When choosing between private label and white label for cosmetic products, several factors play an important role. To choose the perfect cosmetics supplier for you, start by answering these questions: Are you the owner of an ambitious startup that has to pay close attention to the budget in the beginning? Or can you create and launch a product line at your leisure? Or should you perhaps get your product to the market quickly? Answering these questions will be much easier when you know what private and white labels are all about. Thus, in this article, we have compiled the most essential key points for you so that you can make the right decision from the start.
What is the Difference between Private and White Label?
To highlight the small yet crucial differences, we must first define the two variants of cosmetics production in more detail. In another guide post, we provided a detailed explanation of how private label comsetics is defined and also its pros & cons. Please read this post first to understand the difference. And now, let’s take a look at what white label cosmetics means.



What is white label cosmetics?
White label cosmetics is referred to as an empty label or off-the-shelf brand. This means that you can purchase an already finished product from a white label cosmetics provider and customize it as you wish. For example, if your company wants to include a range of special lipstick colors in your assortment and you have found the perfect product range at one of the white label cosmetics companies, you can buy these lipsticks from them and then add your design to them. This way, you can choose from a variety of products, all of which have already been tested and some of which were proven successful on the market for a long time. You don’t have to bear any costs for the development of the cosmetic entails. In addition, you can react quickly to trends, since the goods are already waiting for you on the shelves of the suppliers.
7 Advantages of private label cosmetics
- You have options from a wide range of products.
- You can add your label to products that have already been tested and proven on the international market and sell them under your own name.
- Short delivery times because the goods are already available from the manufacturer of white label cosmetics.
- Small minimum order quantity and there are even no limits to the order quantity.
- You can determine the delivery quantities yourself and thus keep the costs under control.
- The design, branding, and packaging will be customized according to your wishes. This way, the former white label cosmetics quickly becomes part of the corporate identity of your company.
- Your product range can be adapted quickly since the goods have already been produced.

Disadvantages of White Label Cosmetics
White label cosmetics is characterized primarily by the fact that these are usually not unique creations because you do not have a comprehensive influence on the product. Let’s take an eyeshadow series as an example, you want a shimmery and creamy finish, a lot of metallic and the colors should be trendy. You typically won’t find what you’re looking for in white label cosmetics suppliers, as they mostly focus on pastels and predominantly matte finishes. In this case, it’s best to go with private label cosmetics since you can explain what you want to the producers, which ingredients should be used, and how the finished eyeshadow should be packaged. From this information, the line of eyeshadows produced will definitely implement your ideas and visions one-to-one.
5 disadvantages of white label cosmetics
- Once you have decided on a supplier for white label cosmetics, it will be comparatively difficult to change later.
- The choice is limited in the field of white label cosmetics.
- Without changing the makeup, changing the white label cosmetics supplier is almost impossible.
- The price per unit of goods is relatively high if the purchased quantity is small.
- The offer of your supplier may turn out to be too low, as you do not influence the development and composition of cosmetics.


White Label vs. Private Label Cosmetics
You will always have to choose between one of the two options, and for that, it’s best to weigh all pros and cons. For some, the added cost of the private label production may be a big factor due to a severely limited budget, and for others, the uniqueness of the shade of their blush may be an important unique selling point of their brand.
When to choose private label cosmetics
While you can’t change the texture and colors of the white label product to fit your exact needs, private label cosmetics makes it possible to tailor the texture, pigmentation, and ingredients of the cosmetic product to your preferences. Do you want to create cosmetics that primarily emphasizes natural ingredients? Do you love the texture of a foundation, but want to offer a different color range? Do you find the range of nail polishes colorful, but lack the wow effect of glitter? All these wishes will not go unfulfilled with a private label supplier. From the ingredients to the design of the packaging, only what you have in mind counts. Lazy compromises are not made here. However, this great freedom also has its price. That’s why private label cosmetics are more cost-intensive because you usually intervene in the manufacturing process and the fine-tuning of the cosmetics causes considerable costs.

When to choose white label cosmetics
With private label cosmetics, there may also be some disadvantages, which we have discussed in detail in another guide post. The development and production cost a lot of time. In fact, you should plan for at least 2–3 months – depending on the product. To produce competitive cosmetics, you need a lot of experience, expertise, and, above all, the right network. In addition, there are usually higher costs than with white labeling at the beginning, since the cosmetics must be created specifically and is not already in stock on the shelves of the middleman. Another danger could be that you deviate too far from tried-and-tested standard formulas and encounter resistance when marketing. This is because you typically have to create your own clientele for innovative cosmetic products & create your own market.
What should i do now?
We have given some points to help you decide between private and white label cosmetics. As already mentioned, this decision has widespread consequences and is of great importance for your business. Together, we can find out if you urgently need the freedom of private label cosmetics, or if the speed of delivery and constant availability of white label cosmetics outweighs it. We have a unique network of market-leading cosmetics manufacturers around the world, and can therefore quickly contact the best possible company for any request – whether you choose private or white label cosmetics.