STRATEGIC
CONSULTING — Cosmetic and beauty brand consulting

Before a formula is written, we pressure-test the concept: does the ingredient story hold up, will the actives perform at credible levels, and is the sensory ambition physically possible in the intended base?

• Existing-formula audits — INCI review, active-percentage assessment, and reformulation paths for stability, sensory, or claims gaps.
• Concept feasibility — translating a marketing brief into a technically credible target profile before development spend.
• Claims-to-chemistry alignment — matching hero-ingredient stories to inclusion levels that can actually be substantiated.
• Category benchmarking — evaluating a concept against comparable prestige, clean, or clinical benchmarks.

A formula that works on a stir plate is not the same as a formula that runs. We assess scale-up risk before you commit to tooling, MOQs, or a production slot.

• Scale-up assessment — viscosity, phase behavior, and processing tolerances translated from bench to pilot to full batch.
• Stability and preservation strategy — accelerated protocols, challenge-test planning, and preservative-system selection.
• Cost-engineering — ingredient substitution and process refinements that protect margin without diluting the formula.
• Vendor and CMO evaluation — sanity-checking third-party quotes, timelines, and technical claims before you sign.

A finished formula is only part of the launch. We map the operational milestones — testing, documentation, and retailer requirements — that turn a batch into a product that can actually ship.

• Launch-timeline reality-check — realistic sequencing of formulation, testing, packaging, artwork, and fill.
• Testing plan — the safety, efficacy, and stability studies each channel actually requires, without over-testing.
• Retailer-readiness — clean-list alignment, dossier expectations, and the documentation prestige and mass retailers ask for.
• Launch prioritization — sequencing hero SKUs, line extensions, and format expansions to protect capital and shelf story.

We review ingredient and marketing claims for potential regulatory considerations and identify questions or substantiation needs to address early. This technical guidance is not legal advice and does not guarantee regulatory approval.

• Cosmetic vs. OTC positioning — flagging when a claim may require a monograph, drug facts panel, or reformulation.
• Retailer clean-list alignment — mapping ingredients against Sephora Clean, Credo, Target Clean, Ulta Conscious, and similar frameworks.
• Claims substantiation — identifying which claims may need clinical data or consumer studies, and where further review is warranted.
• International readiness — flagging ingredient, labeling, and registration issues for EU, UK, Canada, and select APAC markets.

Packaging decisions made in isolation from the formula are how brands end up with leaks, discoloration, or components they cannot fill at scale. We consult on component selection with the formula, brand, and shelf all in view.

• Component matching — dropper, pump, airless, jar, tube, and stick selection based on viscosity, actives, and preservative system.
• Compatibility and migration — flagging materials likely to react with the formula before you commit to tooling.
• Supplier vetting — evaluating stock and custom-component quotes for lead time, MOQ, and retailer-shelf suitability.
• Decoration strategy — silkscreen, hot foil, deboss, and label decisions matched to price tier and retailer expectations.