Personal Care: Cosmetics

Personal Care: Cosmetics

Cosmetics continue to be in high demand from customers, and businesses that connect with the right factory can take advantage of wholesale pricing while getting an excellent product. Finding a factory that's the right fit (both in terms of pricing as well as in quality) is difficult, but Kanary makes it easy. We know to find the factories that are the best fit for your exact needs. 

Kanary Can Source Any Cosmetic

We've listed some of the most commonly sourced cosmetic products, but Kanary can source any kind of cosmetic you need. It doesn't matter if you need a generic product for white labeling, or if you need to develop a unique cosmetic product, Kanary can find a supplier to make it happen.

Customized and Prototype Cosmetics
Customization of any existing generic product or support for developing a novel prototype. Kanary connects you with factories with access to the right raw materials and can give guidance on formulating an ideal cosmetic product.
Wholesale Blender Sponges
Blender sponges available from wholesale suppliers, with multiple shapes, materials, and colors available.
Wholesale Eyeliner Pencils
Eyeliner pencils available from wholesale suppliers in multiple colors and sizes.
Customized Makeup
Customized makeup available, including unique colors, ingredients, design, or any other desired customization. Prototyping supported, with packaging and graphic design available as needed.
White Label Cosmetics
Cosmetics for white label operations, including makeup, lipstick, eyelashes, and more. Branding support available, including graphic design and packaging development.
Customized Lipstick
Lipstick customized to preference, including color, ingredients, and overall design. Customization of generic products of prototype development supported.
Private Label Makeup Brushes and Wholesale Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes from wholesale or private label suppliers. Where available, customizations are supported, including product adjustments and packaging development.
Private Label Lipstick
Lipstick from private label suppliers available in multiple colors and designs. Customizations supported as needed, along with packaging and shipping needs.
Wholesale Makeup
Wholesale makeup for any kind of product from multiple suppliers. Packaging support and branding services available, as needed.
Wholesale Beauty Products
Wholesale beauty products of all kinds, including makeup, eye lashes, lipstick, and more. Products available from multiple suppliers.
Private Label Blush
Private label blush available from multiple suppliers. Customization support available, as well as packaging development and other branding services.
Wholesale Cosmetics and Private Label Cosmetics
Cosmetics from either wholesale providers or private label factories. Packaging support and branding services available, as needed and applicable.
Wholesale Foundation and Private Label Foundation
Wholesale or private label foundation, available in multiple packaging styles and ingredient choices. Branding services available as needed, including packaging and graphic design.
Private Label Eyeshadow and Wholesale Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow from wholesale providers or from private label factories. Customization support and packaging management available as needed.
Customized Foundation
Foundation customized as needed, including unique colors, ingredients, or specific packaging. Prototype foundation with novel ingredients and/or packaging also available.
Wholesale Matte Lipstick
Matte lipstick from wholesale suppliers in multiple colors and designs. Packaging and branding support available as needed.

Sourcing Cosmetics: Step-by-Step

1

Confirm Cosmetic Product Needs

Kanary makes sure we understand your exact needs, both in product type and general marketing strategy (for example, do you plan to sell white label or do you need a customized product?) Our team brainstorms other products, like complete cosmetic sets, and we can tailor ingredients as needed. Kanary can even suggest additional ingredients to achieve wanted effects.

2

Cosmetics Supplier Search

Next, Kanary starts looking for an ideal supplier. We start with 30-50 options, and we carefully narrow down those choices. Our experts consider lead times, pricing, capacity, perceived quality, capabilities, ability to get specific raw ingredients, and even supplier location (especially for businesses sourcing multiple kinds of products or products that need multiple suppliers).

3

Sampling and Supplier Selection

After our team has 3-5 excellent supplier choices, Kanary moves to vetting these options more thoroughly. Our team visits factories, meets with factory managers, and we observe the kinds of quality control procedures in place. We make sure the supplier is capable of getting the certifications and testing needed to guarantee safety. Kanary also schedules product samples and can tweak ingredients until you are 100% satisfied.

4

Mass Production

After you've made a supplier selection, mass production begins. Kanary manages all aspects of production, and we remain available to address manufacturing challenges as they occur. Our team makes sure products are stored safely, and we manage the production of required packaging simultaneously to avoid needless delays.

5

Sea Freight Shipping and Clearing Customs

Kanary handles shipping and customs for your business, including booking containers and scheduling whatever freight shipping you've chosen (for example, sea freight or air freight). Our team helps you know what documents you need to prepare to clear customs, and we can help you navigate custom delays if and when they arise.

6

Final Delivery

After your order has cleared customs, Kanary schedules final delivery with a domestic freight partner. If you have any product issues, Kanary remains available to facilitate further contact with your factory to make sure any issues are completely resolved.

Want to Source Cosmetics? Contact Kanary

If you're ready to source great cosmetics at fantastic prices, Kanary wants to connect! Fill out our online form, and we'll get started creating a sourcing plan to get the exact products you need at prices that make sense.

contact us

Words from our clients

I’ve been in this industry for a long time and I was surprised that Kanary was able to help find us machines for a 1/3 of the cost compared with US and European manufacturers. What I really enjoy with Kanary is that they constantly keep me in the loop and get back to me almost instantaneously. What’s also great is that they kept me in the loop with the shipping, customs clearance, delivery, and also arrange travels for engineers from the factory to install our equipment.  The quality has been outstanding and I’m in the process of building out a new facility with them.
Hidden for Privacy
Hidden for Privacy
I’ve been in the construction industry for over 30 years. We’ve always bought from US distributors. I reached out to Kanary out of curiosity to see if we could find similar construction materials of high quality. I did not think they were going to make much progress and so I was shocked when they found the exact manufacturer that my distributors have been buying from within 2 weeks. They were able to make contact and have the factory send me samples within a week.  By connecting directly with the factory, we’re looking at savings of over 30%.
Hidden for Privacy
Hidden for Privacy
We’ve done quite a few different packaging projects with Kanary in the past (Child-resistant packaging, glass jars, plastic bags, shipper boxes, etc.). We sent AI files to Kanary, who then worked directly with the factory's design team to make prototypes of the packaging. Our in-house designer is very particular about our designs and Kanary was really flexible and worked with us when our designers wanted to make changes in the packaging development process. They were able to manufacture different prototypes at different price points, which gave us options when making our final decision.
Hidden for Privacy
Hidden for Privacy

Cosmetics Resources

Want to learn more about how Kanary connects businesses with factories to source products like cosmetics? Click to learn more.
Is It Safe to Buy From China?
Concerned about safely buying from China? The Kanary Team explores how to avoid scams and pitfalls when sourcing products from China.
Read more...
How to Make a Prototype
Inside, the Kanary Team explains how to make a prototype with a manufacturing partner in China.
Read more...
How to Manufacture a Product in China
Manufacturing in China is challenging to navigate unless you have Kanary's help! You'll find the best tips on how to manufacture a product in China in this article!
Read more...
Cosmetics FAQs

What are private label cosmetics?

Private label cosmetics are specifically to help businesses build their brand. When a business connects with a supplier that sell private label cosmetics, they get the following:

  • A product that the business can brand as their own (they aren't buying wholesale from another brand, the product will be sold as their own brand)
  • The supplier is providing this product exclusively to the business (as opposed to a white label supplier, which would sell a generic product to multiple businesses or retailers) 

Private label products are a great way to sell a product that can make your brand stand out (since it's sold only to you) without needing to make the investment in developing a novel product. However, as you receive product feedback, private label suppliers are also more likely to work with you to develop customizations (since they are only making the product for you).

Where can I buy wholesale makeup?

There are multiple places to buy wholesale makeup, and one of the best places is to buy straight from a factory. Of course, finding an ideal factory is often easier said than done, especially if you're looking to leverage the cost savings of China manufacturing for better cosmetic pricing. 

If you want the process of finding a wholesale supplier easier, you should consider partnering with a sourcing specialist, like Kanary, to simplify the searching process.

How trustworthy are cosmetic products bought from China?

Cosmetics bought from China are actually extremely trustworthy, just as long as you find a supplier that is a good match for your business, and you understand how to enforce quality control protocols. Quality issues from China suppliers generally come from businesses not providing clear expectations, factories having zero oversight from their clients. 

To be fair, providing clear expectations to China factories can be difficult if there's a significant language barrier. Many excellent factories don't have anyone that speaks fluent English, and it's common for U.S.-based businesses do not have anyone on staff that speaks Mandarin Chinese. In addition, given the travel complexities of getting from the U.S. to China, it can be difficult to manage and maintain quality control procedures. 

If you want to remove the doubt and risk of looking to China to source cosmetic products, one way to do so is to partner with a sourcing specialist, like Kanary, that has specific expertise in finding, vetting, and connecting factories with U.S-based businesses.

How do I customize makeup with a supplier?

Product customization is a pivotal step for businesses looking to truly begin making their brand distinct from generic competitors, but there are a lot of factors to consider. The process is product specific (so customizing makeup is going to look different than customizing other cosmetic products), though there are general steps you can expect to take:

  • Develop specific, detailed plans: You're going to end up delivering designs for the supplier to follow, so it needs to be as detailed as possible. If you are adjusting the physical size of a makeup product (or if you are making branding customizations) you need to be prepared to send Adobe Illustrator or other digital files. If you're changing the actual makeup, you need to send specific ingredient lists that are clear. 
  • Get prototypes and make adjustments: The supplier will send you prototypes of customized products, and you need to be prepared to make adjustments. It's possible that your supplier won't follow instructions perfectly, you may have not sent clear design details, and it's possible that your design just doesn't work, so an overhaul is needed. 
  • Tooling, Molds, and Samples: After you land on a prototype, you need to invest in the tools and molds needed for mass production. This will be the most expensive part of the customization process, though it's definitely worth the cost if you are confident that you will order a large volume of units. After tools and molds are made, the supplier will send samples, which will better reflect what your product looks like when coming from mass production. 
  • Mass production: There may need to be adjustments during the sampling process, but once you're satisfied, you'll finally move to mass production. 

Customization is resource and time intensive, so if you want expert guidance on creating a product, then Kanary can help.

What are my shipping options when buying private label cosmetics from China?

Since private label cosmetics can vary in weight and size (and how you're selling those cosmetics can vary), there are multiple options for product shipment:

  • Sea freight: Sea freight is the most common shipping method for bulk ordering from China, and for good reason. It's extremely cost-effective, which means you can buy a large volume of product and pay comparatively little to get it state-side. It's also the slowest method, which is why proper shipment planning will be important. 
  • Air freight: If you need products faster (or your cosmetics are particularly light and compact), then air freight might be a good option. It's faster than sea freight, but also more expensive, so if your products end up being heavier or taking up more space, air freight may not be a good option. 
  • China fulfillment: If you are operating an ecommerce store, direct-from-China fulfillment could be another option. In this strategy, products are delivered from your China factory to a China fulfillment center, which then ships directly to customers. This avoids sea freight shipping (and customs) altogether, though you'll generally have a slightly higher per unit price. 

You can also combine these strategies to take advantage of multiple benefits. For example, it's common for businesses to use both sea freight shipping (for the price savings) as well as China fulfillment (when they need fast access to inventory, like during an unexpected spike in demand). Kanary can help organize and execute your shipment strategy, and for clients that want China fulfillment, we partner with EcommOps for outstanding fulfillment services.

Can Kanary help with fulfillment solutions for my ecommerce store that sells cosmetics like lipstick and eyeliner??

Yes! Kanary can help connect you with a fulfillment partner that's a good fit for the kind of product you're selling. We can also help you develop supply chain strategies that help give your business flexibility to market shifts. For example, many of our ecommerce clients find that China fulfillment is a great choice for their business, and we can connect you with EcommOps, the leader in China fulfillment, to make it happen.

What's the best way to vet a factory that I'm buying wholesale makeup from?

The best way to vet a factory that you're buying wholesale makeup from (or any large volume product, for that matter), is to visit the factory in person. This is the easiest way to confirm:

  • The general quality of the factory, including how labor is managed and their actual production capabilities. 
  • What quality control protocols they already have in place. 
  • Relationships with factory managers, including how easy communication with factory stakeholders will be. 

If you can't visit the factory in-person, which is often the case for overseas factories, there's a few other strategies you can follow:

  • Ask for videos and photos of the factory
  • Connect with stakeholders via video chat or phone call
  • Make sure to follow a stringent sampling process (which you should be doing regardless)
  • Use a 3rd party specialist, like Kanary, to help you vet the supplier on your behalf.

How do I find a supplier for white label or private label cosmetics?

There's a lot of places you can look for a supplier if you're interested in white or private label cosmetics. Regardless of where you look, make sure that you start with a lot of options (for example, Kanary starts with 30-50 potential suppliers), and you take your time vetting those options so you end up with a choice that's an excellent fit. Some places you can look for suppliers include:

  • Alibaba: Alibaba is the world's largest platform for B2B suppliers, so you'll find a lot of options for cosmetics. However, it is extremely important to take your time vetting options you find on Alibaba, since many of them will not be a good fit for your business. 
  • Trade shows: Attending a trade show geared towards the cosmetic industry is a good way to connect with suppliers actively looking for clients. Again, you need to vet these options (and trade shows won't have as many options as Alibaba), but it's a good place to start, especially if you prefer in-person connection. 
  • Online search: You can find a lot of suppliers just by searching for them with Google. However, many options you find will be trade companies (which are middlemen between factories), so your pricing may not be as good and customization options may be limited. 

Sourcing specialists: Sourcing specialists are third-party companies that use their connections and expertise to find white label or private label suppliers on your behalf. It's a good way to cut out the guesswork of hoping a supplier you've found is trustworthy, and it is an enormous reduction in the time it would otherwise take to find a factory.

My cosmetic brand is new. Should I start with white labeling or creating a customized or novel product?

Generally, if you are working with a new brand, you don't want to jump into customizing a product or creating a completely new product. Your brand hasn't had a chance to prove itself, and customizing a product is a significant investment. Starting with a white label product that's an appropriate reflection of what you want your brand to be is a good way to start to see:

  • If you understand your target audience
  • What your customers value in a product
  • What your customers want changed or altered in a product (via product feedback). 

However, there may be instances that it's appropriate to dive into a novel product, for example:

  • If you've conducted thorough market research and have a deep understanding of what the market is looking for.
  • If you're well-established in the market niche, and while the brand you're launching is new, your experience in what products tend to work well and is in-depth.

I want to source multiple cosmetic products from China (like cosmetic bags, eyeliner, and lipstick) and ship them together to reduce costs. How can Kanary help?

If you end up needing to partner with multiple factories for multiple products, being able to consolidate shipments is an excellent way to reduce your overall shipping costs. Kanary specializes in consolidated shipping, and while each client will have a unique approach, our general process looks like the following:

  • Based on lead times, we schedule when production begins to try to get products completed as close as possible (though you should expect that it won't be possible to get all orders done at the same time consistently). 
  • As orders are completed, Kanary ships them to temporary storage while other products are still in production. 
  • In the meantime, Kanary books containers that are large enough to hold the entire order without wasting space (which wastes money). 
  • When all products are complete, Kanary ships them from temporary storage to the shipping container, where they are fully loaded.
  • Kanary then manages the sea freight shipment as it reaches customs and arrives at the final destination.

Get Connected

Complete the form below to contact us and our team will be in touch within 24-48 hours.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.