If you're starting a beauty brand in the UK or want to sell in Europe, you rapidly learn that choosing the appropriate manufacturer is more important than having a nice label. Over the years, I've worked with and investigated dozens of partners. In this article, I'm going to share the ten London-based manufacturers that I would put on my short list first.
I'm going to talk about what they do best, the kinds of products they can manufacture, and the useful services they offer, such formulation, private label, custom packaging, and compliance support.
The beauty sector in the UK is doing more than simply getting by; it's doing well. According to IMARC Group suggests that sales in the toiletry and beauty industries rose to a remarkable £10.8 billion in 2025, a year-on-year gain of +8.4%.
In 2025, the sector added £31.4 billion to the UK's GDP. The UK cosmetics market is forecast to keep rising at a CAGR of 4.22%, reaching more than $20 billion by 2033.
Star Colour Labs is a big name in color cosmetics. If you need lipsticks, foundations, pressed powders, mascaras, or color palettes that always match and have strong pigment stability, they are the first place to call.
They are good at making their own colors, using press-powder technology, and working with both tiny independent runs and huge retail numbers. Services include making unique formulas, developing shades, filling and finishing, and coordinating packaging. I can count on them to keep the quality and shade the same.
7 Hopes usually draws in brands that focus on natural and clean beauty. They have skincare and body-care lines that are low in irritants and use plants, as well as washes, balms, lotions, and basic serums.
Their boutique approach gives them an edge: cheaper minimum order quantities (MOQs), flexible changes to formulae, and packaging solutions that are good for the environment. If your brand identity is "natural" or "organic adjacent," you should call 7 Hopes.
Cosmiko is a great choice for new companies because they provide private label and semi-custom ODM lines with reasonable minimum order quantities (MOQs). They have cleansers, moisturizers, serums, masks, and even color cosmetics in their repertoire.
They help companies go from idea to prototype to pilot run quickly, and they also aid with labeling and making sure the product meets UK and EU standards. Expect a practical service instead than flashy marketing talk.
Cosmetic Chemist says it is a lab that is ready for research and development. They know a lot about skincare technology, like emulsions, active serums, stabilized vitamin C formulations, and ideas that are good enough for clinical use.
They help with making new formulas, evaluating their stability, complete manufacturing, and all the paperwork needed to meet regulations. This is a partner that can handle the heavy lifting for firms that want to make claims that are backed by science (such retinol alternatives, actives, and professional skincare).
Creative Cosmetics is a great place to find make-up in a wide range of colors and with interesting textures. They offer adjustable batch sizes along with great shade matching and package sourcing. If your product line is color-based and you need help coming up with new textures, finishes, and refillable or novelty packaging, I would suggest them.
Chemence helps firms that want to sell their products in UK and EU stores from start to finish. They take care of making the product, filling it, making sure it meets safety and compliance standards (such making a PIF and doing safety assessments), and planning for bigger production runs.
They work well for projects that are medium to large in size and are helpful when you need a manufacturing partner who knows how to meet retail packaging standards and shelf-life needs.
Cosmetic Scientist is a great choice for testing ideas and launching small batches. They help with lab work for formulations and prototype runs, which lets you test the market without spending a lot of money up front.
This is the kind of partner I would employ before scaling if I wanted to test a serum or a specialty cleanser with a low minimum order quantity.
Universal Hub offers sourcing and private-label services while keeping a close eye on logistics throughout the supply chain. They aid brands who want to do less research and development in-house but still want bespoke labeling, design help, and help with importing and exporting.
This is helpful if you plan to sell in multiple European markets and need help with compliance.
Meiyume is a multinational company that knows a lot about packaging and can easily scale up manufacturing. They are quite good at coming up with new ways to package things, using eco-friendly materials, and working on complicated fill/finish tasks.
Meiyume can help with worldwide distribution and package differentiation at scale if your brand is all about specific finishes, refill systems, and high-end caps.
Insitu is a UK partner for DTC and boutique brands that is flexible and design-focused. They aid with unique formulations, small batch runs, and direct label design, which is great for creators who want to work closely with a creative partner instead of a distant contract manufacturer.
Across the list above you’ll find the following common services — I always ask these questions in my first conversations with a potential partner:
I typically suggest that you work with a UK partner and a well-run overseas manufacturer at the same time to get the best combination of cost and speed. Xiran Cosmetics Manufacturer(China) is a brand that comes up a lot. They can offer reasonable OEM/ODM prices, quick R&D iterations, a wide range of manufacturing categories (skincare, body care, haircare, infant care), and all the export paperwork you need (COA, MSDS, stability reports).
A hybrid method makes sense for business if you want to increase the number of SKUs or need very low unit costs while preserving a local UK line for high-end or quick-turn SKUs.
To wrap up my guide, here are some of the most common questions I hear from brands looking to partner with Cosmetic Manufacturers in London.
Ask about MOQ, lead time, sample costs, formulation ownership, testing (stability/safety), packaging options, and regulatory support (PIF/MSDS). I always request a full timeline and sample policy before committing.
Absolutely. 7 Hopes, Cosmetic Chemist and some others focus on botanical and clean-label formulations, and many partners can adapt recipes to “natural” or vegan claims with appropriate testing.
Timelines vary but expect 8–16 weeks for custom formulations (including stability testing). Private-label catalogs can be launched much faster — sometimes 2–6 weeks for simple fills.
Yes — most established partners provide support for PIF creation, safety assessments and export documentation; always confirm scope and whether there’s an extra fee.
If speed, low MOQ and quick retail access matter, use a UK partner. If scaling SKUs and lower per-unit cost is the priority, pairing a UK manufacturer with an overseas OEM like Xiran can be a smart hybrid strategy.
Contractually define IP terms in your agreement (who owns the formula, confidentiality clauses) and ensure samples and R&D work are covered by NDAs before sharing sensitive ideas.
