-
Natural COLOR Cosmetics Line
I am looking for a chemist to help develop and test formulas for a color cosmetic line (everyone I’ve contacted thus far works with skincare and not makeup.) Someone with experience along the whole pipeline - formulation, sourcing, production, etc. - would be nice.I am hitting the ground running and do not view this as a side job or hobby, so I don’t feel comfortable DIY’ing it. The goal is to be a “healthier” line that is natural and botanical based, with short, pronounceable ingredient lists sustainably sourced and packaged. Ideally, all ingredients rank below a 4 on the EWG database.If this sounds like something up your alley or you have any suggestions, please let me know… I feel like I’ve searched to the corners of Google and back, so I’m hoping for some luck here! -
16 Replies
-
Where are you located ?
-
There are several consulting chemists who can help you:
-
This sort of thing makes me despair for the future of our planet.
“healthier” line? short, pronounceable ingredient names?The very fact that these things are seen as desirable means that we as scientists have badly failed in educating the general public. -
@bobzchemist I agree. I was especially bothered by the reliance on the EWG rating system which has shown itself to be flawed.
-
@bobzchemist and @microformulation I put “healthier” in quotations because I know that’s not necessarily true and really just a marketing tactic. But it’s what a lot of consumers want now. They’re looking for products that they feel they themselves could have created in their kitchen, but don’t have the time, money, or other resources to do so.
-
@markbroussard any recommendations for manufacturers?
-
@ayla I am in Atlanta, USA
-
You only indicated a “Color Cosmetic Line” … that could be lots of things. If you are more specific about the products you want developed, then perhaps you can find a match.
-
@markbroussard I am pursuing foundation, concealer, and lipsticks. Thanks for the advice, I’ll be more specific in the future!
-
No problem … just look through the link that I posted earlier and see if any of the chemists there pique your interest. There are several qualified development chemists on the list.
-
The most cost-effective way to do this (if you’re not operating on a shoe-string) is to find a medium-to-large sized manufacturing company, and work with their R&D department.
The fastest way to do this is to go with a private-label operation rather than designing your own formulas. -
Thanks @bobzchemist. Any recommendations/advice for securing a package designer? I want my packaging to mitigate any bacterial contamination since they’re natural and won’t have the same strength of preservatives, but I don’t know where to start, really.
-
Firstly, you can’t compromise on your preservative system. We have a duty to produce a safe product. Preservation is a large part of this safety. “Natural” Cosmetics do NOT compromise on preservation but rather use preservatives that more closely align to the “natural” standards.
Secondly having a custom package designed is an expensive and length process. It is gernerally not feasible for all but the most well funded lines.
-
@microformulation I was not saying that I wouldn’t use a preservation system, just that natural product preservatives are different and often not as strong so I want to be extra careful with packaging. I would never compromise product safety or efficacy in the name of a marketing ploy.
I do have considerable funds to use and intend to make this a mass-retailer type line. Do you have any recommendations for where/who to go to for packaging design? -
Just so you know, the number of “natural” FDA approved colorants is minimal. Here’s the list of the only allowed colorants in cosmetics.
Actually, only 8 cosmetic colorants and these are not all-natural either.Ingredients like Mica & Titanium Dioxide (so called mineral make-up) are synthesized in a lab. -
@Perry That’s a great list and info to refer back to, though! I’d have trouble finding an encapsulating list.
I knew that natural colorants are few and far between, so I wasn’t planning on limiting myself to them. I don’t intend to market my product as all natural (just natural-based), so using Micas and Iron Oxides is my plan. I have no problem with a few synthesized ingredients so long as they’re ingredients that most consumers perceive as acceptable.
Log in to reply.