In 2025, the global anti-aging skincare market size has exceeded $200 billion. While emerging domestic skincare brands are iterating rapidly, chaos in cosmetic OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) remains rampant—recently, 3 enterprises in Guangzhou were penalized for entrusting unlicensed filling and packaging, exposing compliance loopholes in the industry. After the implementation of the Specification for the Construction of Quality Management Systems for Filers of Entrusted Production of Ordinary Cosmetics on May 8, how should brands select compliant and capable skincare factories? Combining the latest industry standards, data from 8 benchmark factories, and real cooperation cases, this article breaks down the core logic of factory selection to help you avoid 90% of OEM risks.
1. Three Compliance Red Lines to Check First When Choosing a Factory in 2025 (Authoritative Basis)
- Filer’s Responsibility System
The new regulations require factories to establish 23 core systems, including product design and formula management for source control. For example, Guangzhou Kaimai Factory has obtained 5 certifications such as FDA and GMPC, appointed a full-time quality and safety supervisor, and retains 3-year traceability records for each batch of products—such enterprises are preferred partners.
- Production Hardware Standards
Class 100,000 clean workshops have become the standard for mid-to-high-end factories (e.g., Shanghai Cosmetics Manufacturing Group). For single-dose products, additional BFS (Blow-Fill-Seal) aseptic production lines are required: Guangdong Kangrong Industry’s “three-in-one blow-fill-seal technology” enables pollution-free production.
- Environmental Compliance Threshold
The EU market has incorporated packaging recycling rates into access indicators. Suzhou Cosmax has obtained ISO 14000 certification, with a packaging recycling rate of 82%, helping brands break through green trade barriers.
2. Three Dimensions of a Factory’s Core Competitiveness (Data Support)
| Dimension | Case of Leading Factory | Reference for Key Indicators |
| R&D Capability | Shenzhen Liyuan Biotechnology | 4,000+ plant formula database, university-cooperated laboratory |
| Flexible Production Capacity | Guangzhou Intercos OEM Center | 72-hour rapid sample production, annual capacity of 60 million bottles |
| Customization Ability | Chengdu Skincare Technology Co., Ltd. | AI-driven formula adjustment, supporting small-batch trial production |
Case of Technical Barriers: Guangdong Kangrong Industry has developed a marine pearl peptide formula with 3 national patents. Its sheep placenta single-dose essence has helped emerging brands achieve a repurchase rate 40% higher than the industry average. Factories with dual advantages of “raw materials + technology” are more likely to create best-selling products.
3. 4-Step Factory Audit Method to Avoid OEM Pitfalls (Practical Experience)
- Verify the Authenticity of Qualifications: Check the Cosmetic Production License on the official website of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), focusing on permits for special categories such as “eye cosmetics/children’s cosmetics” (e.g., Guangzhou Kaimai holds this qualification).
- Explore R&D Depth: Request patent certificates or third-party efficacy reports from the past year; reject factories that only “modify packaging for universal formulas.”
- Monitor Production Details: Refer to NetEase Kaola’s factory audit standards and check whether light/high-temperature stability tests are conducted (Hangzhou Yayan once faced return and rectification for omitting these tests).
- Review After-Sales Response: Clarify the “formula adjustment cycle” and “quality problem compensation mechanism.” Leading factories like Shanghai Cosmetics Manufacturing Group promise to resolve customer complaints within 48 hours.
4. Successful Cooperation Model for Emerging Brands (Experience Reference)
The cooperation between Hangzhou Yayan and NetEase Kaola reveals a key logic: the factory focuses on the production end (providing core formulas for fullerene stock solutions), while the platform takes charge of positioning (targeting the
15−30 stock solution market) and promotion (incubating a KOL matrix on Xiaohongshu/Little Red Book). This ultimately achieved annual sales of over 10 million yuan for a single product. This “production + operation” collaborative model is particularly suitable for start-up brands lacking market experience.
5. New Technological Trends for Factories in 2025 (Timeliness Value)
- Integration of Biotechnology: Guangdong Kangrong plans to apply AI to the R&D of nano transdermal technology, increasing product absorption rate by 3 times.
- Popularization of Eco-Friendly Materials: Beijing Herbal OEM Enterprises adopt degradable packaging materials, with annual order growth of 57%.
- Personalized Customization: Chengdu Skincare Technology Co., Ltd. has launched a “one formula per person” production line, reducing the minimum order quantity to 500 bottles.
Conclusion
Choosing the right skincare factory is equivalent to half the success of a brand. Amid the 2025 compliance wave, prioritize enterprises that meet “new regulation requirements + technical barriers + service closed-loop” (such as Guangzhou Kaimai and Suzhou Cosmax in the list). By combining the “production end + market end” collaborative strategy, you can break through the red sea of cosmetics.
