• Posted by Anonymous on February 19, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    Greetings all,

    I apologize in advance if am I posting this in the wrong forum.

    On behalf of my partners, I am seeking a consultant who can help me build a cosmetic lab for skin care and color formulation.  

    If you have experience or can provide any relevant information I would be much appreciative!

    Thank you.

    Nancy_Colors replied 6 years ago 4 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • gld010

    Member
    February 19, 2018 at 11:44 pm

    @Bobzchemist
    Sounds like you!

  • microformulation

    Member
    February 20, 2018 at 2:14 am

    Do you have a trained Cosmetic Chemist with some experience in the Market who will know the distributors, the players in the materials, has worked with Regulatory programs and could have as you get more advanced achieve an ISO Certification? If not, that is your first investment. You can write a check to any supplier. Don’t naively under estimate someone with formal experience in the fundamentals and the Industry.

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    February 20, 2018 at 4:56 am

    Thank you for the response.  I know a few chemists but I have not yet approached them.  Through my partners, we are fortunate enough to have experience with distributors, regulatory professionals and raw material providers.  

  • microformulation

    Member
    February 20, 2018 at 5:50 am

    That is still not a Chemist. Every Facility that I have seen fail did so to a large part by not having formally trained staff and by shortchanging this asset.  If you miss this truism, good luck. I may be in the market for some used equipment in a few years.

    You wouldn’t build a dental clinic and hire a Youtube trained dentist. Don’t miss the parallels.

  • bobzchemist

    Member
    February 22, 2018 at 2:21 am

    Honestly, even though I’d appreciate the business (and I’ve designed several labs), I think you’d be better off (and have a happier chemist) if you involved them in at least some of the design and equipment choices.

    No matter how you choose to proceed, however, your first task is to determine the budget for the lab. There are tax implications, so in most cases, the budget for the physical structure (room, lab furniture, fume hoods, etc.) is seperate from the lab equipment budget and the consumables budget.

    I’ve seen labs put together for about $2,000 and labs that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and many in-between…and some of the most innovative products have come from low-budget labs. The quality of the chemist you hire is much more important than the quality of the lab.

  • microformulation

    Member
    February 23, 2018 at 9:02 pm

    ^^^^^^This!

  • Nancy_Colors

    Member
    February 26, 2018 at 5:08 am

    @Bobzchemist I logged in tonight after my long 16 hour shift to tell you that YOU made my week.  Great reply.  I got asked for this type of task often and most do not realize that color is an art form on its own.  It’s nice to hear people talking about which machines they want, raw materials they can get for great prices or square footage they need, but at the end of the day, it is the TALENT that is your wow factor & you better believe it.  I 500% agree, it has nothing to do with the size of the lab it is created in.  More like the synaptic firing activity of the talent you hire lol  🙂 God bless anyone who wants to dive into this category.  Yet, only those who experience it from our side of it truly know what is involved. It’s why I opened my own place. lol  & I agree with the dentist comment.  You get the talent you pay for.  My advice for those opening the lab:  start with the talent search or consult with someone you can work/communicate well with. 

  • bobzchemist

    Member
    February 27, 2018 at 1:50 am

    On the other hand, I once went on a job interview where the only equipment in the lab was an ancient overhead stirrer, a hot plate, and a kitchen balance in a room the size of a small closet. I didn’t take that job - making do on a small budget is one thing, masochism is another.

  • Nancy_Colors

    Member
    March 3, 2018 at 1:11 am

    lol I don’t have a closet but yes masochism is another indeed. TGIF

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