Making your own skincare and selling it-worth it?

LushLashes

Hi,
I am a beauty therapist looking for advice on rules and legislation regarding making and selling your own skincare. Has anyone any experience of this? If so, is it worth it? Or would I be biting off more than I can chew and just leave it to the big companies? Any tips, advice would be welcomed. Thanks

calamity-j

No experience, but natural skincare products ( soap bars/liquid soap/ lip balms, moisturisers etc) are always popular and you may be able to sell them online and at large markets maybe even wholefood type shops etc

Not sure about the regulations though, but that sort of info shouldn't be too difficult to find.

lessonlearned

I too am a trained beauty therapist - currently not working because of being a full time carer.

I'm hoping to set up a treatment room at home in the New Year. I make a lot of my own potions too and am interested in selling them.

I think it's perfectly doable - after all Anita Roddick started at the kitchen table and went on to found the Body Shop.

Yes there will be all sorts of health & safety issues and various compliance procedures. TBH - I've not got that far yet. I'm sure if you google it something will come up. Or, do you have one of those small business advisory services near you - they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Good luck, do keep us posted with your progress.

LizD_2

There are various rules you need to comply with - for example you'll need to submit all your recipies for approval, along with ingredients.

There are a few companies that run courses on the rules and regulations: Plush Folly is one that I know of. I signed up for a home-study course with them (although I haven't completed it yet), hence why I'm suggesting them (I don't have a vested interest in them, by the way).

ajs88

Aromantic has a lot of good information regarding this

http://www.aromantic.com/natural-skin-care-business.htm

I considered this for quite a while but found that it would require quite a big initial investment to do it properly, equipment and materials are expensive and lots of oils have a six month shelf life once opened, packaging can also be expensive, if you have a stall you also need to be able to dress it and the market is very saturated in terms of selling online or to shops

Having said that there are people making livings from this but I've found that they tend to have specialities, eg. just soap or or just stuff made from hemp oil and really know there stuff.

If you find or make a couple of really successful products that don't use expensive ingredients you could well supplement your income by selling to family, friends, clients etc. or if your partially good at selling you could try just selling products avon style, I think that Neals Yard does a starter set for just £75 or you could buy essential oils in bulk online eg. £100-200 and just sell them by promoting all of their uses, if you live in an area that doesn't have a specialist shop for these then you could be quite successful as the mark up is high

LushLashes

LizD wrote: »

There are various rules you need to comply with - for example you'll need to submit all your recipies for approval, along with ingredients.

There are a few companies that run courses on the rules and regulations: Plush Folly is one that I know of. I signed up for a home-study course with them (although I haven't completed it yet), hence why I'm suggesting them (I don't have a vested interest in them, by the way).[/QUOTE

Thanks for the replies everyone, LizD I have been looking at Plush Folly's home learning courses? Just out of interest which one did you take, and was it good?

ajs88 I have been looking at this site too, I was hoping to find someone who does/has done this. I would love to be able to offer facials using my own handmade products(s) and be able to retail them, but only if its worth it iyswim?

ajs88

I had a bodyscrub at a spa once where the therapist said that she made it herself

LizD_2

LushLashes wrote: »

LizD wrote: »

There are various rules you need to comply with - for example you'll need to submit all your recipies for approval, along with ingredients.

There are a few companies that run courses on the rules and regulations: Plush Folly is one that I know of. I signed up for a home-study course with them (although I haven't completed it yet), hence why I'm suggesting them (I don't have a vested interest in them, by the way).[/QUOTE

Thanks for the replies everyone, LizD I have been looking at Plush Folly's home learning courses? Just out of interest which one did you take, and was it good?

ajs88 I have been looking at this site too, I was hoping to find someone who does/has done this. I would love to be able to offer facials using my own handmade products(s) and be able to retail them, but only if its worth it iyswim?

It was the perfume making course that I chose. I haven't really done any of it yet, so can't say what the support is like, but the course materials are good. I just need to actually make a start on the tasks!