What are private label cosmetics?
Private label cosmetics manufacturing makes it easier than ever for anyone to take their cosmetics idea from concept to a fully developed product that’s ready to go to market. Many big brands in beauty industry use private label manufacturing to formulate and create their cosmetics, including the famed Kylie Jenner and her Kylie Cosmetics.
If you haven’t yet heard of this term, read our guide to private label cosmetics and what makes them the best choice for anyone launching their own cosmetics line and beauty brand.
What are private label cosmetics?
Private label cosmetics are products which are made by a private label cosmetics manufacturer and sold under your own brand name. They’re ideal for people who have an idea for beauty products and want to choose which ingredients to include, the texture, and the scent, but don’t have the expertise or resources to develop, test, and manufacture those products themselves.
Let’s say for example that you want to develop a cruelty-free, anti-ageing night serum that uses only natural ingredients. You know what you want the product to feel like, what its benefits are, how it smells, and its properties, but you don’t have the proper means to create this product yourself. You can work with a private-label cosmetics manufacturer to bring this product to life and use their guidance to make it cost and time efficient.
Private label cosmetics process typically involves a formulation & development stage, where sample formulations are created and tweaked according to your brief and requirements. You have input into the product's texture, colour, fragrance, and packaging. The great thing about working with Cleansery is that we are focused on making your formula the best possible, offering you as many as five sampling rounds included in the price. Usually, we make the perfect sample on the third round.
When you’re happy with the formula, the product is tested for quality and then manufactured in bulk according to your needs.
In the end, a private label cosmetics product belongs to you or your brand. Even though it has been formulated, developed, and manufactured by specialists, you own the final product and the formulations and e.g. we are transferring the property copyrights to you. This makes private label cosmetics exclusive and unique to your beauty brand.
What’s the difference between private label and white label cosmetics?
People often use the terms private label and white label interchangeably, however, there are differences between the two.
White label cosmetics are generic products which are developed and tested by manufacturers and then sold to brands who can use their own labels and branding on the packaging. Usually, you cannot change the formulation, scent, or texture, but you can customise how it is packaged and brand it as your own product. On the other hand, private label cosmetics are those which are developed and manufactured according to your own unique specifications and can be customized to your preference.
Another difference is that beauty brands using white label cosmetics don’t own the formulation, they can only choose how it is designed and packaged. On the other hand, a cosmetic company working with a private label manufacturer has ownership over the formulation and the product.
An example of white label cosmetics is a hairdresser who wants to sell her own branded hair shampoo to customers. Instead of creating a formulation from scratch, she can use a white label manufacturer to choose a ready-made formulation and brand this with her own unique label and packaging. White label cosmetics solutions are usually quicker than private label cosmetics.
What are examples of private label products?
You can find examples of private labelling everywhere in the cosmetics industry. You might be surprised to learn that many brands you know are using private label manufacturing to create their beauty products! Each private label cosmetics manufacturer is creating dozens of brands, and the largest ones even hundreds.
Examples of products that can be produced by a private label manufacturer include:
- Skincare: Face creams, serums, moisturizers, face scrubs, SPFs, and sheet masks.
- Body care: Bath bombs, body lotions, body butters, shower gels, and lubricants.
- Makeup: Lipsticks, bronzers, eyeshadows, blush, mascara, makeup sponges.
- Hair care: Hairspray, hair masks, scalp serums, shampoos, conditioners.
- Dietary supplements: Vitamins, bodybuilding supplements, collagen.
Why private label cosmetic manufacturing is the best choice for cosmetics companies
There are many reasons why private label cosmetic manufacturing is the best choice for anyone starting a beauty line or cosmetics business. These include:
Customised cosmetics
Most people who choose to launch their own cosmetics brand already have some ideas of products they want to release. With private label cosmetics, you can share these ideas with expert formulators to create a product that is unique to your brand. You are able to customise formulations, request samples, and have input into the texture, colour, scent, and ingredients used. Whether you’re formulating skincare or make up products, you have the option to customise most aspects to match your ideas.
High-quality products
With private label cosmetics, you're assured of the highest standard products without having to invest a lot of money out of pocket. Private label manufacturers go through strict quality checks, lab testing in compliance with EU regulations, safety assessments, and ISO GMP certification.
Faster turnaround
One of the biggest reasons to go with private label cosmetics is that you can get products to market much quicker than if you were formulating them on your own. This means you can grow your business faster.
Unique packaging
Private label cosmetics allow more freedom when it comes to packaging your products. You can choose to customise the shape of your packaging or just add your logo onto existing packaging for a faster turnaround. It’s all up to you and what your priorities are.
Affordable
Private label cosmetics are more affordable than trying to manufacture and develop your own formulas yourself. It can be extremely costly and time-consuming to source ingredients, create formulations, and test products. Accessing an established manufacturer to do these things on your behalf is much more cost-effective. As a result, you can dedicate more of your budget towards things like branding and marketing so you can scale your business once the product comes to market.
End-to-end support
Many people who start a cosmetics brand from scratch have little understanding of the product formulation, development, and testing process. Working alongside a private label manufacturer can be extremely beneficial as you’ll have support throughout the entire process, with access to expertise and guidance that wouldn’t usually be available when starting your own.
Your partner in private label cosmetics
Ready to launch your own cosmetics brand? Let Cleansery be your trusted partner in private label cosmetics. With access to more than 85 private label manufacturers & white label manufacturers across the EU, we’ll help you save time researching manufacturers by matching you with those who closest meet your needs.
Our dedicated customer service team will guide you through every step of the private label process, from ideation until product launch, so you can start your cosmetics business with confidence. Get in touch with our team today to start discussing what you’re looking for.
For a quick price estimation head to our latest addition - private label cosmetics manufacturing price calculator.
What are private label cosmetics?
- You don’t have ownership of the formulation
- Your product line won’t be unique – there may be many brands selling the exact same product
- You can’t change the formulation or choose what it looks or feels like
- Customers can feel betrayed if they find out your product is not unique so you have to align this kind of product launch with your brand values and buyer personas
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