BEAUTY MANUFACTURING: CUSTOM FORMULATING
INTRO TO: CUSTOM FORMULATING
Do you have a crazy, cool idea for a product or an entire product line that you want quoted? Custom formulating is the best (and sometimes only) way to exact your vision. The R&D path can be long and costly, because the lab you choose will be making a completely brand new formula from scratch, and getting it just right is key.
Whether you work with us or not, you will want to partner with a lab that focuses in the specific area in which you want to formulate, with a focus on long-term relationship compatibility. After all, innovation is the life blood of successful brands; the best brands invest in - and never stop - innovating. You will be working together with your lab for a long time, often through difficult challenges.
And we reward you for your loyalty, offering up to 200% of your formulating/testing fees back over your manufacturing purchases orders as credits, with MOQs starting from just 2k pcs/product on your first order. If you’d like to learn more about custom formulating with us and our selection process - schedule an intro consultation.
WHY CHOOSE GS? WE’VE GOT A FINGER TO THE PULSE OF CLEAN BEAUTY.
And we focus all of our energy on bringing new formulation concepts to market. We take a wholistic team approach to formulating, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. We love a challenge, and strive only to create the best for the brands we partner with.
Plus, we reward those who choose to partner with us, by offering up to 200% of their formulating fees back as manufacturing credits over time (contact us for specifics!). To submit your concept for a quote, fill out the form here or schedule an initial consult to learn more by clicking the button below.
WE SPECIALIZE IN:
Novel chemical research and their application/formulation
Amazing, New-to-Market Concepts and Product Formats
Clean Skincare, Color or Hybrid beauty products (new concepts)
Weighing risks and balancing timelines for
quick development + go-to-market
strategies (including international rollout strategies)
CUSTOM FORMULATING TIMELINE
Formulating (3 mos) + Testing (3 mos) + Manufacturing (3 mos) = 9 months
Give or Take! See Below:
Step 1 Submission Review
[1-3 weeks]
Fill out the onboarding document for consideration/quote
Initial call or email with questions*
If accepted, R&D quote + testing schedule provided
Final call* if needed for clarification
Deposit invoice and paperwork sent
Step 3 Testing
[2 months+]
call with chemist + team working on your
project; will be set up within 2 weeks of receipt
signing/deposit. Please have your expected MSRP range for product(s) ready for this call.
first prototype (sample) in 3-6 weeks;
follow-up samples sent about every 2 weeks, pending feedback*.
Step 2 Onboarding + Formulating
[4 weeks - 6 months]
According to Chemist’s
Recommendations/Vendor Requirements:
PET test for formulas with water (6 weeks)
in-house stability testing
(rapid: 3 weeks, regular 12 weeks)timeline can go longer if additional tests needed (3rd party stability, RIPT, etc)
Optional* Contract Manufacturing
[3-4 Months]
USP 61 & 62 testing
Total Turnkey Includes:
packaging
screen printing
labeling
if packaging provided by client (BYOP), avg. 6-8 weeks
add time for specialty ingredient inclusions/arrival
We highly recommend that clients accepted to our R&D program manufacture with us to ensure consistent formulation results. Neither party is obligated to manufacture the final formulation(s).
COSTS
Compared to private label manufacturing, custom formulating is more expensive, but you will retain ownership and creative control of your formulas. Final development costs depends on the complexity of the project and tests needed.
If a quote is issued, the “set fee” price in your quote will include up to 3 rounds of formulating (including samples) + formula ownership. We will quote any other testing needed, along with its cost. Quotes can be negotiated to include additional rounds or testing as needed.
Some projects, especially those including bio-chemical or bio-medical research, scientific research, or some new-to-market concepts will be billed on an open retainer instead of a set fee. Your rep will communicate your fee amount and structure in your quote, before beginning.
ESTIMATED BREAKDOWN
$3000 - $10,000 for formulating and testing costs per product (cosmetics/skincare/bodycare/haircare) - get up to 200% back
$25,000+ Formulating + Testing (OTCs, SPF)
Manufacturing costs vary; bulk available from 60kg or full turnkey from 2k pcs (or less with small order fee! read more)
BUT HOW MUCH EXACTLY?
IT DEPENDS ON SCOPE OF WORK!
We formulate body care, hair care, skin care + color cosmetics, including:
oils + serums
balms / sticks
scrubs
anhydrous serums
lotions and creams
lipgloss / lip oils / plumpers
formula recreation or reverse engineering
We’re happy to
innovate with:
complex skincare
complex body care
scalp and hair care
most new-to-market concepts
re-formulating dirty formulas to be“clean”
mascaras (esp. clean mascara)
novel chemical / use research
READY TO GET STARTED?
Determine the details of your order and fill out an onboarding form above. Continue looking through our START HERE tab and blog for information on just about anything.
