Mixing Ingredients for Serum Production While Maintaining Confidentiality
Question
Regarding adding purchased ingredients to a serum formula produced by a factory, I have questions about the dissolution process of extracts and the manufacturing process:
1. Is it correct and possible to mix all the purchased ingredients together first before sending them to the factory for production?
2. Alternatively, should I separate each ingredient and provide instructions on how each should be dissolved during production? Will this method prevent the factory's R&D from knowing what ingredients I am using and in what quantities?
Answer
Based on your situation and the staff's advice regarding incorporating new ingredients into your existing serum formula to improve whitening while maintaining discretion with your manufacturer, here's a breakdown of the recommended approach:
Pre-mixing all purchased ingredients:
- This is generally not recommended.
- Mixing ingredients directly before adding them to the main formula can lead to instability or degradation if the ingredients are not compatible (e.g., different pH requirements).
- You would need to verify the compatibility of every ingredient you purchased if you chose this route.
Providing ingredients separately with dissolution/mixing instructions:
- This is considered the much more suitable method.
- According to the staff, simply providing instructions on how to dissolve each ingredient and the proportion to add to the main formula is unlikely to reveal the specific identity or exact quantity of the ingredients to the manufacturer's R&D team, unless they perform specific chemical analysis.
Recommendation:
- Provide the new ingredients to the manufacturer separately.
- Include clear instructions for each ingredient on how it should be dissolved or incorporated into the main formula during the production process, along with the proportion to be added.
- This method offers better control over ingredient stability and helps maintain the confidentiality of your specific ingredient choices.
- Important: Double-check that the new ingredients you are adding are not already present in the original formula provided by the manufacturer to avoid potential issues like irritation or exceeding regulatory limits.
This approach allows you to proceed with your lab bulk testing to observe the effects on texture, stability, and appearance.