Starting a personal cosmetics line can be tricky — but it's probably not as complicated as you think.
There are a lot of things to consider, from branding to marketing to distribution. If this is your first time venturing into the world of personal cosmetics, you could easily get overwhelmed.
You're not alone!
You need to ask yourself a ton of questions before you can even begin down this path: What do I want my brand to be? How will I determine what products I should make? Who will help me with these decisions? When and how will I start selling my product?
One thing's for sure — it pays to educate yourself on the process before putting so much hard work in. Thankfully, we've put together a list of things you should know about starting a personal cosmetics line.
1. Choose a Market Niche for Your Cosmetics Line
Nobody can make a universal product that everyone will love. You should know what type of market you are aiming for and produce products specific to that market. If you're not sure where your target audience lies within the major markets, no problem - it's easier than ever to find out who your ideal customer is. For instance, if you want to sell makeup for those with sensitive skin, figure out which websites/forums/groups exist for members with sensitive skin and take advantage of those resources by getting to know your market’s needs and challenges.
Etsy is also a great place to search for inspiration! There are millions of shops on Etsy selling every kind of cosmetic imaginable under the sun. To narrow things down even further, try searches based on specific keywords such as "natural makeup" "organic makeup" or "mineral makeup."
For example, we've seen a lot of success with shops that sell natural products for people with sensitive skin and allergies. Many vegans want to buy cruelty-free cosmetics but can't find what they are looking for in conventional stores. If you have a product idea that consumers want, it will be easier to market it and generate revenue. If there is already a growing market around your niche idea, this means your target audience is growing - so plan on staying in the same industry as customer requirements grow too.
2. Learn About the Cosmetics Market Before You Sell Anything
While there may be a lot of demand out there for your particular cosmetic line, you also want to make sure that there's a high consumption rate for your product. This will help you to predict how much market share you may have in the future when launching new products and expanding your brand.
The best way to learn about the makeup industry is by doing your research. Start with some online resources that can help you find out more information:
When conducting market research, you may want to also study competitors' websites and see what they are doing right (and wrong, for that matter). You could also go to one of their store locations if they have any and look around for ideas on how you can improve areas that they may miss the mark on.
3. Do Further Research on Pricing Your Products - Be Mindful of Your Costs
One of the most prominent parts of selling cosmetics is cost vs. value. You need to make sure that your products offer a high perceived value so that customers will be willing to pay a higher price for them. If there's something about your product packaging/style/blend that may give the impression of value, make sure you capitalize on it when marketing your brand.
An excellent way to approach cosmetics pricing is by looking at how much similar products are being sold for on average and note both the higher and lower bound of this average.
With a very low starting price point and some high upsells after each purchase, you can potentially make more money than if you started with a higher cost per item and then tried to sell add-ons down the road. Always be mindful of your costs and overhead - while it's nice to set prices higher so that customers feel like they're getting their money's worth, you want to avoid selling yourself short when considering profit margins.
4. Register Your Company and Get Licensing Before Producing/Selling Anything
You may have seen this kind of disclaimer on some company websites or on the packaging of cosmetics that are already on store shelves: "This is not a cosmetic." This means that the manufacturer has received FDA licensing as well as compliance with other state-specific laws regarding their products.
While you don't necessarily need to obtain such certification, it doesn't hurt anything either. If at all possible, you should register your company with your local government as soon as possible.
You'll especially want to do this if you plan on selling your cosmetics across state lines or online. You need to know the regulations that are put in place for businesses like yours so that you can ensure that you're following all of them.
5. Find a Supplier for Your Products Ahead of Time
It can be very tempting just to slap a label on something and fulfill an order ASAP, but it's much wiser to take your time and get the best deal possible. You may even want to go through a trial-and-error phase where you find out which suppliers give you the best prices vs. quality ratio for certain types of products.
If you're looking online for potential suppliers, try searching for reviews on specific websites (such as Amazon or MakeupAlley) or forums where people discuss their personal experiences with different cosmetic manufacturers.
Once you've found one that will fit into your budget and production schedule, make sure that they have everything in place before moving forward! First impressions count - if someone is going to see your logo on a product, you want to make sure that it's the best quality possible. You can even consider finding someone who can help design a logo for you so that your brand will be more memorable to customers!
6. Talk to Aloe Labs
When you're looking for a partner that will help you make the highest-quality cosmetics using the finest aloe products around, look no further than Aloe Labs.
The best way to ensure that you're getting the highest quality aloe gel possible is to choose a company with complete control over the manufacturing process, from growing to harvesting and processing.
At Aloe Laboratories, we maintain our own aloe vera farm and production site, allowing us to craft the most satisfactory products possible while keeping bulk and wholesale prices low. We pride ourselves on producing cosmetic-grade aloe vera gel and powder specific to each customer's needs.
If you'd like to learn more about how aloe vera gel can enhance your products, or if you have some ideas of your own, reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you make your product a reality.