Having an idea for an innovative skincare product to add to your beauty line is the easy part. Being able to bring those ideas to life is where the real challenge takes place – and where a private label skincare manufacturer comes in to help. Here’s how to select the best partner that will transform your dreams into reality.
If you are in the business of beauty, you know how difficult it can be to create great products that work well for customers. Even the best ideas fall flat without the right partner supporting you. Private label skincare manufacturers play a huge role in product and brand success, but not every manufacturer is going to be right for you.
Here are the five critical things you should consider when choosing a manufacturer for your next best beauty solution.
5 Things to Look For in a Private Label Skincare Manufacturer
#1 – Experience
Experience in the beauty industry – particularly in skincare – goes a long way. Without this experience, there is really no way that a manufacturer could understand the nuances of product formulation and creation, especially once you get into the nitty gritty of dermatological solutions.
Experience equals knowledge, and when you choose an experienced private label skincare manufacturer, you can trust that they already have an established process in place. So, how do you know if the potential partner is experienced? Follow these tips:
- Check to see if they have previous experience with skincare brands similar to yours (e.g. client list, testimonials, word-of-mouth).
- Ask questions about the process to ensure that it works for your brand and the products you want to create.
- Explore the manufacturer’s website for their portfolio and other stats about their experience (e.g. established date).
- Contact a representative from the manufacturer and ask them for an overview of the company and the products it creates. Then, you can take some time to discuss your specific needs. This is a great way to get a conversation started while checking in to see if a manufacturer can truly meet your expectations.
#2 – Product Versatility
Your private label skincare manufacturer should have the capabilities to produce more than one type of skincare product. For example, a typical skincare line might consist of:
- Sheet masks
- Targeted patch treatments
- Cosmetic wipes
- Exfoliating mitts
Each one of these types of solutions – not to mention any innovative solutions you dream up – require a different production process. Don’t limit your possibilities by working with a manufacturer that can only handle one or two things.
This also relates to ingredients and formulations. Your private label manufacturer should also have house formulations available, plus the ability to add other ingredients to the formula for differentiating purposes.
#3 – Product Formulation Disclosure
Unfortunately, most private label manufacturers don’t disclose the Quantitative Ingredient List (QIL) behind your products. Keeping these details of the ingredients used in your formula is a sneaky tactic that some manufactures will use to keep you working with them, even if that isn’t what your brand truly wants. Simply put, it is a sign of bad faith in the relationship. At TaikiUSA, we gladly share this information so you can have full confidence in you product choice — and how you market it to your consumers.
Before signing a contract, read the fine print and ask your manufacturer if you will be able to have full product formulation disclosure. If the answer is no, we recommend going in another direction.
#4 – Ingredients, Raw Materials & Source Quality
High quality skincare products start with high quality ingredients. Before signing a contract with any manufacturer, you should always ask about the details of their ingredients and where they source them. This is a must regardless of the nature of your skincare products, but becomes even more vital if your brand is focused on sustainability.
These days, beauty brands all over the world are focused on creating sustainable beauty products that benefit both our planet and consumers. By using clean, natural ingredients, beauty brands can provide efficacious products to their consumers while lessening their environmental footprints. In order to do this, your brand needs to avoid using common harmful chemicals that are detrimental to our health and planet.
Sephora, a leading multinational beauty retailer, has banned a variety of chemicals from their formulations and has published the list to inform their consumers. If you aren’t totally sure about the ingredients your manufacturer uses in its formulations, this list is a great place to start.
Every manufacturer is partnered with a raw materials provider. A few common raw materials in skincare are honey, propolis, essential oils and aloe vera. Raw materials obtained through biotechnological processes are also quite common, like hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid and benzoic acid. These materials aren’t the problem, but their sources could be.
It’s always a good idea to ask questions and become familiar with your manufacturer’s raw materials provider. Knowing what ingredients are used and understanding the sourcing process will be invaluable for your brand’s success. Some questions to ask your manufacturer include:
- Who is your raw material provider?
- Where are your materials sourced from?
- Are animals harmed in the creation of your sources?
- Do you use harmful chemicals in your formulations: (i.e. formaldehyde, methenamine, propylparaben)
- What kind of testing (if any) is done on these ingredients?
The answers to these questions could make or break your decision to stick with a certain skincare manufacturer.
#5 – Certifications
There are two sides to certifications.
First, you should always work with a partner with certain manufacturing certifications, like ISO and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). ISO and GMP establish business and regulatory practices to ensure compliance and a speedy product-to-market process — they really set a manufacturer apart from the rest.
Second, if you want to put certain labels on your products, your manufacturer needs to utilize compliant ingredients and materials. Some common certifications in the skincare industry include:
- USDA Certified Organic
- Choose Cruelty Free
- FSC- Forest Stewardship Council
This factor really depends on what your beauty brand is all about. For example, if you deeply care about the well-being of animals, you may want to ask your manufacturer if it has vegan or cruelty free products.
Conclusion
Choosing the right manufacturer for your private label skincare brand is an important decision that you shouldn’t take lightly. This is because, if done right, your manufacturer is more than just a manufacturer – they’re your true partner that’s equally as invested in the success of your brand. By doing research and asking the right questions, you can ensure that a manufacturer has exactly what your brand needs.
TaikiUSA is the private label skincare manufacturer that can help expand your beauty brand’s line of skincare with quality product that keeps up with demand. When partnered with us, your brand owns your product formulations, and you can feel confident knowing that our ingredients and raw materials are ethically sourced. We deeply understand skincare challenges, and we help brands of all sizes bring new solutions to market at scale with global reach.
Check all of your boxes? Contact TaikiUSA today to get started on your next best private label skincare solution.