【A Must-Save Guide for Startups】Skincare OEM Factory Collaboration Guide｜Prepare These 5 Things for Smoother Product Development!

If you want to create your own skincare brand, the OEM process may seem complicated. In fact, as long as you prepare the following five things before discussions, development can proceed faster, samples will be more accurate, and timelines can be managed more smoothly.

1. Product Direction & Formulation (Providing Reference Products Speeds Things Up)

When planning skincare product development, the first step is to confirm the product category you want to create, such as toner, shampoo, serum, body wash, scalp treatment, and more.
However, OEM manufacturers will further ask—what kind of “formulation” and “user experience” are you looking for?
Formulation (Dosage Form) refers to the final physical appearance and texture of the product, such as watery, gel, lotion, cream, oil, or jelly. Simply put, it is how you want the product to look, feel, and apply.

To help manufacturers better understand your desired formulation, it is recommended to prepare the following information in advance:

• Preferred fragrance (essential oils / synthetic fragrance)
• Expected texture (thick / watery / lightweight / spreadability)
• Desired color and absorption speed
• Any reference products you like or that are close to your target

The more complete the information you provide, the faster and more accurately pricing can be quoted, and the closer the samples will be to your ideal result. This effectively reduces repeated revisions and makes the overall development process smoother.

【Related Reading】 How Are Skincare OEM Costs Calculated? Understanding MOQ Pricing and Small-Batch Manufacturing
https://www.hairspa.com.tw/shares/skincare-oem-costs-moq-explained.html

2. Formula Restrictions & Ingredient Preferences

In addition to basic product type and formulation, another key factor often overlooked in skincare development is: “Are there ingredients you want to avoid?” or “Are there specific claims you must include?” These factors directly affect formula design, ingredient selection, costs, and regulatory feasibility.

Common requirements from startup brands include:

• No alcohol
• No fragrance or preference for essential oils
• Use of natural or organic botanical ingredients
• Specific preferences for preservative systems (e.g., avoiding Paraben, MIT/CMIT)

We recommend brands first focus on their expectations and positioning. As for technical feasibility, necessary adjustments, or regulatory restrictions, Taiwan Beauty King can provide corresponding solutions and recommendations to help you find the most suitable development direction for your product positioning.

3. Budget Range & Estimated Production Volume

1. Budget Range: Determines Formula Level, Ingredient Selection & Development Direction
In skincare OEM projects, budget is not optional information—it is a core factor that determines formula direction. Different ingredient grades, active components, and imported materials (such as organic, botanical, or patented ingredients) can vary greatly in cost—product positioning can range from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Therefore, even if it’s not extremely precise, providing a rough budget range allows us to:

• Recommend the most suitable formula level
• Offer different ingredient combinations (natural / botanical / functional / high-performance)
• Adjust ingredient concentrations and formula complexity according to budget

A clear budget helps guide the formula in the right direction faster, shortens communication time, and avoids repeated revisions due to cost overruns—greatly improving development efficiency.

2. Estimated Production Quantity
Quantity or number of units directly affects:

• Unit cost (the larger the quantity, the lower the unit price)
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ), which varies by formulation and process
• Packaging options (bottles, pumps, and boxes each have their own MOQ)

Many brands’ first question when inquiring about skincare OEM is, “What is the MOQ?”
In reality, MOQ varies depending on product formulation, ingredients, processing characteristics, and packaging requirements. Therefore, brands must first confirm product type and formulation direction before OEM manufacturers can provide a complete and accurate MOQ assessment.

4. Brand Concept & Target Audience

Brand tone and core target audience determine the development direction, for example:

• Natural, botanical, additive-free
• Medical-grade or sensitive-skin focused
• Salon-grade high performance
• Fragrance-focused brand
• Mother and baby products

Different sales channels also influence product strategy:

• E-commerce → Price competitiveness and clear selling points
• Salon → More premium fragrance, strong repair effects, professional image
• Domestic / overseas markets → Ingredient restrictions and regulatory differences (must be clarified in advance)

These factors help clarify formula direction and enable OEM manufacturers to provide early recommendations and support regarding regulations, ingredient selection, and alternatives—ensuring a smoother product launch.

5. Planned Launch Timeline (Affects Development Schedule)

From R&D to mass production, skincare products must go through complete testing and documentation processes, making launch timing extremely important. If you can provide an approximate launch schedule early on, OEM manufacturers can plan development timelines based on project complexity, testing cycles, and packaging lead times.

Pre-launch tests and confirmations include:

• Semi-finished / finished product stability testing
• Preservative efficacy / microbiological testing
• Claim efficacy testing
• Packaging compatibility testing
• PIF documentation preparation

To ensure product quality and stability under different conditions, stability testing typically requires at least 3–4 months of observation. This is a critical foundation for a safe, market-ready product, and development timelines should not be overly compressed.

[Related Reading] Understand the quality testing process from R&D to market launch in 3 minutes!

6. Skincare OEM Product Development Guide: The Better Prepared You Are, the Smoother the Process

Brand development doesn’t require mastering every process from the start. Many beginners feel unsure about where to begin or have ideas without clear product direction. As long as you prepare the five key points above, discussions will be more focused and it will be easier to identify the right product positioning.

If you are preparing to enter brand development but are still exploring directions, feel free to contact Taiwan Beauty King. We can provide suitable product recommendations and development planning based on your ideas and goals, helping you move forward smoothly in the OEM/ODM process for haircare and skincare products.

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