From the lab to your bathroom

Have you ever wondered how your favorite moisturizer or serum arrives on the shelves, ready to be used? Behind every cosmetic product lies a rigorous and exciting manufacturing process, combining science, innovation and creativity. Here’s a look at the key steps that transform an idea into a treatment ready to beautify your skin.

The first step in the manufacturing of a cosmetic begins in research laboratories. Scientists, chemists and formulators work together to develop an innovative formula that meets a specific need: hydration, anti-aging, radiance, etc.

They select the active ingredients (natural or synthetic) and determine the textures, fragrances and colors according to their criteria. This phase can take months or even years, because each ingredient must be tested to ensure its effectiveness and compatibility with the other components.

Once the formula is perfected, it's time for testing. Testing is essential to ensure the product is safe for the skin and effective.

• Safety tests : These are used to verify that the product does not cause irritation or allergies. These tests are carried out on skin models or on volunteers.

• Efficacy tests : These measure whether the product delivers on its promises (e.g., reduced wrinkles or improved hydration).

Testing must meet strict standards, particularly in Europe where cosmetic regulations are among the most demanding in the world.

These tests can be carried out on the so-called "benchtop" formula after it has passed all the tests relating to its stability and the recording of interactions between the contents and the chosen container. These tests can also be carried out or repeated at the next stage, when the benchtop formula is the subject of its industrial pre-transposition, i.e. it is manufactured in a larger quantity, for example 5 kg.

Once the formula is validated, it is ready for larger-scale production in the factory.

Raw materials and packaging items must be sourced and precise criteria must be in place to check the conformity of all these materials and items, in order to be certain that they can be used in production. Supply times vary greatly and can sometimes be very long (several weeks or months); this is why planning is very important and also why there may be product stock shortages, when consumer demand is difficult to anticipate or there are temporary disruptions in supply chains (for example, a raw material is slightly modified by the supplier or is no longer available for sale, in which case the compatibility of the modified material must be tested or a new supply channel must be sought, etc.).

Once all items are in stock, production can begin.

It all starts with mixing the ingredients in specific vats.

• Weighing and mixing : Ingredients are precisely weighed and mixed according to a defined protocol. The temperature and mixing speed are adjusted to achieve the perfect texture.

• Packaging : Once the formula is ready, it is transferred into bottles, tubes or jars. This process is often automated to ensure speed and hygiene.

Before the product leaves the factory, it goes through rigorous controls. Each batch is tested to verify that the texture, color, odor and effectiveness correspond exactly to the initial formula. A certificate of analysis is issued, showing the conformity of the organoleptic parameters, quantities, batch number, expiration date and bacteriological analyses in particular.

This quality control extends to packaging, to ensure that it protects the product well and complies with environmental standards. Once the quality control has been validated, the products are packaged and shipped to the points of sale or directly to consumers for those who buy online.

Packaging plays a crucial role: it protects the product, informs about its uses and seduces the consumer. It is a heavy work to select labels, cases or screen prints. Resistance must be tested, the perfect size must be sought, the ink must be indelible and meet standards... not to mention the graphic work to bring the product to life as imagined by the designer.

For a cosmetic to be placed on the market, it must then undergo regulatory steps, which are described in our blog article "The regulatory life of a cosmetic".

Even after the product is launched on the market, the work doesn’t stop. Brands continue to monitor their products through customer feedback and any reports of adverse effects. This allows for continuous improvement of formulas and ensures complete transparency.

The manufacture of a cosmetic is a complex process that combines science, rigor and creativity. Each step is designed to offer a safe, effective and pleasant-to-use product.