2 Tips To Turn Your Homemade Beauty Product Idea Into A Money-Making Business

If you have a knack for whipping up homemade beauty products to use yourself or give to family and friends, then you may be thinking of turning your hobby into a money-making business. You can make money selling home-made cosmetics online and locally, but you have to follow the rules set by the FDA that govern cosmetics. Body lotions, face creams, and any other  product aimed at improving a buyer's appearance are considered cosmetics by the FDA. Follow these tips to start making cosmetic products that you can then legally sell anywhere you choose. 

1. Create Formulas That Not Only Work Well but Are Also Legal to Sell

If you are creating products at home, then you likely won't be including anything on the FDA list of prohibited cosmetic ingredients, but it is good to keep the list on hand just to make sure you comply with it. One item on the list that you should make sure to remember is that you cannot put just any colorant in your products. For example, that purple food coloring you may use to make that homemade lotion for your friends cannot be used to color the products you sell. 

However, you can color your products with FDA-approved cosmetic pigments. There are currently 64 approved cosmetic pigments, although some are not suitable for use in eye cosmetics and some cannot be used in lip products. Some pigments must be batch-certified, while others do not have to be. You can also add color to your products with ingredients that are naturally high in pigment, such as beet juice when you want the final product to look red. 

You must also add preservatives to your products to make them safe for consumers. Bacteria and molds can grow in any product that contains water. If you create products that are created with only oils that contain no water at all, then a preservative is optional. Preservatives can be easily purchased online along with your other cosmetic ingredients, and they typically come with instructions on how much to include in each type of product. 

Don't be tempted to skip preservatives, because it can backfire badly when a product suffers bacterial contamination that leads to illness in your customers. While the FDA does not approve every cosmetic that goes to market, they entrust every cosmetic-maker (that is you) to create products that are safe for customers. Creating products that harm to customers can lead to lawsuits and can end your new career very quickly. 

2. Order FDA-compliant and Attractive Labels

The FDA also has strict requirements on what must be present on a cosmetic label and what you cannot write on the label. First, you cannot make any claims that your cosmetic improves or changes the health (such as skin-health) of a customer. You cannot make these claims on a website, on your advertising materials and most importantly, not on your labels. 

If you place your product bottles in boxes, then some required label information can be placed on the box. However, boxing your products is an expense that is best to skip, as consumers today often like to purchase products without boxes for the sake of the environment. 

Your label must include the following information on the front label:

  1. The name of your product. This is the casual name you have given your product, such as "Judy's Super Body Oil".
  2. The actual product. This is a more detailed explanation of contents, such as "Body Hydrating Oil".  
  3. The weight of the product. 

A back label must include: 

  1. Product directions. 
  2. Any product warnings, such as "if irritation develops, discontinue use". 
  3. Your business name.
  4. Product ingredients in descending order. You must use their proper INCI names. 

Depending on the specific products you are selling, you may need additional information on the label, such as specific additional warnings. Study this guide provided by the FDA and make sure your labels include any additional information required. 

If you don't yet have a logo, then creating one to place on your labels is important. You should also choose a color theme to use throughout your product line, so all of your products look professional when you display them next to each other. Your labels must be waterproof, as cosmetic and skin-care products are often kept and used in bathrooms, so be sure to have your labels professionally produced with waterproof paper and inks. 

If you dream of selling your homemade skincare and cosmetic products to the public, then you can achieve your dream and create a thriving business when you create products people love. The key to staying in business is creating FDA-compliant products and labels that won't get your products taken off the market just as you are beginning to grow your business. 

You can get more information about making labels for your product by clicking here


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