If you’ve spent any time researching skincare brands, especially on social media or browsing boutique shelves, you’ve likely encountered the term private label skincare.
It’s a business model that is becoming increasingly common in the beauty world, especially as two in three beauty shoppers turn to social media influencers to discover new products.
Today, the global private label cosmetics market is valued at over $8.5 billion, but it’s projected to reach $14 billion by 2031. It’s growing quickly as more brands opt for this out-sourced production method.
While the term 'private label' skincare might suggest an exclusive or custom-made product, it actually refers to pre-formulated items that are branded for individual businesses.
Let’s take a closer look at what the private label process actually involves, why so many brands use it, and how Doctor Eckstein stands apart by taking a fundamentally different approach - one rooted in unique formulations, hands-on development, and independent production.
What Is Private Label Skincare?
At its core, private label refers to skincare products or cosmetics that are created by one company (the manufacturer) and sold by another under their own brand name.
These products are typically pre-formulated or slightly modified versions of a base formula that the manufacturer offers to multiple brands. Private label manufacturers often have a menu of ready-made products: cleansers, moisturizers, serums, masks, etc. The brand can customize things like the scent, active ingredients, packaging, and marketing—but the base formula itself generally is not exclusive. Some manufacturers might make some formulas semi-exclusive, in that they limit how many brands use a specific formula. So ultimately what happens is that the same base product may be sold under many different brand names, with slight variations.
The private label model makes it possible for just about anyone to launch a skincare line without having to invest in research, product development, or an in-house lab and production. Therefore, it’s easily used by boutique brands, spas, dermatologists, influencers, online retailers, and even some larger beauty brands that want to expand their offerings quickly. Once the brand selects, and maybe customizes, a formula and packaging, the product is ready to go on the market, with their own logos and branding attached.
Why Do Some Brands Choose Private Label Solutions?
The private label route offers a fast, lower-cost way to bring products to market.
For entrepreneurs and influencers looking to start a skincare line, it removes the need for scientific expertise or access to lab or manufacturing facilities. In just a few weeks or months, a new brand can have an entire collection of skin, body, or hair care products ready to sell. Overall, private label offers speed and simplicity with less differentiation.
Private label services are convenient, scalable, and widely available - which is exactly why they’re so common.
Doctor Eckstein Is Not a Private Label Brand — And That Matters
At Doctor Eckstein, we take a completely different approach for our own brand.
We have independent production. Opting for 100% unique formulas and independent production gives you control, exclusivity, and long-term brand strengthen.
We do not buy skincare formulas from outside manufacturers, and we do not outsource our research and development. Every product we create is formulated from the ground up by our own in-house team. From ingredient selection and in-house manufacturing, we are involved at every stage of the process.
We don’t choose from a catalog of pre-made options. We create the catalog. In a world where there are endless options, we like to provide unique, one-of-a-kind formulations, that consumers can't get anywhere else.
This hands-on, start-to-finish process has been part of our approach since day one. It’s how we maintain our standards, support professional skincare estheticians, and provide a product line we’re proud to put our name on.
Why Original Formulas & Independent Production Make a Difference
Do you want something unique that you can’t get anywhere else? When a skincare brand 100% develops its own formulas and manufactures them in their own headquarters, it has full control over every ingredient and every step of the process, and a better ability to create original, unique formulations.
At Doctor Eckstein, this means we don’t have to guess how our skincare products will perform. We’ve tested and refined them, and we know exactly how each one works — and why, since we've created it "from scratch".
Here’s how that benefits you:
Ingredient Transparency
People care more about what goes into their skincare products than ever before. At least one survey found that 49.9% of consumers consider the quality of ingredients when choosing one skincare, body care, or personal grooming product over another.
Because we formulate everything ourselves, we can speak clearly and honestly about what’s in our products and why. There are no mystery blends or outsourced decisions, and our product labels are fully transparent.
Consistent Performance
We don’t rely on third-party manufacturers whose formulas may change or vary between batches. Our products are made with consistency and reliability in mind — which is especially important for skincare professionals who need to deliver dependable results.
Scientific Integrity
Our products are grounded in decades of research, not market trends. We balance modern dermatological science with a deep understanding of how the skin functions and responds to treatment over time.
Generational Knowledge
As a family-owned business, Doctor Eckstein has been shaped by generations of scientific inquiry, curiosity, and care.
Our story began in 1949 with Dr. Richard A. Eckstein, a visionary pharmacist who believed skincare should be based on sound scientific principles and a deep respect for the skin’s natural processes.
He worked alongside his wife, Linde Eckstein, to create the first Doctor Eckstein formulas — combining pharmaceutical precision with hands-on skin expertise. Their approach was thoughtful, deliberate, and always grounded in the belief that healthy skin is beautiful skin.
That philosophy has carried through every generation since.
Their son, Dr. Gerd Eckstein, and his wife Iris brought their own scientific rigor and insight to the company, expanding the brand’s reach without compromising its foundational values.
Now in the hands of the third generation — Dr. Verena Eckstein and her brother, Michael Eckstein — the legacy continues, with each new product built upon decades of accumulated research, premium ingredients, clinical testing, and lived experience.
This isn’t a brand built on buzzwords or borrowed formulas. It’s built on family, science, and a deep commitment to doing things the right way. Every generation has contributed not only technical knowledge but also a sense of responsibility to the skin, to our customers, and to the professionals who trust our products in their practices.
None of these private label risks are inherently negative, but they can signal that the brand is relying on an outside manufacturer rather than original development. For consumers who care about how their skin and body care products are made, that difference matters.
Explore High-Quality Products With Our Name On Them
At Doctor Eckstein, we believe that good skincare takes time, care, and knowledge. We don’t cut corners or follow fleeting trends. We’ve invested decades into creating original, scientifically-backed products that support the skin’s natural function and long-term health.
This isn’t just our business model - it’s our identity. Our skin care formulas are developed with care, our standards are self-imposed, and our products reflect a commitment that, we believe, can’t be replicated with outsourced private labeling.
When you choose Doctor Eckstein, you’re choosing skincare that was made with a clear purpose and a trusted hand. Explore our custom, unique formulations and skincare products that clients love.