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Describe your product and get a step-by-step path with matching suppliers.
Spot drug-like wording in your label and marketing claims.
US FDA + MoCRA label checklist with sources for every item.
See which manufacturers publish a minimum order you can meet.
fl oz to mL and oz to grams, with net contents wording.
Private label vs custom formulation vs contract manufacturing
| Private Label | Custom Formulation | Contract Manufacturing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | You choose one of the manufacturer's existing (stock) formulas and sell it under your own brand label. | A chemist develops a new formula to your brief, or adapts a base formula ("semi-custom"). | A manufacturer produces your formula (one you own or one developed for you) at scale. |
| Best for | First products and testing a market quickly. | Brands that need a unique product, texture or set of claims. | Brands with a finished formula, or brands ready to scale up. |
| Speed | Fastest. Example: Spa de Soleil lists 5–7 days for stock and 4–6 weeks for custom label. | Slower. Several labs here list 12-week stability testing on top of development. | Depends on the run. Spa de Soleil lists 90 days for contract manufacturing. |
| Cost | No formula development fee. | You pay a development fee. One example: Shay Labs charges $2,500 for a first formula (owner's company). A manufacturer on Reddit put development at "a few thousand". | Unit cost falls with volume. A manufacturer on Reddit quoted about $15/unit at 200 pcs vs about $3 at 2,000 (one example). |
| Minimums | Lowest. Published minimums in this directory run from none to about 1,000 units (estimate from our listings). | Production minimums apply once the formula is ready. Pravada, for example, lists 2,500+ pcs/SKU for full custom. | Higher. Published minimums in this directory run from 500 to 5,000 units (estimate from our listings). |
| Formula ownership | The manufacturer usually keeps the formula, so other brands may sell the same one. | Often yours. Several labs here say the brand owns the formula, but confirm it in the contract. | You supply the formula, so you keep it. Put that in the agreement. |
Sources: supplier websites as linked on each listing; Reddit r/cosmeticscience (https://www.reddit.com/r/cosmeticscience/comments/1tqny44/). Ranges are estimates from our listings, not industry figures. Many suppliers offer two or three of these, each with its own minimum.
More supplier types, explained
Custom Boxes & Cartons
What it is: A printed retail carton or mailer box that holds your bottle or jar, or ships it.
When you need it: You want shelf presence, room for required label copy (ingredients, net contents) on the outer pack, or a branded unboxing. Order after your bottle size is final so the insert fits.
Filling & Co-packing
What it is: A contract filler puts bulk formula you already own into containers, then caps, labels and packs it.
When you need it: You own your formula (or buy bulk from a lab) and need finished units without a full contract manufacturer. An alternative to contract manufacturing.