CUSTOM FORMULATION

Here are 4 simple steps to point you in the right direction, and begin to bring your product vision to life:

1. Spot where the opportunities lie
2. Create your skincare line brand
3. Decide your price point
4. Choose a skincare line manufacturer

The following 6 steps will help you take your ideas and convert them into functioning cosmetic products.

• Step 1 — Define your product
• Step 2 — Find a starting formula
• Step 3 — Prepare for your batch
• Step 4 — Making the batch
• Step 5 — Test your batch
• Step 6 — Revise formula and Repeat.

Building your brand essentially boils down to seven steps:

• Research your target audience and your competitors.
• Pick your focus and personality.
• Choose your business name.
• Write your slogan.
• Choose the look of your brand (colors and font).
• Design your logo.
• Apply your branding across your business.

Cosmetic formulations can run anywhere from Rs. 9.82 to Rs. 294.48 per pound but on average you can guess products will cost about 98.16 per pound. Packaging & labeling will cost another Rs. 98.16 per unit. Add in production and filling costs and your average per bottle cost will be about Rs. 196.32 – Rs. 294.48 per unit.

Ingredients in skin care products include alpha-hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, hydroquinone, retinol, kojic acid, copper peptide and more.

• Vitamin C
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Retinol
• Antioxidants
• Zinc Oxide
• Niacinamide
• Peptides
• Glycolic Acid

This is usually the biggest gap in knowledge – the one between wanting something custom and having what it takes to get it done. In general, here at Genie Supply, we ask clients for a phone call. We want you to explain your product vision to us. Tell us:

• What does the product do?
• What is the form factor (liquid / solid / gel / etc.)? Packaging?
• What gap does it fill in the market? If none, what is the improvement or other key characteristic that we should focus on? (That is, why are you spending money to make this custom?)
• What is the most similar formulation on the market?
• (If color cosmetic) What is/are the most similar color(s) on the market?
• Who is this product for?
• What is your vision for launching and selling this product?
• What is the standard against which we will measure our success in formulating this product?
• What are the “no-no” ingredients for your product/brand? If none, that’s fine. If you have / need a list, make it and send it to us.
• What is your plan for testing? If you do not have a plan, let’s discuss one together.

That’s a LOT for a first timer and it can be extremely overwhelming, so it’s good to know the answer to some of these questions up front. Otherwise, even the best intensions will look pale in comparison to what it takes to actually make a custom cosmetic / skincare formulation a reality. 

After the call, we will ask you to follow up with a specification document, outlining the answers to all the questions above again in writing. We will also ask you to send us your ingredient “no no” list. You do not need to send us a sample formulation, only a list of what we may not use in your product(s). 

As soon as we receive these 2 items mentioned above, we will begin working on your non-binding estimate. Why non-binding? The estimate is based on the specification and (no-no) ingredients document and our limited knowledge about what you want, based on those documents. We will formulate according to this information. If you change your mind, set the bar higher, or change the standards during the project (and that’s normal, there’s plenty of “Oops! I forgot to say XYZ!” moments in the process), then your project may take more time or materials.

Once we’ve received your documents (listed in the last step) and given you a non-binding estimate, it’s up to you to accept it. If you accept, we will send you an engagement letter for our services and ask for a deposit (based on the estimated cost/size of your project). Once everything is signed and paid, we begin!

Normally, we will connect again on the phone to confirm details before ordering ingredients. We will ask that you send us any samples or standards in the mail. Once everything is received, we begin making your first samples! 

Sample rounds typically take 1-3 weeks, depending on our current schedule and the time it takes for ingredients to arrive. When a sample round is finished, we’ll ship samples to you to test. After you provide your feedback, we will adjust accordingly (or finalize, if you’re satisfied!). 

After all sample rounds are completed, we will ask for the remainder of payment and discuss a testing plan going forward. The testing period can take upwards of 3 months, depending on the type of testing you’d like. We suggest that at a minimum you perform stability testing for shelf life, as well as challenge testing (for emulsions).

The whole formulating / sample process typically takes 2-6 months, and testing takes another 3 months or so.

At the time of the last post update (feel free to check in with us about updated pricing!), our fee for custom formulating is XXX/hr plus materials (ingredients, disposable tools) and shipping cost for sending samples to you. Testing costs will vary, but those can be discussed at the time of your order.

A project could take anywhere from 8 – 20 hours to complete (and will take even more time the more sample rounds requested / the more stringent the standards). We will let you know our best estimate before beginning and continue communicating about the costs during the project. 

You’re looking at a minimum of —- to create a custom formulation with us, but you will own the formulation and receive samples throughout the process – something most labs don’t promise.

After we source all the ingredients, most formulas take roughly 3 weeks to complete. The total amount of time for the initial round of samples is roughly 5 weeks, including the time it takes to source raw materials. Please note that these are general estimates and all products will vary.

We offer in-house accelerated stability testing and utilize a third party FDA registered, cGMP compliant, and ISO 17025:2005 Certified lab to perform PET testing with validation. Click here to view our quality assurance testing capabilities for when you are ready to manufacture your product.

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