What Is White Labelling In Skincare?

At Dr. Su, we believe transparency builds trust, especially when it comes to what you put on your skin. Ever noticed how some skincare products across different brands feel almost identical? The reason might be white labelling — a widely used practice in the beauty industry that’s often misunderstood. Let’s break it down clearly, so you know exactly how it works and why it matters for your skin (and your wallet).

What is White Labelling?

White labelling is when a product is created by one manufacturer and sold under multiple brand names. Think of it like this: a single bakery makes cookies and sells them to different cafes. Each cafe adds its own packaging and logo, but the cookie inside? It’s exactly the same.

In skincare, it’s no different. A manufacturer might create a vitamin C serum. Multiple brands buy that same base product, tweak the fragrance or packaging slightly, and sell it under their own label.

How White Labelling Works

Here's a simple breakdown of the white labelling process in skincare:

1. A manufacturer develops a base formula (e.g., a niacinamide serum or hyaluronic acid moisturiser).
   
2. Multiple brands select from this catalogue of ready-made formulas.
   
3. Brands might make minor adjustments — fragrance, texture, packaging, or label.
   
4. The product is then branded, marketed, and sold as if it were an exclusive formula.
   

Imagine buying the same dress from a factory, just with different brand labels stitched on — that’s white labelling in a nutshell.

 Pros of White Labelling

• Speed to market: Launch products quickly without long R&D timelines.
  
• Cost-effective: Brands save money on formulation, testing, and ingredient sourcing.
  
• Reliable base formulas: If the manufacturer has a solid product, it often performs well across brands.
  

Cons of White Labelling

• Lack of uniqueness: Many brands sell nearly identical products under different names.
  
• No formulation control: Brands can’t ensure ethical sourcing, cruelty-free practices, or ingredient purity.
  
• Inconsistency: Not all manufacturers follow the same quality standards.
  
• Consumer trust issues: Customers may believe they’re buying a brand-exclusive product when they’re not.
  
  

Is White Labelling Bad?

Not always. It works well for brands that want to launch fast and keep costs low. But as a consumer, it’s important to understand that:

• The formula does not belong to the brand.
  
• Quality is entirely dependent on the third-party manufacturer.
  
• The brand may not have full transparency on what’s inside the product.
  

For conscious consumers, this raises important questions about ingredient quality, sourcing ethics, and overall brand accountability.

What’s the Difference Between White Labelling and Private Labelling?

Here’s where it gets interesting — white labelling and private labelling are not the same thing.

 

Why Dr. Su Chooses Private Labelling

At Dr. Su, we take the private labelling route, which means every formulation is developed from scratch, in-house. We may spend years perfecting a single product, but it ensures:

• Unique and high-performance formulations
  
• Transparent ingredient sourcing
  
• Ethical and cruelty-free practices
  
• Full control from R&D to shelf
  

We don’t settle for generic. We build everything around skin science, real results, and your trust.

Why This Matters for You

With hundreds of skincare brands launching every year, transparency is non-negotiable. As a consumer, always:

• Check ingredient lists
  
• Ask how the brand develops its products
  
• Look for brands that value formulation ownership and science-led development
  

What Makes Dr. Su Different?

In a world full of lookalike products, we believe your skincare should stand out — because your skin deserves better than copy-paste formulations.

At Dr. Su, we’re committed to real innovation, real ingredients, and real results. Every product is thoughtfully developed from the ground up, with quality, ethics, and transparency at the heart of our process.

Because we don’t just sell skincare. We create it.

Choose skincare that’s as honest as it is effective. Choose Dr. Su.