How to start a cosmetics brand with the lab for celebrities and creators
Wondering how to start a cosmetics brand without being a chemist? Choose from more than 1,000 formulas or create your own. We manufacture your skincare line under your name, with the packaging and regulatory documentation to sell in Morocco, Europe and the United States. Free samples.
World-renowned celebrities and influencers from several continents have trusted us with their brands.
You will not find their names here or on their bottles. Yours will be protected in the same way: no mention of Carmel on your products and no client ever named.
Client fileRestricted access
BrandInternational celebrity
BrandInfluencer
BrandInfluencer
BrandInternational celebrity
Confidential
Our factory, your products
A factory, not an intermediary
You work directly with the manufacturer: formulation, filling and quality control at our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul (Greater Agadir). You can visit to approve your samples in person, by appointment.
To start a cosmetics brand, first choose your products and audience, then work with a manufacturing lab on formulation, testing, packaging and the required regulatory documentation (PIF, European notification or FDA registration). You retain ownership of the brand, name and design. The lab manufactures under your name.
Formulaone of the 1,000+ catalog formulas, customized, or an exclusive development
Packagingbottles, tubes, jars, labels and cartons that reflect your brand
RegulationsPIF, EC 1223/2009 compliance, FDA (MoCRA) and Morocco
ManufacturingISO 22716 and ISO 9001 factory, with quality control for every batch
The guide: how to start a cosmetics brand in 8 steps
What you decide, what regulations require and what the lab takes care of, step by step.
Step 01
Define your concept and audience
A cosmetics brand starts with a simple promise: for whom, for which skin or hair need, at what price and in which sales channel. These four answers shape everything else: the formula, packaging, regulations and budget.
Choose your model: white label, private label or custom development
The model sets the level of exclusivity and the initial investment. White label starts from a proven formula that we customize. Private label and custom development give your brand an exclusive formula.
A first range works best with a few products that complement each other, for example a cleanser, a serum and a cream. It is easier to explain, stock and evolve, and each product strengthens the others.
You decide
The 3 to 5 launch products
The signature product
The extensions planned afterward
The lab takes care of
Keep textures and fragrances consistent
Check active ingredient compatibility between products
Before any production, each formula is validated through samples, stability and packaging compatibility tests, a preservative efficacy test when the product requires it, then a safety assessment carried out by a qualified assessor.
Packaging carries your brand and the mandatory information. In the European Union, the label must show the Responsible Person, the content, the durability date or period after opening, precautions, the batch number, the function and the INCI list.
The name must be available and protected before launch. Check for prior rights, then register the trademark in your name with the INPI in France, the OMPIC in Morocco or the EUIPO for the European Union, in the classes that cover cosmetics.
You decide
The name and logo
The countries of registration
The registration, in your name
The lab takes care of
Never show Carmel on your products
Keep your project confidential
Adapt the labeling to each market
Step 07
Regulatory compliance for your markets
Each market requires its own file before sales begin. In Europe, you need a Responsible Person established in the EU, a Product Information File (PIF), a safety report and a notification on the CPNP portal. Morocco, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Gulf have their own procedures.
You decide
The countries where you sell
Your Responsible Person in the EU or the UK
The launch schedule
The lab takes care of
Prepare the PIF and the technical documentation
Support the AMMPS registration in Morocco
Provide the elements for FDA (MoCRA), SFDA or ONSSA
Production is done in batches at an ISO 22716-certified factory. Each batch carries a number that ensures traceability and goes through quality control before shipping. What remains is preparing the launch: photos, content, product pages and first points of sale.
The five concerns we hear most often before a brand launch.
You"I know nothing about formulation."
CarmelStart with proven formulas, then choose the fragrance, texture and active ingredients with your advisor.
You"Everyone sells the same thing."
CarmelAn adapted formula, packaging that reflects you or an exclusive private label formula: your community recognizes your identity.
You"I'm worried about legal issues."
CarmelPIF, EC 1223/2009 compliance and FDA registration (MoCRA): you sell on your website, in stores or on TikTok Shop without the risk of a product withdrawal.
You"I don't want to tie up too much stock."
CarmelOur MOQ is accessible and specified in your quote, so you can start with the products that matter.
You"I don't want a reseller."
CarmelWork with the manufacturer: an ISO 22716 and ISO 9001 factory in Aït Melloul, with visits by appointment.
The 4 steps to creating your brand
1 / 4
Conversation
Your idea, audience and sales channels: discuss them on WhatsApp, by video call or at the factory.
2 / 4
Free samples
Test the textures and fragrances yourself and ask others to try them.
3 / 4
Customization
Formula, fragrance, packaging, labeling and regulatory documentation.
4 / 4
Production
Manufacturing and quality control at our ISO 22716 factory, then delivery.
White label, private label or custom development?
Three ways to start a cosmetics brand or a skincare line with a lab. You can combine them: many brands launch a white label range, then add an exclusive formula for their signature product.
Swipe through the table →
White label
Private label
Custom development
Starting point
A catalog formula (1,000+)
An existing base, reworked for you
Your specifications
Formula
Customized (fragrance, texture and active ingredient)
A cosmetics brand budget depends mainly on three choices: a catalog formula or an exclusive development, standard or custom containers, and the number of products at launch. Testing, trademark registration, regulatory work and launch make up the rest of the total.
Customized catalog formula or exclusive development
Start with white label, keep custom development for the signature product
Testing and safety
Number of products, optional clinical tests
Limit the starter range to a few products
Packaging
Standard or custom container, decoration, carton
Choose catalog containers and customize the label
Design
Logo and label design
A simple graphic system applied across the whole range
Trademark registration
Number of countries and classes
Register first in the countries where you sell
Regulations
Number of target markets
Launch in one market, then expand
Production
Number of products and first batch quantities
An accessible MOQ to test the market
Launch
Photos, content, advertising, stock
Plan for this budget from the start
Which regulations apply when you sell your brand?
Requirements vary by country of sale. We prepare the technical documentation for each product. The Responsible Person, you or a service provider established locally, files the notification where it is required.
Swipe through the table →
Market
Framework
What you need before selling
Our guide
European Union
Regulation (EC) 1223/2009
Responsible Person established in the EU, PIF, safety report, CPNP notification before placing on the market
The ones we see most often with brands that come to us after a first attempt.
01
Launching too many products
A wide range dilutes your budget and your message. Start with a few products that complement each other.
02
Choosing a supplier with no factory or certification
An intermediary adds a margin and a risk. Ask for the ISO 22716 certificate and visit the factory.
03
Selling before you have the regulatory file
Without a PIF, safety assessment and notification, a product can be pulled from sale.
04
Overlooking formula and packaging compatibility
A poorly chosen container can alter the formula. Compatibility tests are done before production.
05
Trying to do everything alone
Delegate formulation, compliance and manufacturing, and keep your energy for your community and your sales.
ME
A note from the founder
Every week, creators write to us with the same words: "My followers ask which products I use." We have manufactured brands for world-renowned celebrities and entrepreneurs launching their very first product: more than 500 brands, sold in more than 35 countries.
The most lasting answer is your own brand. But a disappointing brand costs more than one that never launches. That is why we manufacture every product to ISO 22716 standards, with regulatory documentation to protect you.
Show us your world. We will show you formulas that reflect it.
Mohamed El HjoujiFounder of Carmel Cosmetics Labs
What our clients say
4.9/5 from 84 Google reviews
★★★★★
"What I particularly appreciate is that they take care of everything, from creating my brand to designing the packaging and delivering the products."
Loubna A. · Google review, July 2025
★★★★★
"My brand's formulas were developed to target stubborn dark spots […] I'm also starting to receive very positive feedback from my clients."
Aicha H. · Google review, July 2025
★★★★★
"I'm very, very happy with this collaboration and recommend this lab without hesitation. It is a trusted partner I plan to work with over the long term."
Marwa · Google review, February 2026
A brand ready for sale in Morocco, Europe and the United States
Every certification answers a question a distributor, platform or customs authority will ask your brand.
"Are your products manufactured in good conditions?"
Yes: an ISO 22716- and ISO 9001-certified factory
Certified by Bureau Veritas for cosmetics GMP and quality management. You can see for yourself by appointment.
"Do my products meet European standards?"
Yes: formulas meeting European standards
Compliant with Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, with a Product Information File and safety assessment.
"Do you have organic formulas?"
Yes: certified organic raw materials
USDA Organic and the EU organic label.
AMMPS
"Is this authorized in Morocco?"
Yes: ONSSA and AMMPS
ONSSA sanitary authorization and AMMPS authorization as a medical device manufacturer.
"What if I also sell online internationally?"
FDA-registered establishment (MoCRA)
For exporting your products to the United States.
Receive our certificates
Our team sends copies on WhatsApp, along with the formulas suited to your project.
Also: Responsible Care (health, safety and environment).
Frequently asked questions about starting a cosmetics brand
Another question? An advisor can help on WhatsApp.
How do you start a cosmetics brand?
To start a cosmetics brand, define your products and audience, then work with a manufacturing lab on the formula, packaging and regulatory documentation. At Carmel Cosmetics Labs, you start with more than 1,000 formulas or a custom development, and test free samples before production.
Do you need a lab to start a cosmetics brand?
Yes, in practice. A cosmetic product must be manufactured according to GMP (ISO 22716), with a Product Information File and a safety assessment. A manufacturing lab like Carmel Cosmetics Labs handles these requirements for you.
How much does it cost to start a cosmetics brand?
The budget depends on the number of products, the choice between catalog formulas and custom development, and the packaging. Carmel Cosmetics Labs gives you a detailed quote, free and without obligation, product by product. Our MOQ is accessible.
White label, private label or custom development: which should you choose?
White label is the most direct route: it starts with an existing formula that we customize. Private label and custom development give you an exclusive formula developed for you. The table above compares all three.
Who owns the brand?
You do. You own the name, logo, design and brand. For an exclusive formula, formula ownership is specified in the contract.
Can you test the products before ordering?
Yes, Carmel Cosmetics Labs offers free samples: you test the textures and fragrances and ask people around you or your community to try them.
Can I sell my brand in Europe and the United States?
Yes. Carmel Cosmetics Labs prepares compliance with Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 for the European Union and FDA registration (MoCRA) for the United States, as well as the procedures for Morocco.
Do you work with influencers and celebrities?
Oui. Yes. World-renowned celebrities and influencers from several continents have trusted us with their brands. Their names stay confidential, as yours will.
Do you need to register your trademark before launching your products?
Yes, it is strongly recommended. Check that the name is available, then register it in your name with the office of your target country: INPI in France, OMPIC in Morocco, EUIPO for the whole European Union. Registration protects your name and logo, and we never show Carmel on your products.
What information must appear on a cosmetic product label?
In the European Union, Article 19 of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 requires, among other things, the name and address of the Responsible Person, the nominal content, the date of minimum durability or period after opening, precautions for use, the batch number, the function of the product and the ingredient list in INCI nomenclature.
You have the idea. We have the factory.
4.9/5 from 84 Google reviews · 500+ brands manufactured · ISO 22716 factory
Tell us which products you have in mind and who they are for. Receive a selection of formulas, free samples and a detailed quote, without obligation.
