How Much Does it Cost to Manufacture a Skincare Product?

Updated: Jul 16

When you’re past the idea stage and ready to invest in a quality formulation, a realistic breakdown of what to expect is key to proper planning. In this guide, we've crunched all the numbers to help you make sound financial decisions.

1. The Cost of Custom Formulation

It all begins with custom formulation. That is the process of creating a product from scratch, built around your brand’s needs, skin goals, and target market.

Typical range: $3,500 – $12,000+ per product

What affects the price?

Number of actives (e.g., peptides, acids, ceramides)
Testing requirements (stability, compatibility, challenge tests)
Ingredient complexity or special sourcing
Number of rounds of revisions

At Freelance Formulations, you can expect custom formulation starting from $10,400, one hundred percent built to be yours, owned by your brand, and fully scalable.

2. Packaging & Component Costs

Your product’s presentation matters. From jars to tubes to pumps, packaging prices vary based on type, quantity, and customization.

Typical range:

Basic stock packaging: $0.50–$2.50 per unit
Custom-molded, luxury components: $3–$10+ per unit

Minimum order quantities (MOQs) for packaging often start at 1,000–5,000 units per component.

3. Manufacturing & Filling Costs

This includes the cost of producing, filling, and labeling your product.

Typical range: $1.50 – $7.00+ per unit

Pricing varies based on:

Batch size
Product viscosity (creams cost more than mists)
Packaging complexity (e.g., airless pumps or tubes)

Some labs charge a flat rate per unit, others combine material cost with filling labor.

4. Testing, Compliance & Documentation

Skincare products must be safe and compliant with relevant cosmetic regulations, especially if you’re selling in the US, EU, or Canada.

Common testing & documentation costs:

Service	Estimated Cost
Stability testing	$500 – $2,000
Challenge/preservative efficacy	$1,000 – $3,000
Safety assessments (EU/UK)	$800 – $1,500
INCI label + documentation	Included or $200+

Some of these may be bundled with your development fee, depending on your lab.

5. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)

Most contract manufacturers have MOQs, the minimum units required to begin production.

Typical MOQs:

Stock/private label: 100–1,000 units
Custom formulation: 1,000–5,000+ units

This is important to factor into your total cost, because you’re not just paying to make one jar of moisturizer, you’re usually starting with hundreds (if not thousands).

6. Total Budget Snapshot

Let’s summarize what it might cost to manufacture a custom-made skincare product:

Stage	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Custom formulation	$3,500	$12,000+
Packaging (1,000 units)	$1,000	$5,000+
Manufacturing (1,000 units)	$1,500	$7,000+
Testing & Compliance	$1,000	$6,000+
Total	~$7,000	$30,000+

Is It Worth It?

If you want to build a brand with long-term value, custom formulation and professional manufacturing are non-negotiable. It’s the difference between dropshipping generic formulas and owning a product that customers trust, and can’t find anywhere else.

At Freelance Formulations, we support beauty founders at every step, from first-time startup owners to growing brands, and those looking to scale with confidence.