The Lab

Let’s Make.

Product development and support

for small businesses and indie brands. 

In a sea of corporate cosmetics, consumers are searching for result-driven personal care products with a message they can connect with.

As a cosmetic chemist with a background in esthetics, I’m here to lend my industry insight to your project and help you deliver on your vision.

Let’s get started!

A wooden shelf filled with multiple rows of dark brown bottles with black caps and white labels, arranged neatly on a light wood background.

What We Can Make.

  • A white tube of cream or ointment with a swirl of white cream behind it on a white surface.

    Face & Body (standard)

    $2000

    Serums; Toners; Lotions; light, medium and rich Creams; Body Butters; Crème cleansers, Foaming cleansers, Abrasive cleansers; Abrasive crème cleansers.

  • A person sitting on a pebble beach at sunset, wearing a purple bikini top and colorful patterned shorts, with a white sunscreen bottle nearby. The ocean and a distant island are visible in the background.

    Tanning Products

    $2500

    +$700 per color variant thereafter

    Tanning spray; Tanning lotion; Tanning cream.

  • Person holding a small black bottle with a dropper, preparing to use a liquid, against a plain dark background.

    Cosmeceuticals

    $2500

    With clinically proven claims/actives

    Whitening, Anti-Aging, Professional quality skincare in various forms.

  • Open containers of face powder in nude tones, with one container lid labeled "nude & nature," arranged on a white surface.

    Color Make-up

    $2500 — for first product (Includes color match)

    +$500 per color matched variant thereafter.

    Loose and Pressed powders, Bronzers and Eyeshadows; BB/CC creams; Tinted moisturizers; Liquid foundations; Concealers; Lipgloss; Lipsticks; Eyeliner; Mascara.

  • Hand holding three stacked bath bombs in peach, white, and blue colors against a pink background.

    Haircare (standard)

    $2000

    Standard/market level cleansing and conditioning products

    Non-Salon level Shampoos, Conditioners, Spray In or Leave-in Conditioners

    *Does not include salon quality or styling products – please refer to hairceutical or styling categories.

  • Five hands holding various hairstyling tools, including brushes, scissors, and a hair dye brush, against a plain white background.

    Styling Products

    $2500

    Gels, Waxes, Pomades, Hairsprays, Mousses.

  • Person with long, rainbow-colored hair outdoors, surrounded by other people, some looking at their phones.

    Hair Colorants

    Price on Application

    We need your brief to be able to quote on these products as their needs can vary greatly.

    Includes Color Mousse, Temporary Color, Permanent Color.

  • A digital photograph of a person with long, curly blonde hair resting on a vibrant blue patterned fabric with a spray bottle placed beside their hair.

    Hairceuticals

    $2500

    With clinically proven claims/actives

    Professional quality haircare in various forms.

  • Black and white close-up profile of a man with curly hair and a full beard, looking to the left.

    Hair Perming & Relaxing

    Price on Application

    We need your brief to be able to quote on these products as their needs can vary greatly.

    Includes Permanent Hair Curling, Permanent Hair Straightening.

Development Timeline

  • Consultation

    1 - 2 weeks

    Let’s Talk!

    During this time we will sign official paper work, go over the details of your brief, and answer any questions you may have about the product development process.

    Key Notes:

    • Confidentiality agreement.

    • Product development agreement.

    • Product development brief.

    • Discussions to confirm brief (if required).

    • Benchmark product & samples of your packaging.

  • Formulation

    2 - 4 weeks

    Let’s Create!

    Here we will bring your idea to life. Developing a formula that will meet the needs of your brand. Your formula will be checked across regulatory boards for compliance and any trade marked agency so you can be assured you’ll have an original formula you can take to market.

    Key Notes

    • Raw materials and technical information is sourced.

    • Please allow 2-4 weeks for raw materials and information specific to your development to arrive.

    • Please send raw materials, specific to your development, if you have them.

    • Materials are charged to the client at cost price (inc. delivery) if payment by the supplier is required.

  • Samples and Approval

    4 - 6 weeks

    Let’s Test!

    This is the exciting part; seeing your product in real life and being able to test it with your own hands. An initial sample will be sent to you for evaluation, feedback, and critique.Perfection takes time and your feedback will help guide us to ensure that you have a product you can be proud of.

    (In order to stay on track with the development time-line, please work with us to limit revisions on the formula to 3 cycles of sample testing.)

    Key Notes

    • Sample Development.

    • Evaluation and Feedback assessment.

    • Changes and Revisions to formula.

    • Approval and Sign off.

At the end of this process you will have…

  • Full ownership of an original formula.

  • Supplier information on where to source your materials.

  • Easy to follow instructions on how to manufacture your product.

Begin here: Submit a brief.

Now that you have your formula, what’s next?

Post-Development Support

Let’s get ready for market.

Assistance after development is optional, although Stability Testing is highly recommended before heading into the marketplace. These following services will support the transition of taking your product from the lab to your shelves.

  • $875

    For for evaluation/stability purposes

    - Approx. 1kg of product

    - Purchase of raw materials to be covered at cost price if required.

    - Please provide packaging for product to be filled into

  • $350

    Compliance to AU/EU/US

  • Includes list of permitted claims, evidence table and supporting evidence.

    - $350 for non-cosmeceutical products

    - $500 for cosmeceutical products (clinically proven efficacy or claims)

  • Confirms preservative efficacy

    - Must be outsourced; please refer to your preferred test facility or

    - Normally around $700 – please refer to test facility for exact quote

    - 100g of product will need to be provided - we can prepare for $350 OR have this prepared with the lab batch (quoted above) at no additional charge.

  • Shelf life is the length of time a product is expected to maintain its performance and safety free from any hazardous byproducts.

    Stability Testing measures and establishes a record of the acceptable changes that can occur to a product over its time. This gives consumers confidence that a product will perform just like the day it was made and throughout its use.

    *Required for EU, ASEAN and Asia

    *Required for products with SPF claims anywhere in world

    *Please provide sufficient product in your specific packaging to complete program or have us prepare a lab batch (quoted above, your packaging required. We will need 15 x 50g packs of product for testing.)

    - 9 months accelerated program $1600

    -Extend accelerated program to 30 months real time = $900

    *PET still required – please see PET costs

  • $495 standard service

    + additional time and charges may be required.

    Need help bringing your product to market?

    • Includes assistance with coordinating upscale, pilots and full scale production with one of our recommended contract manufactures.

    • Discussions with your manufacturer if there are formulation, supply or quality issues on scale up.

    • Problem solving including R&D time if required

    • Connecting you with our recommended Graphic Designer and Label Printer who will work to get your branding just right.

    • Introduction with our recommended insurance provider for protection.

Ready for Support?