Your idea, formulated and perfected

New products, reformulations and benchmark matches, refined through sample rounds and sensory panels until the product feels right.

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Tested, safe and ready to claim

Stability, preservative efficacy and safety testing to ISO and OECD methods, plus the patch tests and efficacy studies your claims need.

Discover testing & claims

Registered and made for launch

Safety reports, notifications and label review for eight markets, then micro-batches and tech transfer to full-scale production.

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250+clients served across the Guires group
7stages, concept to shelf
8markets we file for
11product sectors covered
1team for formulation, testing, clinical and regulatory, under one roof

Who we are

Science at every step, from first formula to finished product.

Cosmetic Science Lab is a cosmetic product development company for beauty and personal care brands. CSL formulation chemists, testing scientists and regulatory specialists handle personal care product development end to end: custom cosmetic formulation, cosmetic testing, claims and clinical trial support, cosmetic regulatory services and small batch manufacturing. As an evidence-based cosmetic contract research organisation (CRO) at the Guires R&D Innovation Centre, CSL runs cosmetic and cosmeceutical R&D, clinical trials and pilot manufacturing under one roof.

How we work

What we do

Everything between your idea and the shelf.

Most brands juggle a cosmetic chemist, a test lab, a trial partner, a regulatory consultant and a contract manufacturer. We run the whole development from one brief, and bring in each step when your product needs it.

More about services

Product formulation

New products, reformulation and reverse engineering for skin, hair, colour and personal care.

Actives & INCI sourcingClean-labelBenchmark matching

Prototyping & product development

Lab samples, texture and sensory refinement, fragrance, and packaging selection until the product feels right.

Sample roundsSensory panelsPack compatibility

Safety & stability testing

Physico-chemical, microbiological and in-vitro safety work to international methods.

ISO 11930OECD 439Heavy metals

Claims & clinical trial support

We plan the evidence your pack claims need and coordinate the patch tests, use trials and efficacy studies behind them.

Claim mappingHRIPTIn-use & efficacy studies

Global regulatory & retainers

Safety reports, notifications and label review for each market, or an ongoing compliance retainer.

EU CPSRUS MoCRAGCCASEAN

Micro-batch manufacturing

Small-batch runs for launches and market tests, then tech transfer to full-scale partners.

Pilot batchesScale-up SOPsTech transfer

Sourcing & procurement

CSL scientists source every ingredient in your formula, test it and deliver it to your manufacturer, as one point of contact for all your suppliers.

Raw-material sourcingIncoming QCAny order size

Reverse engineering & benchmarking

CSL formulation chemists decode and analyse a benchmark product, then build your own formula that matches its texture and performance.

GC-MSNMRICP-MS% w/w estimateBenchmark match

Ingredient & Application Science

An ingredient application lab: CSL formulation chemists test raw materials in finished products, for ingredient suppliers and for brands choosing a new active.

Application studiesDose-responseBenchmarking

Cosmetic Bioscience

Biotech actives, in-vitro efficacy and safety, microbiology, DNA and analytical testing at the Guires R&D Innovation Centre in Chennai.

FermentsCell assaysHalal DNA

What makes us different

Three things most partners won’t put in writing.

Buyers ask about these before anything else. We publish our answers.

1

You own the formula

The formula, its documentation and your brief belong to you. We sign an NDA before you share anything, and you can take the formula to any contract manufacturer.

How formulation works
2

Every claim mapped to its evidence

Before you print a carton, each claim on your pack is matched to the test or study that supports it, and the tier of evidence it needs.

See the claim finder
3

A “cosmetic or drug?” check per claim

Acne, dandruff, SPF and hair-fall claims change a product’s legal status in some markets. We flag the boundary per market before you commit.

Example: acne & oil control

Custom formulation, private label or white label?

Choose the route that fits your brand.

Most brands compare a cosmetic manufacturer’s private label range with bespoke custom formulation. Here is the honest difference, and where we fit.

RouteWhat you getFormula ownershipMinimum orderBest for
White labelAn existing stock formula and pack with your logoThe manufacturer’sLowTesting a market quickly
Private labelA stock formula from an ODM or contract manufacturer, lightly adaptedUsually the manufacturer’sSet by the factory, often 1,000–5,000 unitsFast launches with a proven base
Custom formulation (us)A bespoke formula built by a cosmetic chemist to your brief, tested and registeredYoursLow MOQ: small batch sized to your requirementBrands that want a unique product and freedom to switch manufacturer

Unlike an ODM or CDMO that ties the formula to its own factory, we hand over a full tech-transfer pack so any contract manufacturer can make your product. Want speed? We can start from a proven, ready-to-launch base formula and adapt it, turnkey from brief to finished product.

How we work

Seven stages, one team, concept to shelf.

Join at any stage. Most brands start with a brief; some arrive with a formula that needs testing, claims or a market file. We pick it up from there.

  1. 01

    Brief & concept

    1–2 wks

    Target consumer, benchmark, claims wish-list, markets and cost.

  2. 02

    Formulation

    4–8 wks

    Ingredient selection, INCI and supplier checks against each market.

  3. 03

    Prototype

    2–6 wks

    Sample rounds, texture and sensory refinement until you sign off.

  4. 04

    Testing

    12+ wks

    Stability, preservative efficacy, microbiology and safety assessment.

  5. 05

    Claims & clinical support

    3–12 wks

    Patch tests, use trials and efficacy studies, scoped to the claims.

  6. 06

    Regulatory

    2–8 wks / market

    Safety reports, notifications and label review per market.

  7. 07

    Pilot & scale-up

    3–6 wks

    Micro-batches for launch, then tech transfer to full production.

The full process

Claims support · evidence tiers

Match the evidence to the promise.

Not every product needs a 12-week clinical. We scope the study to the claim you want to make, so you pay for the proof you need and nothing more.

Tier 1 · Safe to sell

Safety-assessed

The baseline every market requires before launch.

  • Safety assessment report
  • Stability & challenge test
  • Microbial limits & heavy metals

“Safety-assessed for cosmetic use”

Tier 2 · Tested on skin

Dermatologically tested

Human safety data for claims that name a test or a skin type.

  • Everything in Tier 1
  • 48 h patch test or HRIPT
  • Dermatologist-assessed in-use study

“Dermatologically tested · Hypoallergenic”

Tier 3 · Proven to work

Clinically proven

Instrumental efficacy studies behind numbers and timelines on pack.

  • Everything in Tier 2
  • Instrumental efficacy endpoints
  • Statistics and claim wording review

“Clinically shown to reduce fine lines in 28 days”

Claims & clinical trial support

Global compliance

One formula. Every market it's headed for.

We prepare the files, run the tests they depend on, and check your label and claims against each market's rules before you ship.

MarketFrameworkWhat we deliver
European UnionReg (EC) 1223/2009 · CPNPCosmetic Product Safety Report, Product Information File, Responsible Person coordination
United KingdomUK Cosmetics Regulation · SCPNUK safety assessment, Responsible Person support, SCPN notification
United StatesMoCRA · FDA listingSafety substantiation records, facility and product listing, cosmetic-vs-OTC claim check
CanadaCosmetic Notification FormHotlist ingredient screen, notification filing, bilingual label review
Gulf · GCCGSO · SFDA · halalRegistration files, halal-compliant formulation, Arabic labelling
ASEANASEAN Cosmetic DirectiveProduct notification dossiers and annex checks, country by country
IndiaCDSCO · COS-1/COS-5Import registration and manufacturing licence support, BIS standards
Australia · NZAICIS · AS/NZS 2604Ingredient introduction checks, sunscreen testing to the local standard

Market-by-market detail

Non-animal safety methods.

Cosmetic animal testing is banned in the EU, UK, India and a growing list of markets. Our safety work relies on validated in-vitro models, ingredient safety data and supervised human studies, so your product qualifies everywhere.

Why brands choose us

One partner, formula to finished product.

Backed by Food Research Lab's global R&D platform, built for brands that want to launch faster without cutting corners.

Formulation first

We start with the product. Testing, claims and trials are planned around your formula, not bolted on after.

Global by design

One testing plan built to satisfy every market on your launch list, not re-run country by country.

Claims you can defend

Every study is scoped from the final pack wording, so evidence and label always match.

Startup to multinational

Pilot batches for first launches, and scale-up support when your brand grows.

Sectors

Our sectors for beauty & personal care

CSL formulation chemists develop, test and register products across eleven sectors. Choose yours to see the formats, actives and evidence behind it.

All sectors
Woman in a bathrobe and towel turban applying a face serum with a dropper, with cream on her cheeks

Skin care

Serums, moisturisers and cleansers, built on published clinical evidence.

Woman in a straw sun hat at the beach with sunscreen drawn as a sun on her shoulder

Sun care

SPF, tinted and after-sun, tested to ISO methods for every market.

Man lathering shampoo into his hair beside shampoo, conditioner and scalp serum bottles and a sweep of glossy hair

Hair & scalp care

Shampoos, conditioners and scalp serums that perform on the hair fibre.

CSL colour cosmetics development: lipsticks, foundation shades, powder and eyeshadow palette

Colour cosmetics

Face, lip, eye and nail, with shade ranges for every skin tone.

Smiling woman in the shower holding a body wash, with foam on her shoulder and body lotion and cream in front

Body wash & body care

Washes, oils and lotions that cleanse gently and hydrate.

Everyday hygiene moments: hand washing, face washing, a father and son brushing teeth and a shower, above a deodorant, hand wash, soap bar and lip balm

Personal care & hygiene

Deodorant, hand, intimate and lip care made for daily use.

CSL men’s grooming product development: beard oil, shave gel, balm jar and safety razor

Men's grooming

Shave, beard and face care formulated for male skin.

Young girl cuddling a sleeping baby beside a baby wash, lotion and nappy cream, with soft towels and toys

Baby & kids

Gentle washes, lotions and nappy care with extra safety checks.

CSL clean, natural and Ayurvedic cosmetics development: amber bottles with turmeric, neem and amla

Clean, natural & Ayurvedic

Natural-origin, herbal and Ayurvedic formulas that stay stable.

CSL halal cosmetics development: cream, serum, cleanser and lipstick

Halal cosmetics

Halal-ready formulas with every raw material traced.

Smiling woman brushing her teeth beside toothpaste, mouthwash and a bamboo toothbrush with fresh mint

Oral care

Toothpaste, mouthwash and whitening backed by clinical trials.

All sectors

Compare formats, actives, tests and markets across every sector we develop for.

Science, accelerated

Human expertise, amplified by AI.

CSL scientists use AI tools to screen ingredients, mine the evidence and watch regulations across markets, so CSL scientists spend their time on what matters: your product.

AI-assisted

Ingredient screening

Every INCI on your formula checked against restricted and banned lists for each target market, in minutes, then reviewed by the CSL regulatory team.

AI-assisted

Evidence mining

Literature searches across peer-reviewed journals surface the trials behind actives and claims, so every claim starts from published evidence.

Data-driven

Formulation intelligence

Structured data from bench trials helps us shortlist bases and flag stability and compatibility risks earlier in development.

Always on

Regulatory watch

Automated monitoring of rule changes across markets, matched to the ingredients in your portfolio, with alerts before they affect you.

LiveAI speeds up the work. Qualified scientists make every decision and sign every report.

In their words

“From concept brief to robust prototype, every stage was covered: active selection, emulsion design and pH optimisation, backed by a structured stability programme at each iteration.”
Priya MenonChief Scientific Officer
India

From the lab

Guidance we publish because brands keep asking.

All insights

Start a project

Create your next product with CSL.

Our formulation chemists, testing scientists and regulatory specialists work alongside your team, from the first brief to a market-ready product. Bring a brief, a benchmark or just an idea: a scientist will reply within one working day with next steps and an indicative scope.

Create with us