives to synthetic ingredients where possible.
For example, tremella mushroom is a close dupe for the synthetic version of hyaluronic acid, providing moisturizing and antioxidant benefits that are gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Other examples of natural ingredients to look out for include essential oils, sea moss, blue tansy, and THD vitamin C. Learn more about the benefits of natural ingredients like tremella mushroom on our blog here.
After establishing that the wholesaler sources quality natural and clean ingredients, book a discovery call to discuss their ability to manufacture the natural/clean products you envision for your brand.
At Genie Supply, we’re experts in formulating clean, natural, sustainable, and cruelty-free skin care. Learn more about our dedication to formulating safe and natural products here.
Choosing The Right Manufacturing Process For Your Business
The second key factor to assess when vetting labs is the manufacturing methods on offer.
You might find a wholesaler that ticks all the right boxes and creates high-quality wholesale natural skin care products, but what if their manufacturing process doesn’t align with your budget or product vision?
There are three main manufacturing methods to look out for:
Private Label
This method involves adding customized branding to a lab’s existing formula. Although none of your wholesale private label natural skin care will be unique, it is the most budget-friendly manufacturing method of all.
At Genie Supply, we offer over 60 clean or natural skin care products on a private label/bulk basis. Learn more about our natural and clean beauty options in our product catalog here.
Custom Product Creation
Are you comfortable with preformulated products but want to add a specific natural ingredient to your formula? Custom product creation is the method for you.
This process involves adding a limited number of ingredients to a lab’s existing base formula. Although the result is not as unique as custom formulating, it is a much more cost-effective manufacturing method.
At Genie Supply, we offer two separate custom product creation packages to suit different budgets. Learn more about the costs and timelines for custom product creation at Genie Supply here.
Custom Formulating
Got bold ideas for a natural skin care line that’s unlike anything else on the market? Custom formulation involves partnering with a lab’s chemists to create entirely new skin care from scratch.
Although it’s the best method to bring truly unique natural skin care to the market, it is much more expensive and time-consuming than private label and custom product creation.
At Genie Supply, we specialize in creating clean and natural beauty, hybrid products, new-to-market products and concepts, and conducting novel chemical research. Learn more about the costs and timelines for custom formulating at Genie Supply here.
In sum, finding the best wholesale natural skin care products involves four key steps:
Committing to choosing only high-quality and abundant natural ingredients and complying with the upcoming Natural Cosmetics Act
Finding potential suppliers online, at tradeshows, in directories, or by word of mouth
Vetting each lab on your list based on the quality of natural or clean ingredients in each formula
Choosing from your shortlist based on the right manufacturing methods for your lab
Looking to source quality wholesale clean or natural skin care products for your brand? At Genie Supply, we specialize in clean skin care. Learn more about our natural and clean formulating capabilities by calling: (812) 329-1105 or emailing: customerservice@geniesupply.com.
