5 Essential Qualities of A Cosmetics Contract Manufacturer

Clean, sustainable cosmetic lines with custom formulations that put the customer’s skin health first are taking over the cosmetics market. Face serums alone have grown in market share over the last year, overtaking foundation makeup at 11% of the market. Serums often contain humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid along with other skin benefitting additions like Vitamin C, retinols, and moisturizing agents, which make them highly sought-after by skincare enthusiasts.

Oleochemical suppliers that offer contract manufacturing and in-house lab services, like CREMER North America, can help cosmetics brands scale their existing manufacturing process with precise formulations and access to otherwise expensive machinery. Contact us today to learn how CREMER North America can scale your cosmetics business.

When you’re looking for a contract cosmetics manufacturer to help you expand your business, keep these 5 essential qualities in mind

1. Communication

Because you’re trusting the contract manufacturer with your formulation and your product, you’re trusting them with your brand. The supply, logistics, lab, and manufacturing floor specialists should be in close contact with you and your team to understand the particular needs of your product formulation and process.

Good contractor-to-brand communication means that you have an assigned point of contact, that you get answers to questions on process, quality, and any potential issues with the process. Ask about virtual or in-person audits and the communication schedule. 

2. Manufacturing Speciality

You need your contract manufacturing partner to have expertise in what makes your brand unique, including ingredient, process, or formulation. Ask about the contractor’s existing product lines, manufacturing processes and capabilities, and individual expertise of the professionals in the lab or on the manufacturing floor. 

The contract manufacturer’s specialty will directly affect the time to production and cost. A manufacturer who currently mixes and bottles cosmetics and home care is a better choice for those brands than one that specializes in industrial cleaning products. A specialty match will mean a more experienced team handling your formulation and the manufacture of the product.

3. Ingredient Quality

What audits, certifications, and QA tools does the contract company use? Consider whether your product needs or would benefit from any of these certifications or memberships:

• Kosher
• Halal
• ISO certifications
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Responsible Care

Whether you bring your own ingredients to the contract manufacturing company or use their supply, consider how ingredient refinement, ability to prove formulations through lab certifications, and domestic or foreign sourcing affect your product, its quality, and its price.

Further, consider whether your brand’s values are in line with that of the company in terms of quality, sustainability, and certification standards. Ask for any relevant certifications and details on quality assurance. Consider whether the cosmetics toll manufacturer can uphold the standards of the industry and product labels you hope to feature on your packaging and represent to your customer.

4. Logistics and Storage

Once you’ve contracted to expand your cosmetics line, how will you ship and store the completed product? Ask questions of the contract manufacturer like:

• Who will coordinate logistics of ingredients to the manufacturing plant?
• Where will my ingredients be stored?
• How much space does the storage facility have?
• What is the pricing to move product to market?
• What shipping options do you have, including rail, truck, barge, and last mile options?
• What’s the cost and capacity for storage of finished product?

Consider also whether the manufacturer has experience with import and export, and inquire about their processes for storage, shipping, and supplies. 

These points will all affect the price of the service and help you decide whether you need an end-to-end contract manufacturer or if you want to do the work to source and ship separately.

5. Scalability and Capacity

You’re expanding your own capabilities, and everyone hopes that this will be the product that really takes off. Ask the contract manufacturer how quickly they can get you up and running, how many weeks is common for this type of product, and what bumps in the road you might have along the way. 

The contract manufacturer should be able to tell you how many lines will be devoted to your project, and when they can fit it into their schedule. Further, they should have detailed information on their own capacity for growth in later batches.

Partner with The Most Connected Cosmetics Contract Manufacturer

CREMER North America will partner with you on end-to-end contract manufacturing for cosmetics, home care, pet food and care, and other products that use sustainable and non-toxic oleochemical ingredients. Our in-house laboratory and commitment to quality means we’ll treat you and your formulations with the highest respect. Contact a representative today to learn more about how CREMER can expand your cosmetics manufacturing capacity.