Want to launch your own skincare brand but don’t own a factory?
Good news — you don’t need one.
Most new skincare brands in India today are made through third-party manufacturing. This means another company makes the product for you, under your brand name. You focus on the brand. They handle the production.
This guide explains, in simple steps, how it all works.
What is Third-Party Manufacturing?
Third-party manufacturing means you hire an already-licensed factory to make your skincare product for you.
You give them your brand name, your packaging, and your ideas. They give you the finished product, ready to sell.
It is also called:
- Private label manufacturing
- Contract manufacturing
- White label skincare
You don’t need to know chemistry. You don’t need a factory. You just need a good manufacturing partner.
Why Most New Brands Choose This Route
Building your own factory costs a lot of money and takes a long time. Most new founders skip this and go straight to a manufacturer instead. Here’s why:
- Low cost to start — no factory, no machines, no big team
- Faster launch — many brands go from idea to product in 2–4 months
- Expert help — the manufacturer’s chemists do the formulation for you
- Smaller order sizes — easier for a new, small brand to afford
- Compliance is handled — a licensed manufacturer already has the legal approvals in place
- Easy to grow — order more once your brand starts selling
The Legal Side (Don't Skip This Part)
This is the part many guides leave out — but it matters a lot.
In India, cosmetics are controlled by a law called the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. A few simple things to know:
- The factory needs a license. Any factory making skincare products must hold a valid manufacturing license. This is called a COS-8 license. Always ask your manufacturer to show you this.
- As a brand owner, you may need a license too. If your product is made in someone else’s factory but sold under your brand name, you usually need what’s called a loan license. Your manufacturer can guide you through this.
- Your label must follow the rules. Every skincare label must show:
- Product name and brand name
- Full list of ingredients
- Batch number
- Manufacturing license number
- Net quantity
- Manufacturing date and use-by date
Skipping this can lead to fines or your product being pulled from shelves.
- Be careful with your claims. You can say your cream “moisturizes skin” or “improves glow.” You cannot say it “cures acne” or “treats” a skin disease. That crosses into medical claims, which is not allowed for cosmetics.
A good manufacturer will already have all these licenses ready. If they can’t show you a valid license number, that’s a warning sign — walk away.
How to Start: Step by Step
Step 1: Choose Your Skincare Niche
Do not just think that you want a skincare brand. You need to decide what kind of skincare brand you want. Is it going to be an Ayurvedic skincare brand?. Is it going to be an anti-acne skincare brand? Maybe you want to create a skincare brand for men or a skincare brand for baby care. You have to pick one area to focus on when you start.
Step 2: Find A Good Manufacturer
You need to find a manufacturer that has a license to make skincare products and a certificate that shows they follow good manufacturing practices. The manufacturer should have people who’re experts in creating skincare formulas, not just people who copy formulas from other brands. They should also have a lab where they can test the skincare products to make sure they are good quality. The lab should be certified by an organization. You also want a manufacturer that does not require you to order many skincare products at once especially if you are a new brand.. It is best if the manufacturer has experience making skincare products in your specific category like skincare for men or baby care.
Step 3: Try Out Your Skincare Formula
Before you order a lot of skincare products ask the manufacturer to give you some samples so you can try them out. Check the texture, smell and feel of the skincare products. Decide if you want to use a formula that the manufacturer already has. With some small changes or if you want the manufacturer to create a completely new formula just for your skincare brand.
Step 4: Finalize The Packaging And Labels For Your Skincare Products
Design the bottles, boxes or jars that your skincare products will come in. Make sure the labels on your skincare products follow all the rules before you print a lot of them.
Step 5: Place Your First Order For Skincare Products
Agree with the manufacturer on how skincare products you want to order the price and when you want to get them. Most skincare brands start with a first order to make sure they can trust the manufacturer.
Step 6: Launch Your Skincare Brand. Learn From It
Start with a small launch. Get feedback from your customers about your skincare products. Use this feedback to make improvements before you start making a lot of skincare products. This way you can make sure your skincare brand is the best it can be.
What Does It Cost?
Costs depend on your product type and order size. In general, you’ll need budget for:
- Formula development (if custom)
- Cost per unit of product
- Packaging and printing
- Lab testing
- Marketing (separate from manufacturing)
Tip: Don’t skip lab testing to save money. A bad batch or skin reaction can cost you far more in returns and reputation later.
Mistakes That New Brands Often Make
- Picking the cheapest manufacturer instead of the most reliable one
- Skipping safety testing to save time
- Printing packaging before checking label rules
- Copying a trending product without understanding the ingredients
- Treating the manufacturer as a one-time vendor instead of a long-term partner
Why Choose an Ayurvedic Manufacturing Partner
If you want your brand to feel natural, herbal, or Ayurvedic, it helps to work with a manufacturer who specializes in exactly that — not a general factory that adds “natural” as an afterthought.
At Sanskar Ayush Medicare Pvt. Ltd., based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, this is our main focus. We help skincare brands with:
- Third-party manufacturing — fully licensed and compliant
- Custom formulation — for brands that want something unique
- NABL-certified testing — for safety and quality
- R&D support — to build and improve your formula
- Our own skincare product range — gels, face packs, and lotions made with natural herbal ingredients
You can also read our guide on Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing if you’re exploring other Ayurvedic product categories too.
Ready to Start Your Skincare Brand?
Your manufacturing partner shapes your brand’s quality and growth for years to come. Choose one who is licensed, experienced, and easy to talk to.
Get a free consultation today and let’s build your skincare brand the right way.
Sanskar Ayush Medicare Pvt. Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have a Professional and Experienced Team who always bring Innovative Ideas.
Do I need a manufacturing license if I use a third-party manufacturer?
The answer is you do not need to have your factory to make things.. What you usually need is a loan license that is tied to the facility of your manufacturer. This means the manufacturer you are working with must already have their valid license, which is called a COS-8.
How much money do I need to start?
This really depends on the product you are making, the packaging you need and how things you are going to order at first. Using a third-party manufacturer is a lot cheaper than building your factory. When you are thinking about how much money you need you should budget for developing your formula, making your first batch of products the packaging, testing to make sure everything is okay and marketing so people know about your product.
How long does it take to launch?
Most brands launch in 2 to 4 months, depending on how custom the formula is and how fast packaging is ready.
Can I get a fully custom formula, or only ready-made ones?
Both are usually possible. Ready-made formulas with small tweaks are faster and cheaper. Fully custom formulas take longer but make your brand stand out more.
Is Ayurvedic skincare manufacturing different from regular skincare manufacturing?
The legal rules are the same. But herbal ingredients behave differently than synthetic ones — in shelf life, smell, and stability. That’s why it helps to choose a manufacturer experienced in Ayurvedic formulas specifically.
