How we work
Do you do contract manufacturing?
Yes, but with a broader approach than a classic contract manufacturer: we define what we do as custom product development. A contract manufacturer physically makes a product from a brief the client has already defined; we work alongside the brand from the strategic concept onwards, defining positioning, ingredients consistent with the brand’s values, packaging and communication together, and we take care of production itself as well. Discover our development method.
What types of cosmetic products can you develop for my brand?
We cover a wide range of categories: face and body skincare, haircare, sun care, cleansers (bath and shower gels, shampoos), personal fragrances, home fragrances and scented candles. You will find concrete examples of our work in the catalogue of the Dottoressa Cristina Portinaro line.
Do you offer strategic consulting as well as cosmetics manufacturing?
Yes, and it is one of the things that set us apart: we have strategic marketing skills in-house and we work with clients from the planning and evaluation stage onwards. Launching a cosmetic line is always the start of a new business line, and it has to be built on a solid business plan. With over ten years of experience and hundreds of clients behind us, we sometimes advise against going ahead: we do not work on projects we do not believe in.
Can you help us create logos and labels for the cosmetic products?
Yes, we have an in-house team of creatives and graphic designers who help clients adapt their brand identity to the cosmetics sector and produce the print-ready files for labels and back labels. If a client prefers to work with their own design studio, we still support them on the information that is required by law.
Do you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before discussing the project?
Yes. At the start of every new collaboration we propose a framework agreement setting out the mutual commitments of the parties, including a confidentiality agreement covering all the information shared during the project.
Lead times, quantities and repeat orders
How long does it take to develop a new cosmetic line, from concept to production?
On average, around three months from the start of the project to production. The exact time depends on how complex the project is — number of references, type of formulations, packaging chosen — but our way of working is designed to get from concept to finished product quickly, without sacrificing quality or regulatory compliance.
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for a private label cosmetic line?
There is no fixed minimum quantity: our method is flexible and adapts to every stage of a brand’s growth. We start with prototyping and micro-production for market tests, move on to small batches to launch the line, and scale up to larger runs at contained costs. Every batch is sized around the client’s commercial needs and investment capacity.
How long does a repeat order take compared with the first launch?
Repeat order lead times depend above all on the availability of raw materials and packaging at our suppliers, which is why it pays to plan a little in advance. In any case, a repeat order always takes a fraction of the time needed for the first production run.
Can you handle large production runs as well as small batches?
Yes: the method scales from micro-production to large runs without friction. Once formula, packaging and process have been validated, increasing the volumes is the easiest part of the journey. It is small batches and bespoke runs that call for more care and flexibility than a large standardised production, and that balance is exactly where we have built our difference.
Budget and type of client
What is the minimum budget to develop a new cosmetic line?
There is no entry-level budget: we listen to every requirement, analyse it together with the client and build a tailored solution, whatever the size of the investment. The one condition we cannot do without is that the project makes sustainable commercial sense, because we are looking for long-term relationships that work for both sides.
Do you develop cosmetic lines for start-ups too?
Yes. We have worked with a number of new companies in the cosmetics sector, not only on creating the product line but also, upstream, on planning the business.
Do you only work with companies, or with private clients too?
We work with private clients as well: if you need a line of custom cosmetics, for example as favours or gifts for an event (a wedding, a graduation and the like), we are at your disposal.
Formulas, ingredients and fragrances
What ingredients do you use? Can we choose the active ingredients?
Yes: the formulas are customised for each client and each project, and we favour ingredients that are consistent with the brand’s values, for example raw materials that come from its own area. We work with ingredients of natural origin, with the option of organic or vegan certification, and we build the formulas excluding parabens, paraffins, petroleum derivatives, SLES and phenoxyethanol.
Does the formula developed for my brand stay exclusive, or is it offered to other clients?
As a rule we develop unique products, intended for one client and no one else. On request we can formalise the exclusivity of the formula in writing, up to transferring it to the client entirely.
Can we choose custom fragrances and scents?
Yes. Every line we develop has a distinctive scent, often created specifically for that project. We have an in-house «nose» on the team and we work with selected European raw material suppliers, so we can offer one or more exclusive fragrances that characterise the collection.
Packaging
Can we choose the packaging for our cosmetic line?
Yes, and it is one of the central parts of the project. We research the solutions available on the European market constantly, so we can propose packaging that is right technically and functionally and that also communicates the brand’s values and the identity of the new line.
Safety, regulations and export
Are the products safe and compliant with European cosmetics regulations?
Yes: every formula undergoes stability testing, microbiological checks, patch tests and challenge tests. We take care of drafting the Product Information File (PIF) ourselves, the document required by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 before cosmetic products can be placed on the market.
Who is listed as the responsible person on the label and on the CPNP portal?
It depends on the project and on the client’s needs. The responsible person, who by law must be shown on the back label and on the European CPNP portal (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal), can be the client or our own company.
Can the products made with you be exported abroad?
Yes. All products made in Italy and notified on the European CPNP portal can be exported throughout the European Union straight away, provided the labels are translated into the language of the destination country. For export outside the EU, local legislation has to be assessed case by case: we have already followed export projects in several countries around the world and we have a team of consultants who specialise in exactly these aspects.
Let’s talk
How can we get in touch for a first conversation?
You can write to us from the B2B contact form or at info@cristinaportinaro.com. Our offices are at Via Biscaretti 2/6, 10025 Pino Torinese (TO), Italy.