One of the questions regularly asked of a service provider before developing a cosmetic product is: how long will it take? Often, customers (who are not formulators, it should be noted) think that it is “easy,” that all you have to do is add a little bit of xxx to a prototype formula, a recipe they have come up with themselves, etc. But it’s not that simple! Estelle Dehier, from Labosphère, breaks down the different stages of developing a cosmetic product.
From the very first exchange, it is necessary to explain the product development process, the tests required by the Cosmetics Regulation, those that will ensure the quality of the product over time, and those related to consumer safety.
Each of these steps has a direct impact on the development timeframe and the expected date of market launch for the finished product.
While the Cosmetics Regulation requires proof of long-term stability, product safety and efficacy, it is the responsibility of the Responsible Person to coordinate, accept or reject the tests and/or studies proposed by their service providers in order to ensure compliance.
At Labosphère, we have established a ‘fluid’ development protocol for the development of cosmetic products. The aim is to avoid as much as possible any backtracking in the event of a ‘no go’ (as this always takes too long for the client!) and to meet technical and regulatory requirements.
Key stages
Analysis of the specifications (technical, regulatory and economic) for the cosmetic product
This step is crucial. Each question asked in our specifications template allows the client to define exactly the product they want to develop.
It allows us to define a framework and assess the …
