Let’s stir up some magic in the lab with this week’s helpful advice for your brand launch!

Launching a cosmetic brand is thrilling and, let’s be honest, a little overwhelming. Between formulating, regulations, pricing, suppliers, and admin, many founders get stuck before their first sale. Below are the five roadblocks I see most often, plus how to glide past them with calm and confidence. 

1) Waiting until you “know everything” before you start

Perfection paralysis is real. You do not need to be a chemist, a regulatory officer, a buyer, and a marketer all at once to take your first step. What you do need is a clear path and a supportive guide. Define your next three actions first, not your next three years. Momentum beats mastery at the beginning. 

Do this instead:

• Map the journey from idea to shelf in plain steps: brief, formula, testing, CPSR and PIF, CPNP, launch.

• Book a short discovery call with a lab partner to sense-check feasibility and timelines.

• Commit to a pilot SKU to test scalability and the market.

2) Underestimating regulations

A cosmetic launch is never “just pop a balm into a pretty jar”. EU law requires lab testing, safety assessment, the Product Information File (PIF), correct labelling, and CPNP notification. Leaving this “for later” is how launches stall or get pulled. 

Do this instead:

• Plan regulatory alongside R&D, not after.

• Decide who is your Responsible Person early (if applicable).

• Budget for stability, preservative efficacy test, and CPSR from day one.

3) Spreading yourself across too many products

Seven SKUs with different identities sounds exciting but it is a fast route to diluted spend, messy messaging, and slow execution. A sharp, compact offer wins the early game. 

Do this instead:

• Start with 1–3 hero products that solve a clear problem for a defined customer.

• Keep formats coherent for easier storytelling, claims, and photos.

• Use early feedback to iterate before expanding.

4) Trying to do everything alone

Learning is wonderful; burnout is not. You do not have to become a chemist, designer, copywriter, compliance lead, and production manager at the same time. Strategic delegation saves money by preventing costly rework. 

Do this instead:

• Outsource where expertise protects your timeline: formulation, safety, artwork.

• Keep your energy for strategy, brand voice, and customer relationships.

• Build a small circle of trusted partners and reuse them as you scale.

5) Ordering too much stock on day one

Big MOQs feel cost-efficient until cartons sit in storage while you are still shaping the brand. Early sales rarely spike in week one and that is okay. Your job is to learn, refine, and stay liquid. 

Do this instead:

• Produce small, regular batches; protect cash for marketing, shippers, and surprises.

• Validate demand before you expand SKUs or sizes.

• Track reorder points and lead-times so you never go dark.

The mindset: it’s a marathon, not a sprint

Brand building rewards consistency, resilience, and the ability to adapt. You can climb the mountain alone using half-correct signposts, or you can walk with someone who knows the shortcuts and steady footing. Choose the second path. 

Ready to move past “stuck at step zero”?

If you want to delegate the technical and regulatory work so you can focus on your story and your customers, here is what working with MB Cosmetics Laboratory looks like:

• We take care of formulation, pilot manufacturing, stability and microbiology, and assemble your PIF with a signed CPSR by our trusted safety assessor.

• We advise you on EU cosmetics rules in clear English, so you feel confident and autonomous.

• You keep full clarity on costs, timelines, and claims so there are no surprises.

If you feel ready to take the first step or at least ask questions, shoot us an email at contact@mbcosmeticslab.com!

Here’s to formulas that work and brands that thrive!

From my lab to yours,

Rose