Formulation Development
I have an idea for a product – where do I start?
Step 1: Product Concept: Initial enquiry and review.
We would ask that you consider the following about your product to get you started; what’s the concept/purpose of the product? Where is it to be sold? Do you want it to be certified organic, vegan, natural, pseudo natural? What key ingredients might you want in your product? What type of packaging and label, and whether or not you want your product in a unit carton or not?
What are the first steps I need to take in developing my own products with Natrocare Laboratories?
Step 2a: Consultation - Product Brief, including packaging, Confidentiality Agreement.
We ask that you fill in our product brief that gives us a basic overview of your concept, ingredients, packaging (tube, bottle, jar), benchmark etc. The brief helps us to create individual products for you, so the more information the better. With our team of Research and Development/ R&D cosmetic chemists on board, we are dedicated to ensuring your idea and concept comes to fruition.
How do I request samples to be made?
Step 2b: Consultation - Laboratory service fee for R&D product samples.
The next step if you are happy to proceed and we are confident we can help you, would be to move into the research and development / R&D stage.
This is where we consult and develop your brief and make up some samples for you. We email you an invoice from $700 ex GST for samples based on a basic formulation.
If the project is more in depth and requires a high level of research and development (formulation or packaging), we would need to discuss R&D costs further. Once payment is received, we will provide you with up to 2 samples of your product or products based on the information you have given us. We make bespoke formulations and never make a product the same for any two customers. What we do is sit down and consult with every customer to create unique formulas for their brand.
How long is the leadtime to receive R&D product samples?
R&D time includes researching and obtaining samples of the ingredients, formulation development and laboratory time to create product samples and is approximately 14-28 working days (or less). This depends on raw material availability, having a detailed brief and benchmarks if available.
How do we choose a sample and what happens after?
Step 3: Product samples approved. Stability, microbiological and other testing as required.
We request your confirmation by email, on which sample you preferred (and this is your approval of the formulation). Feedback such as a slight variation will be discussed but significant formulation changes may incur a fee. Once the sample is approved by you, we can organise other testing as required, which we will discuss with you.
How do you quote and what is included in your quoted price?
We quote on a per unit basis and our unit costings are inclusive of product, packaging, label, codes, filling and packed into shippers in one rolled up cost.
Freight is charged ex-works from Lonsdale South Australia 5160.
We do not quote until you have confirmed what formula/s you wish to move ahead with. We also need confirmation on packaging such as sizing, colours (how many in the artwork), flip top or screw top - matte or gloss, and whether you are putting it in unit carton (shelf ready box). If you are using your own packaging, we would require samples to test it out with our manufacturing equipment should we need to make adjustments, and will assist in giving you an accurate quotation of your project. We can work with you to nut out the details.
What happens after we confirm the formula/ approve samples?
Step 4: Quotation approved and deposit paid. Packaging and raw materials allocated or ordered. Scale up and Production scheduled.
Step 5: Bulk formulation manufactured and filled on-site to your requirements.
After you are happy with your formula and want to proceed, we will provide you with a final quote and await your confirmation of the quote. Once this quote is confirmed, contracts are exchanged and a sales confirmation for the total production job is provided. At this stage, a 50% deposit is required, and once received in full, packaging and raw materials are allocated or ordered. The manufacturing date is planned and our site production schedule is updated.
This date is based on the leadtime of when all raw materials and packaging components are available and subject to change if there are delays outside of our control.
Who owns the formula?
If Natrocare create the formula, we warrant and guarantee stability data for the said formula and we maintain overall ownership of the formulation and manufacturing method.
What happens if we have our own formula?
We are happy to manufacture this product formula for you under a Non-disclosure Confidentiality Agreement. We require the product formula with the exact percentage of each ingredient, manufacturing procedure, specifications such as stability data, including independent preservative tests, certificates of manufacture and ingredient supplier details, where required.
When do I receive my full ingredient list?
Full INCI (international nomenclature) Ingredient Lists are provided once the sample is approved and 50% deposit has been paid. This Ingredient List will be used for your product artwork, marketing or registration purposes.
Production & Shipping
Step 6: Final release check. Despatch of goods to your warehouse or distribution centre.
Is Natrocare certified and with who?
Our facility and our processes have been independently audited, accredited and certified with:
ISO9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems)
ISO22716:2007 (Cosmetics Good Manufacturing Practice - GMP)
HACCP:2000 (Food Systems)
ACO (Australian Certified Organic)
We offer assistance such as:
OFC (Organic Food Chain)
Who do you Manufacture for?
We specialise in developing and manufacturing the highest quality health, beauty, cosmetic, cosmeceutical and personal care products for skincare, body, haircare, bath, self-tanning, sensitive skin, organic, natural brands and beyond.
We innovate and develop for private brands of all sizes, sold across Australia or with a global presence, retailing online or through other distribution channels – department, supermarket or pharmacy stores, hair and beauty salons, travel retail, health food outlets etc.
We make products for a wide range of brand owners, ranging from large Australian and Multinational firms to brands just starting out. Our customers are all protected by Non-disclosure Confidentiality Agreements.
We are always excited to help our clients make their dream a reality.
What is your minimum order quantity?
We can cover a range of batch sizes from smaller high value batches all the way up to 2 tonne. The minimum order quantity of a batch for commercial production is considered on a case-by-case basis.
What are normal lead times for production?
From the approval of the product sample (and formula sign off), payment of deposit and your official order placed, you are looking at 12-16 weeks to produce your finished products. This is dependent on availability of raw materials, packaging components and scheduled production time.
For products with raw materials or components purchased from overseas, the general lead time is 14-16 weeks. Other factors such as obtaining unique raw materials, awaiting certification, and stability trials completion may impact the timing.
When it comes to placing orders after the initial run, how long does that production usually take?
Production lead times can be around 12-16 weeks (approx.) after your first order is placed and produced. However, this can sometimes be reduced, but is dependent on raw materials (such as not ex-stock inventory materials), packaging availability and our production schedule. For example, packaging components such as tubes can take 12 weeks to be produced, following artwork submission.
For existing clients and repeat orders, lead times may be reduced in consultation with both parties.
Can I arrange my own freight or pick up my product?
Yes, you can arrange your own freight or pick up if required. Please provide us with your freight company details and we will ensure your order is ready for pick up, once checked and released to our Despatch warehouse.
Packaging Design & Printing
Do you supply packaging or can we supply our own?
We can supply certain types of packaging. Alternatively, if you have specific packaging that you source yourself, we would need to sight this and test it. This will ensure that it is suitable for our machinery, and to your formula before we can provide a quotation.
It is important to get know what packaging you want the product to go in as it effects product viscosity. For example, if you require your product to be filled into a jar, the product would need to be thick. Or if your bottle has a pump, the product needs to have a low viscosity/ be thinner. Tubes have certain viscosity parameters also, but have alot more range. Due to our buying power with tubes, we can purchase the printed tubes on your behalf. This will ensure that it is suitable for our machinery and with your formula before we can provide a proposal.
Which format does my artwork need to be in?
PDF & AI are the best formats. If your fonts are "outlined" just supply any unusual font styles to save time on edits.
Do you help in the design of our labels?
It’s also important to work together at the early artwork creation and packaging development stage, so that we can guide and ensure a smooth process through to product packing and despatch.
Do you offer label printing?
Yes, we partner with reputable third-party companies to do our printing. Our labelling equipment can be set up to label your product packaging automatically from the filling line.
Do you offer product box printing?
Yes, we partner with reputable third-party companies to assist with designing and printing your products boxes, secondary or tertiary packaging.
Other questions
If I had bulk product I need filled, or bottles I need labelled, do you offer just these services alone?
Yes, Natrocare can fill your bulk product for you, if your usual factory is over capacity or for your project deadlines such as a trade exhibition or product launch. We can also fill your product into flexible pouches or sachets for efficient storage at your warehouse and cost-efficient delivery.
We can receive in, check, set-up and label your bottles. Costs of these services are provided in a quotation.
What is required to obtain organic certification for my products?
Application for Organic Certification of your product is prepared and submitted by us on your behalf to the appropriate certifying bodies. We can also help you obtain other third-party certification or product registration. Fees are involved and discussed in consultation with you.
Do you make sunscreen?
No, as we are not a TGA certified manufacturing facility, we are not able to manufacture products that make Sun Protection Factor/ SPF claims such as primary sunscreens. We can formulate a sunscreen naturally in a body moisturiser using zinc to claim having natural sun filters but we do not make primary sunscreen.
We are accredited as a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility, meaning our practices conform to strict Standards to assure that our products are of high quality and do not pose any risk to the consumer.
Do you make colour cosmetics like lipstick, foundations, make up?
No, we do not develop or manufacture colour cosmetics, make-up, nail polish, powders or stick formulations.
What kind of microbiological testing and stability testing is done on our product once it has been developed and how much does this cost?
Once you have approved your product sample and signed off on the final formulation and wish to proceed with an order, we can organise external stability, preservative efficacy, microbial testing. Costs to be determined.
Accelerated stability trials give an indication of the shelf life of the product but do not replace real-time stability testing which can be provided through an external laboratory at an additional cost.
We provide microbiological testing through a NATA accredited external laboratory on all products when produced, and this will incur a fee. This ensures your product is appropriately preserved and safe to use over the course of the product’s shelf life.
For product bulk made in a different factory but being filled at Natrocare, we take samples and organise microbiological testing at your cost at specific points during filling.
Simple packaging compatibility tests can be conducted externally. Your packaging should be subjected to the environment that you intend the product to endure and consider how it will be transported, stored and its durability. Product compatibility once the product has been produced, is at the customer’s risk. Additional testing can be provided through an external laboratory at an additional cost.
What do I need to know about packaging / product compatibility?
Simple packaging compatibility tests are conducted in-house, during the accelerated stability trials. However, your packaging should be subjected to the environment that you intend the product to endure and consider how it will be transported, stored and its durability. There is no substitute to testing in ‘real time’. For example, some concentrations of common ingredients used, could react with plastic packaging causing discoloration of product and distortion of packaging and potential leakage. Using the right dispenser for the product type is important; metallic pump components could interact with a product and rust or leakage.
Product compatibility once the product has been produced, is at the customer’s risk. Additional testing including transportation simulation/leakage tests can be provided through an external laboratory at an additional cost.
How do I test my packaging to ensure proper filling?
We can guide you to choose the right packaging and test volumetric requirements. You are encouraged to check the capacity of your intended packaging to ensure you meet the requirement of the volume of your product and trade measurement regulations. Packaging requires a certain amount of head space depending on the viscosity of the product and how it changes over time.
Are your products tested on animals?
No, we do not test on animals and never have. We also use only ingredients that have been studied and have evidence of safety and approval for use in cosmetics. Using mainly natural/organic food-based ingredients also ensure safety.
We can offer protocol review and product testing for claims substantiation such as suitable for sensitive skin, dermatologist approved etc. through our partnership with external providers.