"A Great Skin Care Brand, That is Clinic Only and no minimum opening order?'

In the professional beauty industry, I see this question posted multiple times a week:“ Looking for a reputable skincare brand that does not sell online and has no minimum opening order.”

And it got me thinking.

There is a massive opportunity here. A gap in the professional skincare market that is begging to be filled. Below, I’m laying out a few ways this gap can be addressed by clinics, therapists, and beauty professionals looking to launch or control their own skincare brand.

White Label Skincare Launch

I don’t think the professional beauty industry realises just how underutilised white label skincare truly is. When done correctly, white label skincare brands can offer significantly higher margins, faster time to market, and greater control over distribution.

Many manufacturers allow you to customise base formulations so they perform exactly how you want them to. This means you can create a professional skincare range aligned with your treatment philosophy—while ensuring it isn’t sold online, because you decide the sales channels.

The downside is being tied to a single skincare manufacturer. The formulations will never fully belong to you, which can create hurdles later if you want to scale, reformulate, or move manufacturers.

Build with Intention: Custom Skincare Formulation

Another option is to develop your own custom skincare formulations from scratch. This is a much longer road to walk, but it offers significantly more creative control and long-term brand ownership.

If you’re building a skincare brand with longevity in mind, custom formulation allows you to control ingredient selection, performance, manufacturing partners, and future innovation. You’re in control of what you order, when you order it, and where your professional skincare brand appears, whether that’s clinic-only, wholesale, or beyond.

Increasing Your Reach Without Compromising Values

Once your skincare brand is established, why not gather stockists who share your vision? There has been a lot of industry chatter around professional skincare brands expanding into the direct-to-consumer (DTC) online space.

I know this conversation has ruffled a lot of feathers.

If you feel strongly about protecting the professional channel, why not be someone leading the charge? Or, at the very least, create a professional-only skincare brand that exists exclusively for you and your clinic without online retail competition. In fact, without any competition.

Skincare Formulation Isn’t Just for Big Budgets or Science Degrees

I want the industry to know that skincare formulation and manufacturing services are not exclusive to founders with massive budgets or science degrees. In fact, most founders I met prior to launching this business were simply ambitious humans with a clear vision.

If you’re stuck in the “what skincare brand should I go with?” rut and this post sparked curiosity, get in touch. Launching or developing a professional skincare brand is far more achievable than most people think.

-The Clinics Formulator