From Science to Shelf: The A-B-C’s of Cosmetics Manufacturing
Learn What It Takes to Get Products from the Plant to Packaging
Ever wonder how the most legendary beauty products make it from manufacturing to market? From conceptualization to formulation to package design to promotion are just a few of the in’s and out’s that go into the most memorable, sought-after elixirs, potions, and dream creams – and it’s nothing short of manufacturing magic. But, not all manufacturing is created equal. Learn what it takes to get your most prized prettifying products from the batch to the
bottle.
Cosmetic Manufacturing
So, what exactly is cosmetic manufacturing? Basically, cosmetic manufacturing is akin to modern-day apothecary practices. The practice of whipping up chemicals, botanicals, and other beautifying essences into a proprietary concoction that promises to deliver a particular result(s) is an art form in and of itself. The end result can either make or break an existing or burgeoning beauty brand. Some products turn out to be one-hit-wonders, while others become prodigies in their own right, finding a permanent place on shelves of medicine cabinets for decades and decades. The process begins with a concept, or a particular idea or remedy, to resolve a skincare or beauty issue, be it a face cream, skincare serum, body lotion, perfume, shampoo/conditioner, make-up, nail polish, sunscreen, bath soap, “personal product,” or toiletry. The idea for a product can also be to enhance or maintain existing healthy skin or beauty conditions. After all, there is no shortage of beauty products that are designed to cater to every cosmetic condition or scenario. You’ll be hard-pressed not to find a solution for any kind of beauty woe (or wonder). Year after year, the billion-dollar beauty industry becomes increasingly overwhelming with thousands of products targeting every conceivable issue – from hair to skin to nails to body and beyond. From head to tippy toe, there is a product “for that.” Once a concept for a cosmetic product is initialized, then the process of preparing and researching ingredients and formulations begins. The best beauty brands will hire a tireless team of skincare savants, i.e., board-certified dermatologists, estheticians, and other industry experts to formulate and repeatedly test a number of different cosmetic “cocktails” until a winner is crowned and a newbie is born. This process can take weeks to years, as every situation is different and requires traveling its own specific trajectory from the lab to launch party. Of course, there are rigorous testing procedures to work out the “kinks,” ie, adverse reactions, subpar efficacy, etc, through routine clinical trials.
Private Label Manufacturing
Some cosmetic manufacturing companies even provide marketing and promotional services at a prenegotiated contracted cost. Private label manufacturing is the all-inclusive cosmetic manufacturing practice that offers a “one-stop-shopping” set-up that will take your idea from “concept to cream” without you having to do much else, but pay the tab. Usually, the products are already formulated, pre-packaged, and ready for purchase. The interested beauty brand just needs to slap on its own label and company info/logo. Private label manufacturing takes the guesswork out of timeconsuming formulation, testing, package designing, etc, and is intended for the brand/company to focus on branding and marketing without the fuss of formulas, ingredients, testing, etc. They have an already made product or line of products that are expertly crafted, curated, and customer-ready.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
“The pharmaceutical industry is one that discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as different types of medicine and medications…Drug manufacturing is the process of industrial-scale synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs by pharmaceutical companies. The process of drug manufacturing can be broken down into unit operations, such as milling, granulation, coating, tablet pressing, packaging, and even marketing/promotions.”– Wikipedia. The synthesis of active ingredients and their role in drug formulations determines the delivery of the prescribed end product. As you can gather, the process of pharmaceutical manufacturing is not too different from the role of its cosmetic manufacturing counterpart, as there are scrupulous steps, including extended, laborious research and fastidious formulation.
Making Good on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
So, what exactly constitutes safe, savory, respectable, and reputable cosmetics/pharmaceutical manufacturing? According to the guidelines structured in the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) law advocated by the FDA, there is a litany of meticulous mandates and painstaking procedures to keep products up to par and the company’s who produce them – and it’s all to protect you, the consumer, as well as the integrity of the product and the company’s reputation. The practices outlined in the GMP were put into place to prevent possible harm to the consumer and are required to be adhered to before official product launches. Of course, these guidelines may differ from country to country. For instance, European cosmetic manufacturing standards ban nearly 1,372 ingredients from their bevy of beauty, skincare, and personal products, while, disappointingly, the United States only bans about ten or so ingredients. Hence, it’s safe to say Americans are slathering on some scary stuff! This is where professional oversight and consistent involvement in the manufacturing process by a company is absolutely imperative and determines its ability to exceed even the highest of product principles and industry standards. Employing a loyal, renowned, and highly-competent team of industry-leading scientists, chemists, skincare professionals, and derms can help guarantee unparalleled efficacy, safety, quality, productivity, and comfort. Here are just a few of the minimum requirements of “good” manufacturing that can maximize product effectiveness, popularity, and longevity:
- Premises and equipment should be consistently maintained and in good repair at all times. Consider adequate cleaning and ventilation measures. Check for defects and worn equipment and apparatuses.
- Be sure all staff and personnel are expertly trained in working in compliance to GMP standards. Hygiene and appropriate attire should be stipulated.
- Ingredients should be properly identified, accounted for, and measured in training sessions.
- Are formulations/recipes being followed correctly and efficiently? Who is overseeing this aspect of the manufacturing process?
- Is there documentation for every batch delivered?
- Are all ingredients and products properly stored to prevent contamination and loss of stability?
- Are products correctly labeled for swift and easy identification of materials?
- Is waste packaging marked and properly disposed of to avoid cross-contamination?
- Have you considered defective packaging?
- Are there procedures and protocol in place to ensure high-quality control from start to finish of the entire production process?
- Are there proper procedures in place for imminent complaints, such as dealing with potential adverse reactions, or to recall a specific product?
- Always make sure to properly and comprehensively document/record all grievances, including their settlement of resolution (if any).
The Cirem Story – A Match Made in Manufacturing Heaven (A Harmonious Hybrid of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Manufacturing)
Toss all the cosmetics counter creams, along with the let-down lotions, disappointing drugstore “gems,” and the pretentiously-priced, filler-filled, chemical-concocted potions that promise the world, but don’t deliver. The antiaging answer is in customized manufacturing procedures and proprietary concentration – most notably, a highly-concentrated, bio-active accelerated, performance-proven sumptuous skin serum and equally luxurious face cream that goes more than just skin deep. They deliver clinically-proven results right now…and later. Women began getting frustrated with ostentatiously expensive creams, luxe lotions, and purported dream creams that simply do not work, reluctantly landing them in the plastic surgeon’s office seeking the results they want. The cutting-edge team of beauty innovators at Cirem Cosmetics® knew there had to be a better beauty bet and a safe, more simplified skincare solution. So, they sought the world over to uncover the best-kept beauty secrets of the most beautiful, age-defying women.
What started in an unassuming, family -owned and -operated pharmacy in the heart of Studio City, California, home to the most attention-grabbing stars and the sexiest big screen sirens, was an iconic elixir to the elite. The ultimate aging antidote was conceptualized using the earth’s most rare, consummate botanicals, expertly synergized with advanced scientific research, steadfast technology, and proprietary formulation to bring the glamorous world of Tinseltown an exquisite, yet amazingly affordable, A-lister secret serum, of sorts. Their resolute attention to detail and unwavering passion for wellness propelled the growing brand in producing the most game-changing, celeb-coveted dream cream to date. The fusion of fresh, novel and time-tested technologies from both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing industries is brimming within every beautiful bottle. Cirem’s Rapid Absorption Technology™ is the first-ever optimal delivery system of active ingredients that quickly and efficiently penetrates the skin’s deepest layers for unsurpassed efficacy and zero dry-down time. Get a red carpet-ready complexion in seconds without messing up your skincare routine – or your make-up! Every woman deserves to look and feel her beauty best every day. And, she needn’t break the bank on fancy skincare filled with empty promises or resort to costly, chancy cosmetic procedures to get gorgeous, glowing, virtually ageless skin. The secret is in the simplicity. The proof is in the performance. The excellence is in the innovation. Introducing next-generation, signature skincare designed for every woman.
The standard is Cirem®.
