When it comes to choosing a cosmetic OEM manufacturer, I’ve stumbled into plenty of pitfalls—for instance, I’ve dealt with partners whose claims didn’t match their actual capabilities, failed to meet production standards, or had questionable compliance records. This not only wasted my time and money but also nearly derailed my product launch plans.
Because of these lessons, I’ve taken the selection of partners extremely seriously. I spent a great deal of time conducting in-depth research: from verifying company qualifications and inspecting production bases in person, to assessing R&D capabilities and reviewing past cooperation cases. In the end, I narrowed down the numerous candidates to five top-tier cosmetic OEM manufacturers.
Comparison Table of Cosmetic OEM Manufacturers
The world’s top 5 cosmetic OEM manufacturers account for 35% of the global OEM market share, covering diverse segments such as European high-end customization, Asian large-scale mass production, and North American functional innovation. The following is a comprehensive comparison from four dimensions: “R&D capability, production capacity scale, core product categories, and cooperation threshold”.
| Name | Location | Core Advantages | Main Product Categories | Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) |
| Intercos | Italy | High-end R&D and Global Layout | Color Cosmetics, High-end Skincare | 5,000 pieces |
| Kolmar | Korea | K-beauty Trends, Integration of Skincare and Color Cosmetics | Skincare, Color Cosmetics, Hair & Body Care | 3,000 pieces |
| HCT Group | China | Large-scale Mass Production and Cost Optimization | Mass-market Color Cosmetics, Hair & Body Care | 10,000 pieces |
| AAK Cosmetics | Sweden | Natural Oil Formulation and Efficacy-driven Skincare | Body Care, Efficacy-driven Facial Cream | 2,000 pieces |
| DESIFINE | China | Flexible Production and Startup-Friendly | Color Cosmetics, Hair Care, Body Care | 1,000 pieces |
1.Intercos
Intercos—a veteran Cosmetic OEM Manufacturer with a 45-year history—stands out as a leader in the industry. It produces a wide range of products for top luxury brands including Dior, Chanel, and Estée Lauder, and holds an impressive 22% market share in the high-end OEM sector, a testament to its undeniable strength and expertise.
Why is it outstanding?
- Exceptional R&D Capabilities: It has 5 R&D centers in Italy, China, and the United States. With over 800 R&D personnel, it develops more than 300 patented formulas annually. It can produce everything from velvety matte lipsticks and lightweight, non-greasy foundations to anti-aging creams containing Pro-Xylane.
- Global Production Reach: It has 18 production bases across Europe, America, and Asia. The European bases supply European and American brands with a 7-day delivery time; the Chinese bases serve the Asia-Pacific market, with goods available in 5 days.
- Reliable Compliance Assurance: It holds all necessary certifications from the EU, the United States, and China, ensuring its products can be sold globally without obstacles.
How to cooperate? Who is it suitable for?
- It provides one-stop services from formula development, packaging to product registration, and also offers free samples for trial;
- The minimum order quantity is 5,000-10,000 pieces, making it suitable for luxury cosmetics, private labels of high-end department stores, or celebrity co-branded products;
- Successful Case: The “air-like foundation” it produced for a top brand, which is both concealing and lightweight, sold over 5 million bottles in a year.
2.Kolmar
Kolmar is South Korea’s largest cosmetic OEM manufacturer. Korean beauty brands such as Amorepacific, 3CE, and Innisfree all cooperate with it for OEM production. If you want to make Korean-style products, choosing Kolmar is definitely the right choice.
Why is it outstanding?
- Trend Forecasting Capability: It has a dedicated “Korean Beauty Trend Research Institute” that can predict upcoming trends 6 months to a year ahead of others. The 2024 hits like “clay mask cleanser” and “dewy finish sunscreen” were products it laid out in advance.
- Strength in Cross-Border Innovation: It integrates skincare ingredients into color cosmetics—such as hyaluronic acid lip gloss and centella asiatica foundation—perfectly aligning with the current demand for “skincare-infused beauty products”.
- Youth-Centric Packaging Design: A team of 200 designers specializes in creating trendy styles like Instagram-worthy aesthetics and magnetic packaging.
How to cooperate? Who is it suitable for?
- You can provide samples for it to replicate, or it can help you upgrade formulas, with a minimum order quantity of 3,000-8,000 pieces;
- It is suitable for Korean-style brands, beauty influencers’ private labels, or products aiming to enter Sephora and Watsons;
- Successful Case: The probiotic toner and lotion it produced for a new Korean beauty brand sold 1 million sets within 3 months of launch.
3.HCT Group
HCT is a leader in affordable cosmetics OEM manufacturing. Retail giants such as Walmart, CVS, and Miniso are its clients. It can produce over 1 billion products annually, focusing on large quantities, low prices, and fast production.
Why is it outstanding?
- Amazing Production Capacity: It has three large-scale bases in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Suzhou, all equipped with automated production lines. It can produce 300 color cosmetic items and 200 skincare items per minute, and is capable of manufacturing different product categories simultaneously.
- Price Advantage: Leveraging the raw material supply chain in the Pearl River Delta, its procurement costs are 15%-20% lower than those of its peers, with products priced as low as $0.5-$3 per piece.
- Strong Emergency Response Capability: During major promotions like Double 11 and Black Friday, it can rush-produce 100,000 pieces within 3 days to restock, eliminating worries about stockouts.
How to cooperate? Who is it suitable for?
- It has ready-made standard formulas and can also help customize packaging, supporting small-batch trial production first before scaling up;
- The minimum order quantity is 10,000-20,000 pieces, making it suitable for supermarket private labels, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) cosmetics stores, and cross-border e-commerce sellers;
- Successful Case: The 10-yuan facial mask it produced for a supermarket, which offers super high cost performance, sold over 200 million pieces in a year.
4.AAK Cosmetics
AAK is a Nordic Cosmetic OEM Manufacturer that specializes in crafting efficacy-oriented products using natural oils—its core expertise in natural ingredient applications sets it apart. Top brands like L’Occitane and Avène rely on AAK for the production of their body lotions and functional creams, a testament to the manufacturer’s consistent quality and technical prowess in cosmetic formulation.
Why is it outstanding?
- Exclusive Raw Materials: It monopolizes rare raw materials such as Nordic linseed oil and cloudberry seed oil, which are rich in Omega-3 and antioxidant components, with their efficacy supported by clinical data.
- Powerful Efficacy: It can produce whitening lotions with 20% niacinamide and anti-aging creams with 10% retinol, and also provide test reports showing “15% whitening effect in 28 days”.
- Gentle and Non-Irritating: All products have passed Nordic dermatological tests, are suitable for sensitive skin, and have an applicability rate of 99%.
How to cooperate? Who is it suitable for?
- It can adjust the concentration of active ingredients according to needs and provide efficacy test reports;
- The minimum order quantity is 2,000-6,000 pieces, making it suitable for private labels of cosmeceuticals stores and high-end body care products;
- Successful Case: The linseed oil hand cream it produced for a cosmeceuticals brand has ranked first in winter sales for three consecutive years.
5.DESIFINE
DESIFINE is a Cosmetic OEM Manufacturer that specializes in serving small and medium-sized brands—its core focus on supporting emerging players sets it apart in the industry. To date, it has helped over 2,000 start-up brands develop their products, with standout advantages including low entry barriers and high service flexibility. These strengths make DESIFINE an ideal partner for newcomers looking to break into the beauty industry.
Why is it outstanding?
- Low Trial Production Threshold: The minimum order quantity for trial production is only 1,000 pieces, and it supports simultaneous trial production of multiple categories—for example, 5 lipstick variants plus 3 facial mask variants—eliminating worries about overstocking.
- Fast Response Speed: It provides formula solutions within 48 hours, produces samples within 72 hours, and delivers regular orders in 7-12 days, enabling quick adaptation to market changes.
- Comprehensive Services: It handles everything from formula development and packaging design to logistics and dropshipping. Additionally, it offers free logo design and packaging sampling, allowing even those with zero experience to launch products.
How to cooperate? Who is it suitable for?
- You can use its standard formulas or have them adjusted on demand, with a minimum order quantity of 1,000-3,000 pieces;
- It is suitable for beauty influencers’ private labels, start-up color cosmetics brands, and niche designer brands;
- Successful Case: The niche eyeshadow palette it developed for a beauty influencer took only 15 days from R&D to mass production, and all 5,000 palettes sold out as soon as they were launched.
How to Choose an OEM Manufacturer That Suits You?
1.Choose based on brand positioning
- For high-end brands: Prioritize Intercos (luxury customization).
- For Korean-style brands: Go straight to Kolmar.
- For mass-market FMCG: HCT Group offers the best value.
- For efficacy-focused niche products: AAK (natural efficacy).
- For startups: DESIFINE has the lowest threshold and highest flexibility.
2.Choose based on order quantity
- Small-batch trial production (1,000-5,000 pieces): DESIFINE (low threshold)
- Medium-batch production (5,000-10,000 pieces): Kolmar (flexible), AAK (strong efficacy)
- Large-batch production (10,000+ pieces): Intercos (global delivery), HCT Group (low-cost and fast)
Suggestion
These 5 cosmetic OEM manufacturers each have their own strengths. There is no absolute “best”—only the “most suitable”. Whether you are building a luxury brand or a fledgling small team, as long as you match [them] based on your own positioning, order quantity, and compliance needs, you can find a reliable partner, avoid many detours, and quickly develop and sell your products.
