When you’re choosing skincare, the packaging may look beautiful and different, but what’s inside the jar can often be surprisingly similar. In some cases, it may even be exactly the same product sold under different brand names.
This can be confusing. Are you paying for a truly unique formula carefully developed with your skin in mind, or for clever marketing on a generic cream? The truth is, behind every cosmetic brand lies a very different story of how products are created and this influences quality, innovation, price, and transparency.
Let’s explore the main types of cosmetic production so you know what you’re really investing in.
1. White Label Skincare – The Same Formula, Many Names
White label skincare is the “fast track” way to start a brand. Manufacturers offer ready-made formulas that can be purchased by multiple brands, each adding its own label and packaging.
That “miracle cream” promoted by one company could be identical to another brand’s bestseller, only the branding is different.
Pros:
- Affordable and safe, since formulas are often tested and produced under professional standards.
- Fastest way to launch a skincare line.
- Reliable production ensures products are consistently available.
Cons:
- The product may be identical to another brand’s, you’re mostly paying for packaging and marketing.
- Little or no control over the formula or improvements.
- Marketing can be misleading, making customers believe the product is unique.
2. Custom Formulation – A Brand’s Signature
Custom formulation allows brands to create exclusive products by working with cosmetic chemists and laboratories. No other brand can sell the same cream or oil. Often, brands highlight one or two signature ingredients to stand out.
Some brands produce their custom formulas in-house, owning every step from formulation to production. Others keep the formula exclusive but outsource production to a contract manufacturer (OEM) for consistency and scale.
Pros:
- Truly unique and original, often designed with special ingredients or brand values.
- Can reflect brand principles such as natural, vegan, or dermatologist-tested.
- Builds stronger brand identity and customer loyalty.
Cons:
- More expensive, and “unique” doesn’t automatically mean better, quality depends on the chemist.
- Higher upfront costs (thousands to tens of thousands for R&D, testing, and stability studies).
- Time-consuming development (often 6–12 months or more).
3. Handmade Skincare – Small-Batch and Personal
Some brands (like our O’Black Cosmetics) create products in small, carefully crafted batches. These are often made by the founder or a dedicated artisan team.
Pros:
- Feels personal, often fresher and richer in natural ingredients, with a founder’s vision behind it.
- Flexible production allows for innovation and adaptation.
- Focus on high-quality, unique, and carefully selected ingredients.
Cons:
- Limited availability and batch sizes.
- Can be more expensive than mass-produced alternatives.
- Consistency requires meticulous attention to formulation and quality checks.
What to do now?
Understanding how skincare is produced helps you see what you’re truly paying for. And as I’ve often mentioned, pay attention to the ingredients. You don’t need to understand every chemical in the formula, but it’s helpful to recognize the main active ingredients, because that’s exactly what you’re paying for — the benefits for your skin, right?
✨ Your skin deserves skincare as unique as you are.