I just want to update all of you out there who are considering starting a cosmetic line.

There is soooooo much to this, I can’t begin to tell you. Without giving too many “trade secrets” away, I will try to give good advice.

First, if you are not a patient person, this isn’t for you. Nothing ever gets done the way or in the time frame it should. I have gone through three different cosmetic manufacturers in one year!!!! Since I am a small start-up with little capital, I have to work with small manufacturing companies. This means that they have greater potential to be unprofessional, and not know what the hell they are doing.

Do not let these companies walk over you. YOU are paying them. You have every right to tell them what you want and how you want it. You should not feel guilty or that you are being too “bossy”. You won’t get anywhere being timid.

Let me backtrack a little. I literally started from scratch. I knew what I wanted to do: have a prestige, organic, all natural mineral-based makeup. That’s all. I didn’t know where to get the ingredients, or how the whole process worked. I just started pouring over the Internet like a madman (being obsessive-compulsive is great if you know how to put it to good use)…I just started looking for manufacturing companies for my type of product.

It was a long and tedious path. But before you start looking, you really need to know, “what is my makeup line going to be?” “Who will it be for?” “What will I have that nobody else has?” “why will people want to buy my product?” If you can’t answer these questions, you are not ready. You must do research on cosmetics to see what is needed out there. Is it for minorities? oily skin? Older skin? what are the price points going to be? where will you sell it? who will be your market? have you thought of marketing/advertising and PR (marketing and PR are entirely different. If you don’t know this, you need to check that out too).

There is so much to do before you even look for a manufacturer. Research is key. Think of it this way: people are going to say, “wow, you have a makeup line, what is different about it? I get asked this all the time. If you don’t have a great answer: “It’s a small color line geared toward the career woman who has minutes to put on makeup. It’s a quick fix that looks great in little time.”

If you just want to “create a line” because you “think it would sell”, it won’t. There are hundreds of makeup lines out there. Yours must be different, exciting, fresh, and innovative. To just sell foundation and blush doesn’t work. You need a selling point, and a big one, at that.

I feel like I jumped around a bit here, but all of the information is salient, I think. It should help. I will write on this topic again very soon.

Source by Chris Drummond

If you have a business that uses or retails cosmetics, skincare, makeup, body and bath products, hair care, toiletries, etc, have you ever asked yourself:

Who is really making the profit?

Of course, it’s the cosmetics manufacturers — they’re among some of the wealthiest conglomerates in the world.

When you consider that a hair, skin, beauty, body or bath product retailing for $50 costs between 10 cents and $3 to make, it’s easy to see how these companies become so wealthy.

So, what’s stopping you from making private label cosmetics? Why not make your own brand cosmetic and beauty products, and label them to suit your own business?

There’s no need to contract a laboratory to manufacture for you — this will only dilute your profits. Manufacturing cosmetics is easy — its many advantages include the ability to make only what you require, without the expense of minimum orders. You can control the quality of the ingredients — including essential oils, plant and fruit extracts, fragrances, etc — and make products of an even higher quality than the leading manufacturers.

You’ve probably heard many myths about making your own private label cosmetics:

1. You need an expensive laboratory

Not true. You can make private label cosmetics, makeup, skincare, haircare and toiletries in your own home, workshop or shopfront using basic and inexpensive equipment.

2. Professional quality recipes are prohibitively expensive — the average industry rate for one cosmetic formulation starts at $400.

It’s true that buying private label cosmetic formulas singularly is extremely expensive. Purchasing multiple formulations need not be costly — in fact, it can be highly cost effective.

3. You need to be a cosmetics chemist and have a degree in science or chemical engineering to be able to make private label cosmetics and toiletries.

Not true. If you can follow simple instructions, you can easily mix together the required cosmetic ingredients to make lotions, creams, liquids, gels, foams and any other form of cosmetic, beauty or toiletry product. Of course, you must use professionally formulated cosmetics recipes — homemade or handcrafters formulas are not suitable for wholesaling or retailing.

4. You need permission from the FDA to be allowed to make private label cosmetics to sell for wholesale and retail purposes.

False. The FDA requires only that you follow certain simple rules regarding correct labeling and the use of approved, non-pathogenic cosmetic ingredients. You do not need permission or a license from the FDA. This misinformation is just another example of the multi-nationals trying to keep their stranglehold on this mega-profitable industry. If you use professionally formulated cosmetic formulas, you will be complying with FDA regulations.

Manufacturing private label cosmetics can add a new and highly profitable dimension to your business. You can even offer your services as a private label cosmetics manufacturer to other hair, beauty and spa salons, pharmacies and a diverse range of retailers.

Source by Sam Stein

With online beauty businesses growing at such a fastpace, creating your very own line of beauty products has motivated many entrepreneurs looking to become the next cosmetic giant. An exciting industry where you can be as creative as you want to be, and potentially earn a great living too.

You may stop and ask yourself. Where do I start?

All you need to start is an idea and a passion… and a little creativity doesn’t hurt either – and who knows, maybe one day your cosmetic line will be featured in such magazines as InStyle or Lucky!

Pursuing your dream as a cosmetics maker will take a lot of research to help make your dreams come true. But well worth the effort as this will help guide you and build a solid business plan.

Starting your own unique cosmetics business from home is probably one of the easiest ways to becoming a part of this multi-billion dollar growing industry…. over 7 billion actually. New cosmetic lines are opening up shop everyday, and with the internet reach, many are cashing in on their creativity and passion.

Even though only a handful grow into big corporations, most cosmetics businesses earn a pretty decent living, and a fulfilling lifestyle.

There are many cosmetics out there ranging from handmade beauty soaps, oils and lotions to specialized skin care lotions as well as lip balms and lipsticks. However, if you’re like many entrepreneurs, you’re probably interested in making and selling profitable, low-cost items with high turnarounds.

Below are several everyday items with very good selling history to consider:

* Lotions
* Body Fragrances
* Lip Balms
* Lip Glosses
* Beauty Soaps

If you’re thinking that creating your cosmetics line will require some complex lab work, think again. You can certainly make simple cosmetics right at home in your own kitchen. People have been doing it for years. There are some guidelines to follow though when selling to others, and I’ve taken the liberty to add some of those helpful resources at the end of this post.

While most big companies outsource the manufacturing of their line to other businesses, many got their start just as you are doing now. Small, and in the kitchen. Focus on getting your business set from the line you’ll carry, price points, packaging and costs to operate it. You’ll need stock and supplies. Settle in and get a feel for it.

Now, before pitching your cosmetic line to upscale retail stores, you can easily start selling your wonderful products through:

* Online venues like Etsy, Artfire and Silkfair
* Consignment shops
* Mall kiosks
* Home events with friends/family
* Rent tiny booths at a neighborhood outdoor/indoor event

You can live out your cosmetic business dreams regardless of your experience level or educational background, which is the beauty of this industry. You can do it part-time or full-time, at home or in a rented space. don’t rush it, and never bite off more than you can chew.

For those with that creative and entrepreneurial spirit, creating your own cosmetic line is most likely a perfect fit for you. There is little investment involved, and plenty of resources abound.

Selling cosmetics online (or any product for that matter) can be very consuming of your time. In this buying industry, made up mostly of women who want to form a personal relationship with your first because for them wearing cosmetics is a personal issue and they must trust the company before making a purchase from you. This isn’t like buying a sweater.

When you’ve been in business for at least a year, and you’re looking to increase your business revenue. You can start by offering more selections (anti-aging, serum, foundation, etc.) – You can also cater to special niche markets (anti-stretch mark lotions, mens cosmetic line, ethnic niches, mothers-to-be,etc.)

A big myth out there about starting your own cosmetics line is…starting a cosmetics line takes a lot of capital. Well, in many cases, this just isn’t true. Only a few hundred dollars for supplies and materials is needed to get started.

With a clever twist, you can easily upgrade an existing product into a “new and improved” one. For example, a popular lip enhancing product is basically lip gloss filled with ginger extract to increase blood circulation in lips.

Now it’s a big hit and has made its creators millionaires.

If your dream is to start your own line of cosmetic products – I say go for it!

Here are the helpful resource pages I mentioned to get you started on starting your own cosmetic line:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a great number of resources pages, tips and information to help you start your beauty line business.

Source by Nic Soto

So, you want to be a cosmetics chemist? You want to join the cosmetic chemistry industry and formulate skincare, haircare, toiletries, body, bath and beauty products? But you think you need to go to university for three or four years and gain qualifications in cosmetic chemistry or chemical engineering — right?

Not so.

Not if your main aim in wanting to be a cosmetic chemist is to start your own cosmetics business and join this multi-billion dollar industry.

The most common myth in the cosmetic chemistry industry is that you need an expensive university education to start a business in the field of cosmetics manufacture.

This is the advice offered on one cosmetic chemistry related website: “Get a science degree. Unless you have a relative who started the company, you will need a college degree in science since most cosmetic firms require it. Preferred ones include degrees in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.

“Consider getting an advanced degree. True, a 4-year college degree is all you need, but you can improve your chances of breaking into cosmetics by getting an advanced degree.”

In truth, you do not need a relative who started the company or an advanced degree to break into the cosmetic manufacturing industry.

It’s true that if you want to make cosmetic formulations from scratch, without any previous experience making cosmetics or access to recipes and manufacturing procedures, and you want to work for a big international cosmetics company, you will need formal cosmetic chemistry qualifications.

But if your main aim is to start your own cosmetics business (and make much more money than any cosmetic manufacturing company will ever pay you), you don’t need to step foot in any academic establishment, spend a minimum of three or four years studying, or spend tens of thousands of dollars in tuition fees.

Making cosmetics for retail sale is extremely lucrative. When you know the tricks of the trade and have access to the same formulations as the international manufacturers, most of the beauty products you can make will have profit margins of around 1000%. A $50 retail skincare product usually costs between 10 cents and $3 to make.

If you purchase professionally formulated recipes, and you can follow a basic cooking recipe, you can manufacture your own range of skincare, haircare, mineral makeup, etc. If you then decide you want to become more involved, once you’ve had a little practice and gain confidence you will easily be able to adapt these cosmetic chemistry formulations to create your own unique formulas – without the need for any degrees in cosmetic chemistry.

Cosmetic chemistry formulations include:

1. Shampoos and Conditioners for different hair types
2. Hairstyling Products — gels, sprays
3. Makeup — foundations, mineral formulas, lip colors, eyeliner, mascara, nail polish
4. Skincare — cleansers, toners, moisturizers, acne preparations, anti-aging preparations
5. Sunscreens — UV protection and self-tanning lotions
6. Baby Care Products — shampoo, baby bath and lotion
7. Men’s Products — shaving foam, aftershave
8. Hand Care — hand cleansers, hand scrub, moisturizing creams
9. Body and Bath Products — body butters and creams, shower gel, bath bombs
10. Toiletries — handwashes, deodorants

There are literally hundreds of different products that a cosmetic chemist can make. From this, hundreds more combinations can be made by the addition of a variety of essential oils and plant or fruit extracts.If you love the beauty industry and have always dreamed of creating your own cosmetics company, don’t delay — it’s fun, rewarding, prestigious and highly profitable.

Source by Sam Stein

Mineral makeup is one of the most popular cosmetic products on the market today – and also one of the most profitable.

A mineral formula makeup product which retails for $40 could cost less than $1 to make – that’s one of the reasons many entrepreneurs wanting to start a cosmetics business often specialize in foundations, blush, eyeshadows and body sheen products made from minerals.

Another reason is that mineral based cosmetics are exceptionally quick and easy to make – there are fewer steps involved in the manufacturing process than with traditional liquid foundations.

What exactly is Mineral Formula Makeup?

Although there is no exact definition, mineral makeup is usually in powdered form — though it can also be liquid — and is comprised of micronized color minerals (Iron Oxides and Micas) and sunscreen minerals (Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide).

Of all the cosmetic ingredients found in skincare products (including not only foundations, but also eye and cheek colors and body lustre powders and lotions), minerals are the most “natural”.

Iron Oxides used in face and body cosmetics are naturally derived minerals from sources including carbon deposits and china clay.

Micas used in mineral formula makeup are also naturally derived from the mineral Muscovite Mica. It is primarily used in cosmetics to provide lustre effects and produce a silky feel when applied to the skin.

Titanium Dioxide is obtained from the mineral Ilmenite. Zinc Oxide comes from Zinc Ore.

Some mineral formulas also contain the naturally occurring Bismuth Oxy-chloride, an opalescent pigment obtained from Bismuth. This is added to provide lustre and a smoother texture to the cosmetic.

Why is mineral formula make-up so popular?

Mineral based cosmetics have many advantages over cream or liquid or traditional powder foundations. These include:

1. The sun protection properties of the minerals provide anti-aging benefits

2. Mineral makeup looks and feels more natural than most other cosmetics. It can be applied in layers to increase coverage where required.

3. Mineral makeup adheres exceptionally well to the skin and is highly water resistant.

4. It is quick and easy to apply with a brush.

5. Convenient for travelling – no liquids or spillages.

6. Mineral formulas usually require the addition of very little, if any, preservatives when in powder form. Zinc Oxide helps inhibit bacteria.

7. For anyone with problematic skin, allergies, acne, etc, mineral formula makeup is generally low allergenic.

There are many benefits in mineral formula cosmetics – for the consumer as well as the manufacturer.Ease of manufacturing, low cost of ingredients, high retail prices and the continuing high popularity of mineral formula products makes this an ideal way to start a high profit cosmetics business.

However, if you are considering a business making cosmetics, it is important to use only professionally formulated mineral formulas. Some experience is required in knowing the correct proportions of minerals to use to obtain the required consistency, stability, color and feel to the cosmetic product. The formulations of an experienced cosmetics chemist can save you much trial, error and unnecessary expense.

Source by Sam Stein

Can you sell homemade cosmetics to the general public and retail outlets? This is one of the most common questions asked of me during my 25-plus years of making cosmetics. The answer, in almost all countries, is: Yes. There certainly seems to be a lot of confusion regarding this issue – fueled in part, I am sure, by the desire of the global conglomerates to keep control of this multi-billion dollar industry.

Many countries take their lead from the US FDA, so let’s take a look at what the FDA has to say about the issue of making homemade cosmetics for retail sale. Homemade cosmetics are not required to be tested by the FDA – or any other authorities, for that matter. However, there are a few rules which must be observed.

1. The cosmetic product must be correctly labelled, and follow the labeling regulations. Essentially, this means stating the ingredients in descending order of use, the quantity of product contained within the packaging and any known safety precautions.

2. The cosmetic product must not contain any prohibited ingredients. If you are using professional formulations for making cosmetics, this will not represent any problem.

3. The cosmetic product must be free of pathogens. Again, if you are using professional formulations, you will not have any difficulties complying with this regulation.

The benefits of making cosmetics which have been professionally formulated, is that you will be able to produce top quality products of a calibre equal to, or even better than, the leading cosmetic manufacturers. How can your homemade cosmetics be better than the leading brands?

While it’s true that top quality cosmetic products usually include high grade, effective ingredients, cosmetic manufacturing companies operate on extremely high profit levels – 1000% or even much higher. Because the most effective ingredients are also the most expensive, in order to maximize their profits, leading cosmetic making companies usually use these substances in the lowest proportion possible.

Making your own homemade cosmetics allows you to use the same ingredients – but in much higher proportion. This means you can produce products of much higher quality and effectiveness. If you have your own business making cosmetics, you can make color cosmetics, skin and hair care, body and bath products, and toiletries, which will quickly develop a loyal clientele. And you will be able to make the same profits as the big cosmetic manufacturing companies.

You can even start a business making cosmetics for other retailers – hair and beauty salons, spas, etc – and package the products especially for them, with their own label. Private label manufacturing is becoming increasingly popular.

Making homemade cosmetics for retail sale is a high profit and easy business to operate, and there are many ways to sell the products and develop markets. Because the big conglomerates concentrate on the large, mainstream retailers, there are literally thousands of smaller, untapped, hungry markets – a few contracts to supply these outlets can easily bring you a six-figure income.

To summarize, the FDA does not review or approve cosmetic products or cosmetic ingredients before they are sold to the public. The agency acts only against cosmetic products found to cause harm after they have been released on the market.

If you are using untested recipes from your kitchen, this could present a problem if a customer suffered an allergy. Also, cosmetic products without preservatives can easily grow bacteria and molds, and cause skin reactions

In the US, you do not need approval from the FDA to start a business making cosmetics. In most other countries, this is also the case. If you are interested to join the high profit and prestigious world of making cosmetics, my best advice is to purchase top quality formulations and make them in accordance with the manufacturing directions. This way you can be sure they will be in compliance with FDA regulations.

Source by Sam Stein

Making cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry. But you don’t need an expensive laboratory or a university degree to start a successful and high profit cosmetics business. In fact, a cosmetics business can be set up for much less than the cost of many other less profitable ventures.

You’ve probably read many success stories of young entrepreneurs who started out as home-based cosmetic makers and went on to become the names behind some of the most popular and successful cosmetic companies in the beauty industry today.

If you think cosmetic manufacturing requires a sophisticated and expensive laboratory, this is incorrect. This is just one of the common myths you will hear about starting a cosmetics business.

You can start a high profit cosmetics business with basic equipment for low start-up cost. And you don’t need to be a cosmetics chemist — this is another common myth. If you obtain professional cosmetic formulations and manufacturing instructions, you can easily manufacture cosmetics, skin and hair care products of the same quality as leading brand formulations, if not better, without spending three or four years in university studying for a science or chemical engineering degree.

However, to start a profitable and successful cosmetics business it is vital to use only professionally created formulations – not home based recipes. Homemade cosmetic recipes may be suitable for home use, but they are not suitable for retail sale.

Making cosmetics is one of the most profitable businesses on earth — profit margins easily reach 1000%. Products which retail for $50 usually cost between 50c and $3 to make!

However, in order to make these kinds of profits, you must own your cosmetics formulations, so as to be able to manufacture your range of cosmetics yourself.

If you contract a laboratory to manufacture cosmetics for you, much of the profit will go into the pocket of this cosmetic manufacturing company — not yours.

If you own your cosmetic formulations, you will be in control of your business. You will be able to choose your own cosmetic ingredients suppliers, negotiate better deals, formulate your own top quality recipes comparable with any international brand, make any size order you require without the restriction of minimum quantities, etc. When you own the cosmetics formulas, you can even become a private label cosmetics manufacturer.

What are private label cosmetics?

Many businesses — hair, beauty and spa salons, plus many others — are increasingly becoming aware of the value in selling and promoting their own brand products, carrying their own logo on their own label.

Why? Because, when they promote their own brand, they increase customer loyalty to their own products and their own business – not an international company that sells its skincare, haircare and cosmetics formulations in hundreds, if not thousands, of other salons, pharmacies, department stores, etc.

When you establish your own cosmetics business, you can manufacture cosmetics, skincare, haircare and toiletries for other retailers as a private label manufacturer, as well as wholesaling and retailing your own range of cosmetic and beauty products.

Source by Sam Stein