[poll results] What is the Most Time-consuming Aspect of Your Cosmetic Formulation Lab Work?

Oct 1st, 2024

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Image by Microgen at Adobe Stock

We noted last week that while cosmetic companies have their own approaches to formulation development, generally they follow the same fundamental steps. According to Chemists Corner, these include:

conceptualizing the product (which marketing may have already done for you),
getting a starting formula (i.e., "borrowing" an existing one to build your own),
getting the raw materials,
putting together prototypes,
prototype testing,
refining the formula and
finalizing the formula.

These later steps also will often involve the same fundamental lab tasks, ranging from chemical characterization and prototype development, to stability testing, microbiology assessments and more.

Last week, we asked: Which aspect of your lab formulation work takes the longest? Here's what you said.

Poll Results

Formulation adjustments and trials 54%
Testing for stability and compatibility 41%
Scaling up from lab to production 5%

Be sure to check back each week for our latest poll.

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