FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can buy your products?
Our products are designed for aesthetic clinics, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical practitioners, salons, spas, beauty professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to launch their own premium skincare brand without the complexity of developing products from scratch.
Do I need experience in skincare formulation?
No.
We have already developed a range of professionally formulated skincare products that are ready for private label branding. You simply select the products you would like to offer, provide your logo, and we handle the rest.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Our minimum order quantities typically begin at 24 units for our standard products to make launching your own brand accessible and affordable. MOQ may increase with increased customization.
Some MOQs vary depending on the product and if different packaging is required. Contact us for the latest requirements.
How long does the process take?
Most projects can be completed within approximately 30 days from final artwork approval.
Production timelines may vary depending on product selection, label approval, and order volume.
Can I use my own logo and branding?
Absolutely.
Your logo, brand name, colours, and visual identity are applied to the products, allowing you to create a professional skincare range that reflects your business and vision.
Do you help with label design?
Yes.
Our design team can create professional product labels that align with your brand aesthetic while ensuring all required information is correctly displayed. We offer one free label design with every product order. If your label design requires high levels of customization such as foiling, UV spot varnish or other specialised services, you may require graphic design services at additional cost, and specialised labels may be subject to higher label MOQ since may require bulk printing instead of digital.
Can I customize the formulations?
We offer both private label and custom formulation options.
Many clients begin with our proven private label formulations and later progress to bespoke formulations developed exclusively for their brand.
What types of products can I brand?
Our portfolio includes:
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Cleansers
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Serums
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Moisturisers
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Eye treatments
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Exfoliants
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Peels
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Barrier repair products
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Brightening products
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Acne products
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Anti-ageing products
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Professional treatment products
Additional products are continually being added.
Can entrepreneurs launch a brand even if they don't own a clinic?
Yes.
Many successful skincare brands are launched by entrepreneurs rather than practitioners.
Whether you operate a clinic, online store, beauty business, or are launching your first brand, we can help you bring your concept to market.
Will I own my brand?
Yes.
Your brand name, logo, website, marketing assets, and customer relationships belong entirely to you.
You are building your own business asset, not promoting someone else's brand.
Can I sell the products online?
Yes.
Your products can be sold through:
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Your clinic
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Your spa or salon
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Your website
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Shopify stores
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Social media channels
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Online marketplaces
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Distributors and resellers
Do you provide product images?
Yes.
Professional product renders and marketing imagery can be supplied to help you launch and promote your brand.
Are the products manufactured to professional standards?
Yes.
Our formulations are developed for the professional skincare market and are manufactured using high-quality ingredients and rigorous quality control processes.
Can I reorder products as my business grows?
Absolutely.
Many clients start with a small launch order and progressively expand their product range and order volumes as their brand grows.
How much does it cost to start my own skincare brand?
The investment depends on the products, packaging, and quantities selected.
Our goal is to provide one of the most accessible pathways to launching a professional skincare brand with a relatively low startup cost compared to traditional product development.
How do I get started?
The process is simple:
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Choose your products
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Submit your logo
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Approve your label design
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We manufacture and label your products
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Receive your finished skincare range ready to sell
Your brand can be on shelf in as little as 30 days.
Do I own the formulation of my products?
It depends on the type of project.
If you select products from our existing private label range, or if we customize one of our existing formulation architectures for your brand, the underlying formulation remains our intellectual property.
This allows us to keep development costs low, offer lower minimum order quantities, and get your products to market quickly.
You own your brand, logo, packaging, marketing assets, and customer relationships, but not the underlying formulation itself.
Can I obtain exclusive rights to a formulation?
Yes.
Exclusive ownership and rights are available through a dedicated custom formulation development project.
In this scenario, a formulation is developed specifically for your brand based on a detailed product brief and performance objectives.
Because exclusive formulations require substantial research, development, testing, documentation, and ongoing manufacturing considerations, they typically involve higher development costs and may require higher production volumes than our standard private label offerings.
Should I choose private label or a fully custom formulation?
This depends on your business goals.
If your priority is to launch quickly, validate your concept, and start selling with relatively low minimum order quantities, private label is often the most cost-effective option.
If your goal is to create a completely unique product with exclusive ownership and long-term intellectual property value, a custom formulation project may be the better investment.
Many successful brands begin with private label products and later invest in bespoke formulations as their businesses grow.
If I commission a custom formulation, do I have to manufacture it with you?
No.
When a custom formulation development project includes full ownership transfer, the formulation belongs to you.
You are free to manufacture the product with us or work with any contract manufacturer of your choosing.
Our role is to develop the formulation according to the agreed project scope and ownership terms.
How much does custom formulation development cost?
Every project is different.
Development costs depend on the complexity of the formulation, the performance objectives, regulatory requirements, testing requirements, and whether specialist raw materials need to be sourced.
Some projects can be relatively straightforward, while others may require extensive research and multiple development iterations.
For this reason, we can only provide an accurate quotation once we have received a detailed product brief.
What information do you need before quoting a custom formulation?
To prepare a quotation, we typically require:
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Product type (serum, cleanser, moisturiser, peel, etc.)
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Target market
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Desired active ingredients
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Performance claims and objectives
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Texture preferences
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Packaging preferences
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Target retail price positioning
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Any benchmark products you would like us to reference
The more information you provide, the more accurately we can assess development requirements.
Does formulation development include product samples?
Yes.
Formulation development generally includes laboratory development work and sample production so that you can evaluate the product before proceeding to manufacture.
The number of development rounds and samples included will be specified in your quotation.
Does formulation development include stability testing?
Not usually.
Standard formulation development and sample production do not typically include formal stability testing unless specifically requested.
Stability testing can be quoted and performed as an additional service where required.
What additional testing services are available?
We can assist with a variety of testing services, including:
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Stability testing
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Accelerated stability testing
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Compatibility testing
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Patch testing
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Dermatologist testing
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Irritation testing
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Consumer studies
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Clinical efficacy studies
These services are quoted separately based on the specific requirements of the project.
Can you develop products using ingredients that are not part of your normal range?
Yes.
If a project requires specialised or uncommon ingredients, we can often source them specifically for the development process.
Special sourcing requirements may affect development timelines, minimum order quantities, and project costs.
These requirements will be discussed during the briefing stage.
Can you help me develop an entire skincare range?
Absolutely.
We can assist with the development of individual products or complete skincare systems, including cleansers, serums, moisturisers, treatment products, professional-use products, and homecare ranges.
Many clients choose to launch with a complete branded collection rather than a single product.
What do I actually own when launching a private label brand?
With a private label project, you own:
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Your brand name
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Your logo
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Your packaging design
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Your marketing assets
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Your website and social media presence
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Your customer relationships
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Your business goodwill
These assets are often significantly more valuable than the formulation itself and are what ultimately create long-term brand value.
These FAQs will help reduce future support enquiries while also positioning your custom formulation service as a premium offering without discouraging private-label clients.
Can I request free product samples?
Due to the high volume of sample requests we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide complimentary samples for evaluation.
Instead, we recommend purchasing products for evaluation through our established retail channels, where you can experience the formulation, texture, packaging quality, and overall user experience under normal consumer conditions.
Products are available from:
- dr.dermal® – www.drdermal.com
- Beauty Revive® – available through Dermaroller Systems South Africa
This approach allows prospective clients to evaluate products exactly as they are supplied to customers, providing a more accurate representation of product quality and performance.
Why don't you provide free samples?
Our primary focus is supporting serious brand owners, clinics, practitioners, and entrepreneurs who are actively evaluating manufacturing partnerships.
Over the years, we have found that products purchased through our retail channels provide a more meaningful evaluation experience than small laboratory samples.
Clients are able to assess:
- Product performance
- Texture and skin feel
- Packaging quality
- Customer experience
- Product positioning
- Long-term usability
This often provides greater insight than a small evaluation sample alone.
Can I purchase products before committing to a private label project?
Absolutely.
In fact, we encourage prospective clients to evaluate products before launching their own brand.
Many of our private label and product development clients begin by purchasing products from dr.dermal® or Beauty Revive® to identify formulations and product categories that align with their brand vision and target market.
Still have questions?
Our team would be happy to guide you through the process and recommend the best products for your clinic, practice, or new skincare venture.
