Want to deliver something new, exciting and high-performing to your customers? Then it’s time to develop a custom skincare solution. Don’t worry, it sounds harder than it is – here are four easy steps you can take to get started.
To truly meet your customers’ application and performance needs, your beauty brand needs to break the mold. In other words, develop custom skincare solutions tuned to specific customer needs.
This process can seem daunting. Coming up with a unique idea is hard enough – not to mention actually bringing it to life. But when you take these high-level steps (and work with the right partner), you’ll have a custom skincare solution in no time.
#1 — Flesh out your winning idea
What do you want to make? Ideas can be endless, so start by identifying the problem you want to solve for your customers.
For example, if you aim to solve acne issues for consumers, you should decide if you want to treat small breakouts versus inherently acne-prone skin. A solution that soothes a few pimples is going to look totally different than a deep treatment that goes below the skin’s surface.
Remember, a custom skincare solution is all about thinking outside of the box – addressing customer problems in a new (and better) way.
For example, microneedle patches are an innovative way to combat acne issues. These hyaluronic protrusions are much safer on skin than a microneedle roller, and are much more efficacious than regular patches. They get deeper into the epidermis and deliver actives into the skin.
But wait, there’s more. Microneedle patches don’t have to be solely for acne – they can be customized for anti-aging and brightening purposes. They are a completely non-invasive, painless and effective way to increase the delivery of actives to the skin.
This solution is a perfect example of not only coming up with an innovative way to approach consumer needs but also using that idea as a jumping off point for other skincare technologies.
#2 — Pick out differentiating ingredients
Now that you’ve defined the purpose of your custom skincare solution, it’s time to pick out the key ingredients that will bring your solution to life.
Some common active ingredients in skincare include:
- Salicylic acid
- Peptides
- Retinol
- Ceramides
Keep in mind that using some of these ingredients qualifies skincare products as over-the-counter (OTC). (Check out our eBook for more on how your brand can develop OTC skincare formulations!)
Your brand can also opt to go with natural, sustainable ingredients for custom solutions.
Some sustainable ingredient options include:
- Upcycled ingredients like date seed extract and barely seed
- Fermented ingredients like mushrooms and ginseng root
- Powder ingredients like rose petals, arrowroot and matcha green tea
The ingredients will play a large role in how your custom solution performs in the market. You want to pick key ingredients that are differentiating while providing the benefits your brand promises.
#3 — Test your formula
your product is safe for your customers. Even with non-OTC skincare products, you are claiming to provide certain benefits through specific ingredients. It’s important that the product acts the way you intend it to, that its formula is stable over time, and that its packaging is compatible through the lifetime of the product.
So, test, test, and re-test if needed. It’s always better to iron out product flaws early so the final product is nothing short of perfection.
Custom solution testing can impact your product development schedule and delivery time. Always keep this in mind when developing something new before you sign contracts with brick-and-mortar stores and retailers. You should be 100% sure about production and distribution dates before making promises.
#4 — Bring your custom solution to life (and start selling!)
To create your product at scale, you’re most likely going to work with a trusted custom manufacturer. If you don’t have a partner already, vet your potential partner with these 5 qualities. You’ll also need to work with your partner to determine attainable MOQs – which will help you be profitable and cost-effective, and cover your pipeline from initial launch to re-orders.
In a parallel path, you need to get the word out about your custom skincare solution.
The key here: Focus on your winning, problem-solving idea that you identified in step #1.
In your marketing materials:
- Emphasize words like customization, innovation, groundbreaking, transformative, etc.
- Explain what skincare problems your solution solves and exactly how it solves them.
- Focus on unique ingredients and how they add value to your solution.
- Mention other relevant solution qualities, like being sustainable, organic, green, cruelty-free, etc.
- Highlight any additional characteristics like sustainable packaging, on-the-go solution dispenser options, powder solution formats, etc.
Final Thoughts
Offering custom skincare solutions to your consumers is an exciting, challenging project that can set your beauty brand apart from competitors. Follow these four steps to start your custom skincare journey – but know you don’t have to embark on it alone.
Ready to develop custom skincare solutions? Get started today by starting a project with TaikiUSA.