Custom Cosmetic Formulation Services for Beauty Brands
Turn a defined product brief into a custom formula, sample review process, packaging plan, and commercial manufacturing path for skincare, hair care, body care, and oral rinse liquids.
What do custom cosmetic formulation services include?
Custom cosmetic formulation services translate a commercial product brief into a formula that can be evaluated, tested, packaged, scaled, and manufactured. At Shay Labs, formulation is connected to production rather than treated as an isolated lab exercise. The team reviews the intended customer, product function, texture, fragrance or flavor, ingredient direction, claims boundaries, package, target quantity, channel, and economics before development begins. Eligible skincare, hair care, body care, personal care, and oral rinse projects can move from samples into commercial production through the same U.S. manufacturing relationship.
Which categories can Shay Labs formulate?
The formulation brief changes by category. A shampoo needs a different performance framework than a face serum, body cream, or oral rinse.
Skincare formulation
Cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, creams, serums, oils, gels, masks, eye care, and related cosmetic formats.
Hair care formulation
Shampoos, conditioners, masks, leave in products, oils, serums, scalp products, styling creams, and gels.
Body care formulation
Body wash, shower gel, lotion, cream, oil, hand soap, massage, and targeted liquid or gel products.
Oral rinse formulation
Custom mouthwash and cosmetic oral rinse liquids defined by flavor, intensity, mouthfeel, ingredient direction, and bottle system.
Formula refinement
Review of an existing formula or sample when the brand needs adjustments before commercial production.
Formula transfer and scale up
Technical review for brands that own or control a formula and need it mapped into a new manufacturing process.
Do you need formulation, transfer work, or direct production?
The most efficient scope starts by identifying what is already complete and what still needs to be resolved.
New formula
The customer and product goal are clear, but the formula and samples still need to be created.
Existing benchmark
You have a reference product and a defined difference, but no owned commercial formula yet.
Owned formula
You control the formula and need technical review, raw material mapping, scale up, packaging, or manufacturing.
Production ready project
The formula, specifications, package, components, approvals, and forecast are complete enough for direct manufacturing review.
How formulation connects to the right commercial path
Pilot or Accelerator development
Eligible projects can begin at 500 units when the category, formula, package, components, testing, and production requirements fit. The path depends on how much commercialization guidance is needed.
- Product brief and custom formula development
- Sample evaluation and refinement
- Packaging, economics, and first production planning
Formula transfer and direct manufacturing
Production ready projects generally begin at 5,000 units. Shay Labs reviews ownership, formula, specifications, raw materials, testing, package, scale up, and production requirements.
- Technical transfer and scale review
- Commercial compounding and filling
- Assembly, quality checks, and delivery coordination
What happens during custom cosmetic formulation?
Timelines and requirements depend on the formula, package, testing, components, approvals, and production scope.
Create a product brief
Define the customer, product role, performance, sensory profile, ingredient direction, claims boundaries, packaging, and target economics.
Develop and review samples
Evaluate the formula against the brief, document feedback precisely, and refine only the variables that matter.
Confirm package and testing needs
Review fill size, closure, compatibility, label or decoration, component supply, and the testing appropriate to the project.
Prepare for commercial scale
Finalize specifications and approvals, confirm production scope, and plan the first batch around actual component readiness.
Why use a formulation lab connected to manufacturing?
A lab sample is only useful if it can become a repeatable commercial product. Shay Labs combines formulation and manufacturing in a cGMP and ISO 22716:2007 certified facility, with more than 15 years of manufacturing experience informing scale, fill, package, and process decisions.
What should be in a cosmetic formulation brief?
Customer and need
Who will buy it, what job it performs, and what makes it worth switching for.
Performance and sensory
Texture, viscosity, foam, absorption, fragrance or flavor, finish, and use experience.
Ingredient and claims direction
Required or excluded ingredients, benchmark references, claims boundaries, and brand standards.
Package and business targets
Container, fill size, closure, channel, quantity, target retail, cost expectations, and launch timing.
Continue from formulation into the right category
Custom Cosmetic Formulation Services Questions
Does Shay Labs offer cosmetic formulation services without manufacturing?
Shay Labs formulation programs are designed to lead toward commercial manufacturing. The right path depends on category, development needs, package, quantity, and production plan.
How long does custom formulation take?
Custom formulation commonly takes four to six weeks, although formula complexity, feedback cycles, ingredients, testing, and package decisions can change the schedule.
Which product categories can Shay Labs formulate?
Shay Labs supports eligible skincare, hair care, body care, personal care, and mouthwash or oral rinse liquid projects.
Can Shay Labs transfer a formula from another chemist or manufacturer?
Potentially. The brand must own or control the formula and provide specifications, ingredient details, testing, packaging, and prior production information for review.
Does Shay Labs have a ready made formula catalog?
No. Shay Labs focuses on custom formulation, formula transfer, and manufacturing rather than an off the shelf private label catalog.
Bring a clear product brief to the formulation discussion
Share the customer, product job, formula status, sensory direction, package, quantity, and commercial target. Shay Labs will identify the most efficient next step.