Custom Formulation Development

While private label products offer the fastest route to market, some brands require something more unique.

Our Custom Formulation Development service is designed for clinics, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and skincare brands seeking a product developed specifically for their vision, target market, and performance objectives using our proven product system and architecture. 

Whether you're developing a hero product, launching a complete skincare range, or creating an innovative treatment solution, The Skin Consultancy can guide the process from concept through to production-ready formulation.

Starting From R7,500

The initial formulation development engagement fee includes:

• Product brief consultation

• Concept evaluation and feasibility assessment

• Ingredient strategy recommendations

• Preliminary formulation development

• Prototype sample production

• Technical review and feedback

Final project costs vary depending on formulation complexity, raw material sourcing requirements, testing requirements, and ownership arrangements. 

What Can Be Developed?

We can assist with the development of:

• Cleansers

• Serums

• Moisturisers

• Eye treatments

• Acne products

• Brightening products

• Professional peels

• Microneedling solutions

• Treatment systems

• Post-procedure products

• Professional-use formulations

• Bespoke skincare ranges

Our Development Process

Step 1 – Product Brief

We begin by understanding your vision, including:

• Product type

• Target customer

• Performance objectives

• Desired active ingredients

• Texture preferences

• Packaging requirements

• Price positioning

• Benchmark products

Step 2 – Feasibility Assessment

Our team evaluates:

• Ingredient availability

• Manufacturing considerations

• Technical challenges

• Regulatory considerations

• Commercial viability

This helps ensure realistic expectations before development begins.

Step 3 – Formulation Development

Using our formulation expertise, we develop an initial prototype designed to achieve the agreed objectives.

Where appropriate, multiple development iterations may be undertaken to refine:

• Texture

• Absorption

• Sensory profile

• Stability

• Performance characteristics

Step 4 – Evaluation & Refinement

You evaluate the prototype and provide feedback.

Additional development rounds can be quoted where further refinement is required.

Step 5 – Commercialisation

Once the formulation has been approved, we can assist with:

• Scale-up manufacturing

• Packaging selection

• Product positioning

• Label development

• Product launch planning

Formulation Ownership & Intellectual Property

Development Based On Existing Platforms

With this offer The Skin Consultancy develops a product using existing formulation architectures, technologies, or development platforms, therefore the resulting formulation remains the intellectual property of The Skin Consultancy unless otherwise agreed in writing.

This approach allows for lower development costs and reduced minimum order quantities.

Additional Testing Services

Unless specifically included in a quotation, formulation development does not automatically include:

• Stability testing

• Accelerated stability testing

• Compatibility testing

• Patch testing

• Dermatologist testing

• Irritation testing

• Consumer studies

• Clinical efficacy studies

These services can be arranged separately and quoted according to project requirements.

Important Considerations

Formulation development is a collaborative process.

Certain ingredients may be unavailable, discontinued, restricted, commercially impractical, or unsuitable for manufacturing at scale.

While every effort is made to achieve the desired outcome, development timelines, costs, and final formulations may evolve as technical findings emerge throughout the project.

Is Custom Formulation Right For You?

Custom formulation development is ideal if:

✓ You require a unique product unavailable through standard private label offerings

✓ You want greater control over ingredients and product positioning

✓ You are building a long-term brand asset

✓ You require exclusive intellectual property rights

✓ You are developing a flagship or hero product

If your goal is simply to launch quickly and cost-effectively, our Private Label Programme may be a more suitable starting point.