Does your store need a cosmetics department? Does your company have cosmetics designs that need manufacturing? Finding cosmetics basics is a vital part of any cosmetics business. There are many cosmetic manufacturers that concentrate on producing other companies' private label products. There are also many companies that distribute cosmetics to retail stores and wholesalers. Whatever your company's cosmetic needs, finding cosmetics basics will benefit your company.

There are three different ways to locate cosmetics basics: surplus and closeout companies, skin care manufacturers and distributors and make up manufacturers and distributors. Surplus and closeout skin care companies sell cosmetics that were bought from companies going out of business or that have an excess stock. Skin care and make up manufacturers and distributors sell one brand of cosmetics or produce one brand or type of cosmetics. Review the list below to find cosmetics for your business.

1. Save money with surplus and closeout cosmetics.

2. Buy skin care cosmetics from manufacturers and distributors.

3. Locate cosmetics manufacturers and distributors for makeup.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy surplus or closeout cosmetics

Surplus and closeout cosmetics are cosmetics basics that are inexpensive. These items are often sold in lots and are a mix of various items. If your company is not looking for a specific brand, this is the best way to lower overheads.

I recommend: JD Closeouts is a leading surplus make up company. Surplus Cosmetics is a private label skin care manufacturer that carries many surplus cosmetic items. Epperson Enterprises has a wide range of surplus name brand cosmetics for your cosmetics business.

Locate a cosmetics skin care manufacturer or distributor

These manufacturers and make up distributors specialize in creating and providing skin care cosmetics to stores and businesses. There are private label skin care manufacturers that will create the skin care products you designed and distributors that provide national brands of skin care.

I recommend: Visit Kira Labs to receive a quote on private label skin care. CBI Laboratories is a leading cosmetic manufacturer of skin and hair care products. Make-Up USA is the USA Distributor for Colosé Skin Care and Bren Cosmetics.

Find a makeup distributor or manufacturer for your cosmetics business

These distributors and manufacturers normally provide one brand of cosmetics. Private label manufacturing is available for all make up companies that design their own make up.

I recommend: Create your own cosmetics with Mineral Formulations, one of the leading private label cosmetics manufacturers. Contact The Bonne Bell Company for opportunities to become a Bonne Bell makeup distributor. Become a cosmetics distributor of Physicians Formula, one of the leading cosmetics manufacturers of hypoallergenic cosmetics.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing cosmetics always buy an array of different items to set up a cosmetics business.

With the continuing trend in the cosmetics business towards eco-friendly and organic cosmetics, customers are seeking out cruelty-free products, as well. These products appeal to consumers who are eco-conscious or animal-lovers, but they also appeal to consumers interested in higher-end products; the best of the cruelty-free cosmetic lines are also created with organic, natural ingredients by the cosmetic manufacturers.

Though it’s not always an accurate assumption, educated customers may also see cruelty-free cosmetics as more gentle on their skin. Stocking a good selection of cruelty-free cosmetics isn’t as simple as asking makeup distributors which brands are cruelty-free, or looking for the “cruelty-free” label on packaging or in product descriptions. Because there currently isn’t a legal definition for “cruelty-free” in the US, you’ll have to do some homework and thoroughly research cosmetics manufacturers before buying.

As you decide on which make up companies to build your selection from, keep the following in mind:

1. Determine your own definition of cruelty-free, keeping your current and projected customer base in mind. Many see the definition as designating something that isn’t tested on animals. Others go further and say that only something that doesn’t contain animal products is cruelty-free. Vegans see even honey and beeswax as potentially interfering with something being cruelty-free.
2. Though many cosmetics manufacturers use the “cruelty-free” label or note “this product not tested on animals,” the words don’t necessarily mean anything because they don’t have a legal definition. A company that uses the “cruelty-free” label may outsource their animal testing; a cosmetic manufacturer that says its products aren’t tested on animals may test individual ingredients on animals.
3. Cosmetics labeled as “cruelty-free” may include slaughterhouse by-products, which might not sit so well with your eco-conscious customers, even if they aren’t vegetarian.
4. Opt for the higher-end products from organic and natural skin care companies to give your cruelty-free cosmetics greater visibility. Also keep a few lower cost cruelty-free cosmetics in stock so cruelty-free products don’t strike the average consumer as overpriced.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the logos and words used by cosmetics manufacturers

Though 'cruelty-free' and 'not tested on animals' don't carry much weight, some private organizations investigate products and allow them to carry a logo that identifies them as certified cruelty-free by the organization.

I recommend: The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics created the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals. Companies including cosmetic manufacturers pledge adherence to this standard if they’re no longer supporting animal testing. In exchange, they’re able to place the Leaping Bunny logo on their products. Because they’re audited on a regular basis, the logo means that neither the ingredients nor the final product has been tested on animals. The word “vegan” alone means that there are no animal products in the cosmetics, but these products may be tested on animals. However, the Vegan Society provides its logo to companies that meet its Vegan “Animal-free” Standards. These standards are more comprehensive than the Leaping Bunny, disallowing any use of animals.

Choose cruelty-free cosmetics that help customers achieve the latest look

Many consumers looking for cruelty-free cosmetics are hip and well-informed about makeup trends. If you keep up with the latest looks and tailor your cosmetic selection to them, your cruelty-free selection better matches consumer interest.

I recommend: Urban Decay is a cosmetic manufacturer that features a hip line of cruelty-free cosmetics to appeal to customers in their teens and twenties, and you can purchase wholesale, if you’re approved. Smashbox is another cruelty-free cosmetics business that appeals to younger consumers, but can reach older ones as well. Submit an inquiry for wholesale purchasing.

Carry cruelty-free versions of classic cosmetics

While many consumers looking for cruelty-free cosmetics are already well-informed, others may not know about these options. For them, carrying cruelty-free versions of classic cosmetics can pique their interest is switching brands.

I recommend: Sign up for a wholesale account at Gabriel Cosmetics, which features a full range of classic cosmetics. Stock some cruelty-free mineral makeup, too, which is a step up from traditional powder foundations, shadows and blushes, but is used in the same way. You can also find mineral-based lipsticks. Sevi supplies a small line of cruelty-free mineral makeup and is also a natural skin care company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Market your cruelty-free cosmetics. Because cruelty-free cosmetics aren't always obvious as such, draw attention to your new selection with in-store displays or a newsletter update.
• •  Some commercial brands, such as L'Oreal, have stopped testing on animals. Train your staff so they can inform consumers which brands don't test on animals and which brands are 100% cruelty-free.

Supplies for cosmetics businesses and departments are vital to the success of the company. The supplies needed for cosmetics are different if you are handling the retail or manufacturing side of the business. No matter what type of cosmetics business you have, there are companies ready to provide you with the supplies you need.

There are three basic categories of supplies for cosmetics. The first category is in-store displays. These are product displays designed specifically for cosmetics, to help decorate and organize a cosmetics department. The second category is pricing guns and signs. These are needed to alert the customer of deals and price changes. The last category is product packaging. This supply is for manufacturers or designers only. These are the jars, compacts, tubes and tubs used to package the cosmetics. Review the list below and select the cosmetics supply your company needs.

1. Locate in-store cosmetics displays.

2. Purchase pricing guns and signs for your cosmetics business.

3. Select appealing cosmetics packaging.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Organize your cosmetics department with store displays

In-store displays are items that present your products to the customers. These cosmetics displays can be table-top, wall-hanging or stand-alone displays.

I recommend: Locate in-store displays at Lorex Plastics, a display cosmetic manufacturer. Azar Point of Purchase Displays has acrylic displays to hold mascara and lipstick from many make up companies. Displays2go has a wide variety of display products for make up and skin care companies.

Buy signs and pricing guns for cosmetics

Signs and pricing guns allow you to convey information about your cosmetics, such as prices and promotions. Cosmetics signs can be personalized for your business or generalized to save time and money.

I recommend: Find pricing guns and labels for your make up company at Valu Display. AZ Retail Systems has price guns as well as retail signs and stickers for sales and promotions. Locate supplies for cosmetics departments at Specialty Store Services.

Package your cosmetics for your cosmetics business

Cosmetic packaging is vital to any manufacturing cosmetic business. Products need to be placed in functional and appealing packages for the customer to use.

I recommend: Browse the online catalog at Cool Cosmetic Packaging, for individual packages of cosmetic items. All these packages are designed for cosmetic manufacturers and their products. JSN Cosmetic Packaging creates plastic tubes for natural skin care companies. The Box Co-op is a custom package manufacturer for cosmetics manufacturers. World Wide Packaging provides packaging products for cosmetics manufacturers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask for samples of cosmetics product packaging if you are having difficulty deciding. Most manufacturers will ship out samples for companies to test.

Cosmetics cover a wide range of products, from personal cleansing supplies to beauty supplies. Many cosmetics use the terms formulated and collagen in their descriptions to entice customers to purchase their product. A type of makeup that has been around for centuries is called mineral makeup, while hypoallergenic and cruelty-free are two controversial terms in the cosmetics industry today. It is important to know all of these terms so that you are able to meet your customers' needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cosmetic products

Cosmetic products are products that are intended to be applied to the body for beauty, cleaning or to alter one's appearance. Many products in today's market are classified as cosmetics, including makeup, shampoos, hair dyes and body washes.

I recommend: The Food and Drug Administration offers a complete definition of cosmetics with examples.

Mineral makeup

Perhaps the first form of makeup, mineral makeup was used by women in Egypt thousands of years ago to protect their eyes from the sun. Mineral makeup is made up of all natural ingredients and does not contain chemicals or preservatives. It is thought to be better for the skin because it doesn't clog pores or cause irritation in most users.

I recommend: Learn more about mineral makeup and its benefits at Mineral Makeup Shoppe.

Collagen

Collagen is the structural component of the human skin that holds everything together. As a person ages, collagen is lost and becomes less firm, showing the signs of aging and prompting many cosmetic products to focus on improving the collagen of your skin.

I recommend: Make-Up USA discusses what collagen is, how it ages and what products can be used to stimulate the collagen in your skin.

Formulated

A common term used to describe most cosmetic products, formulated means that ingredients have been mixed together to achieve a desired result. That desired result could be a color, an effect or texture. In the cosmetics industry, there are stock formulas and custom formulas.

I recommend: Explore custom-formulated options at Kira Labs.

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic describes cosmetics that are said to be less likely to cause an allergic reaction. While that sounds great, it has been hard to regulate the term hypoallergenic when applying it to the cosmetics industry because it is nearly impossible to pinpoint ingredients that no one will be allergic to.

I recommend: Web MD has an analysis of the term hypoallergenic.

Cruelty-free

A controversial and somewhat confusing term in the cosmetic industry, cruelty-free in its simplest form means a product has not been tested on animals. But dig a little deeper and you will see that it means at no point in the process of making the product was any ingredient or process tested on animals.

I recommend: Learn about the cruelty-free movement at CCIC or Honeymark International.