India's beauty market is enormous. The private label opportunity is real.
India's cosmetics and personal care market is one of the fastest-growing in the world. Salons, influencers, D2C founders, and beauty entrepreneurs are building their own brands — and the vehicle most of them use is private label contract manufacturing.
Here's everything you need to know to do it properly.
How cosmetic contract manufacturing works in India
Unlike nutraceuticals (which fall under FSSAI), cosmetics in India are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Cosmetics Rules 2020.
The key structure:
- The manufacturer holds the production licence — a State Licensing Authority cosmetic licence (Form COS-8 under Cosmetics Rules 2020).
- The brand owner (you) is responsible for labelling, claims, and ensuring products meet the standard.
- A third-party facilitator like VP23ARK operates as a pure service provider — coordinating between you and the manufacturer.
The critical compliance rule every brand owner must know
If your product makes a therapeutic or medical claim — "treats acne," "cures dry skin," "heals eczema" — it is no longer classified as a cosmetic. It becomes a drug, and attracts an entirely different (and far more complex) regulatory regime.
Cosmetic claims only. Describe what the product does to the surface of the skin. Never claim it treats, cures, or heals a condition.
What products can you private label?
Almost anything in the personal care category:
- Skincare (moisturisers, serums, face washes, toners, sunscreens)
- Haircare (shampoos, conditioners, oils, masks)
- Body care (lotions, scrubs, body washes)
- Lip care
- Men's grooming
- Baby care (with additional regulatory care)
The process from idea to product
- Define the product — formulation type, key ingredients, target consumer, claims
- Find a licensed manufacturer — verify the State cosmetic licence (COS-8)
- Develop and approve a sample — never skip this step
- Packaging design — label compliance is mandatory; review against Cosmetics Rules
- Production run — MOQ, QC, and delivery
- Launch
What does it cost?
Personal care products vary widely by formulation complexity:
- Simple formulations (basic moisturiser, shampoo): ₹50–₹150 per unit
- Complex formulations (serums, actives-based products): ₹150–₹600+ per unit
- Packaging: ₹20–₹150 per unit depending on bottle, tube, or jar specification
- MOQ: typically 500–5,000 units depending on the product
A first run of a skincare product at 1,000 units might cost ₹1.5–₹4 lakh all-in.
The VP23ARK model
We operate across both nutraceuticals and cosmetics/personal care. Our manufacturer network is vetted, licensed, and experienced in producing to brand-owner specifications. We handle the sourcing, production management, QC, and compliance coordination — so you focus on building your brand.
