Private label skincare lets you sell products under your own brand without setting up a lab or a factory. A manufacturer makes the product, and you own the brand, the marketing and the customer. For most new brands in Australia, it is the fastest and lowest-risk way to get to market.
This guide explains how private label works at The Skin Science Company in Melbourne, so you know what to expect before you send a brief.
Two ways to start
1. Ready-made bases under your brand
The quickest route is to start with one of our personal care bases, such as a lotion, cleanser or shampoo, supplied unchanged, filled into your packaging and ready for your label.
- No development fee
- Minimum order of 50 units per product
- Cost per unit is the base, the packaging and filling
This suits brands that want to test the market before investing in a custom formula.
2. A custom formula
If you want something unique, our cosmetic chemists develop a formula to your brief. A development fee applies, and it covers the first sample and one round of revisions. Further revision rounds are charged separately, so the clearer your brief, the faster and cheaper development will be.
How the custom process works
- Brief. You tell us the product type, skin or hair type, key ingredients you want and don't want, texture, scent, packaging and target retail price.
- Development and first sample. Our chemist develops the formula and makes your first sample.
- Feedback. You test the sample and send us all your feedback in one go.
- Revision. We revise the formula and make a new sample.
- Approval. You approve the final formula.
- Stability testing. Every custom formula is stability tested before production.
- Pricing and packaging. Once the formula is locked, we confirm production pricing and packaging options.
- Production. We make, fill and label your products.
Production pricing is confirmed once the formula is locked, because the final ingredients, packaging and quantities all change the cost per unit.
Minimum order quantities
Large manufacturers often ask for thousands of units per product. Our minimum is 50 units per product, which makes private label realistic for a small brand testing a first range. Larger runs lower your cost per unit, so many brands start at the minimum and scale up once they know what sells.
How long does it take?
Samples and production runs are usually made within 15 business days of payment. The overall timeline depends mostly on development: how many revision rounds you need, how quickly you send feedback, and testing. A brand using a ready-made base can be selling within weeks. A custom range usually takes a few months from brief to launch.
Testing
We stability test every custom product, including oil-based products such as balms and serums. Stability testing checks that your product keeps its texture, colour, scent and performance over time and in your chosen packaging. Our guide to stability and preservative testing explains what is involved.
Labels and packaging
You can supply your own packaging or choose from ours. We can also design, print and apply your labels through our branding and design services, and fill your products through our filling services. Your labels need an ingredient list in INCI order and must follow Australian labelling rules, and every claim must stay cosmetic. Read our guide to cosmetic and therapeutic claims before you write your copy.
Who owns the formula?
Unless you buy the formula outright, the formula stays with the manufacturer, and you own your brand. If you may want to make your products elsewhere in future, ask about a formula buyout before you start.
Insurance
When you sell products under your own brand, you need your own product liability insurance. Arrange it before your first sale.
Selling overseas
We can make products for brands selling in the UK and EU. You'll need your own Responsible Person in those markets, and a formula buyout is required.
What to prepare before you contact a manufacturer
- A product list, with one line on what each product should do
- Ingredients you want and ingredients to avoid
- Your packaging type and sizes
- Your target retail price and how many units you plan to start with
- Where you'll sell: online, salons, retail or overseas
A complete written brief gets you an accurate quote and a better first sample. When you're ready, send it through our private label page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for private label skincare?
At The Skin Science Company, the minimum is 50 units per product.
Can I get samples before I commit?
Yes. Samples of ready-made bases are available. Samples of custom formulas are made once the development fee is paid.
Can I use my own formula?
Yes. We can review an existing formula and advise on whether it can be made as written.
Can I buy ingredients to make products myself?
Yes. Many brands start by making small batches themselves. See our bulk skincare ingredients for small brands and wholesale cosmetic raw materials.
Do I need to register with AICIS?
If we make your products in Australia from ingredients we source here, you generally aren't the importer of those chemicals. If you import finished products or raw materials yourself, read do you need to register with AICIS?