You love to create your homemade cosmetics and you have just made a product that your loved ones love? They love it so much that it probably makes you want to go further and sell your cosmetics.
Be careful, it is not possible to market cosmetics without validation of your formula upstream. And launching your cosmetics brand is not always easy when you are alone.
Between laboratory testing, sourcing raw materials and writing the DIP, it can be difficult to know what steps need to be taken to market the cosmetics you make.
Here are the 8 steps to follow to transform your homemade product into a regulated cosmetic.
Who can sell cosmetics?
It is strictly forbidden to market cosmetic products made at home that have not had their formula validated.
On the other hand, it is not mandatory to obtain a diploma to sell its cosmetic products. It is necessary to have your formula validated by a competent person by following the steps to start the production of the finished product and the sale.
It is the validation of the formula, which must comply with European regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices (international standard ISO 22716), which guarantees the safety of the product.
The cosmetic product must not:
– present toxic products;
– alter over time;
– be contaminated during the various manipulations.
Thus, all cosmetic products offered for sale must comply with this regulation, even artisanal soaps.
8 steps to follow to put your cosmetics on the market
Once your product is manufactured in your kitchen, if you want to go further and share your know-how with as many people as possible, here are the 8 steps to develop a regulated cosmetic while being accompanied.
As with a tailor-made formulation project, all stages of development must be respected before proceeding to the production of the finished product.
It is for this reason that we develop a feasibility study upstream to check if the formula you provide us can be developed and sold.
1. Analysis of the formula
The first step is, of course, to check your formula.
Even if you have used organic and natural ingredients, this does not guarantee that your formula is “safe” for the consumer.
It is important that it corresponds to the European regulations in force and above all that it remains stable over time.
It goes without saying that the tools used to make your products at home are not the same as those available to a laboratory.
So don't worry if your formula needs to be changed during this first step, it's normal. We advise you to adapt the formula of your product.
2. Sourcing ingredients and packaging
After the theoretical study of your formula, it is important to move on to sourcing ingredients and packaging.
As an individual, you probably buy from online cosmetic ingredient distributors dedicated to you.
To create your homemade cosmetics, you will have to find industrial suppliers of raw materials that will allow you to design a stable, non-toxic and durable formula.
"It is during this stage that we co-create a product that is as natural as possible. You can choose local, natural and organic suppliers. This also applies to the packaging."
3. The laboratory pilot
It is now that things a little more concrete happen! During this third step, the cosmetic laboratory makes samples in order to be able to test the mixture later.
4. Stability testing and accounting
Even before carrying out the toxicological analysis of your cosmetic product, we must start the stability tests of the mixture. It must not be altered: change of color, texture, odor, variation of pH, etc ...
The compatibility test in the selected packaging makes it possible to verify that there is no interaction of the latter with your cosmetic product : deformation of the packaging, exchange between the mixture and the packaging... etc.
5. Other mandatory tests
Before being sold, your product will undergo many tests, and that's a good thing! They are guarantees of trust and security for your customers.
Here are some checks that we can carry out depending on the type of product, the area of application, the target population and the desired claims:
– skin and eye irritation test;
– efficacy test;
– Usage test.
By working with a cosmetic laboratory, you can be sure that your product passes all the mandatory regulatory tests.
It is also at this stage that the drafting of labels containing essential information on the composition of the product begins.
6. Drafting of the DIP
You've almost done the hardest! Once your cosmetic product has been up to standard, it is time to compile your Product Information File (PIF) according to European Regulation 1223/2009.
It is he who will allow you to put your creations on the market legally. The stakes are high because health authorities can control cosmetics at any time and demand their immediate withdrawal if they find significant non-compliance.
7. The declaration on the European portal
Since 2013, it has been mandatory to declare cosmetic formulas on the European portal, the CPNP, and no longer with three French poison control centers.
This step involves declaring certain mandatory information such as the formula of your product.
8. Production of the finished cosmetic product
Once these steps are completed, all that remains is to place the order of your product to carry out the production ! This is where your cosmetics will come to life, on a large scale.
With Costomise, all laboratory steps of mixing and packaging are supervised to avoid contamination.
The importance of the laboratory in the development of its homemade cosmetic formula
When you want to market your creations, it can be impressive to call on a laboratory to finalize your cosmetic project. However, it is the guarantee to market products legally.
Working hand in hand with a cosmetic laboratory allows you not only to have the certification that your products will be in order, but also to have a different look at your approach.
We are a force of proposals, both for the ingredients and on the packaging, to help you make eco-responsible, sustainable and healthy cosmetics.
Do you want to sell your creations on the market? Let's discuss your project.