This list contains our top 10 lipstick manufacturers. Note, that there is no manufacturer that only produces lipsticks. Most manufacturers on this list produce many other cosmetic products in addition to lipsticks. 

At Spy Pharma, based in Germany, we produce high-quality cosmetics. Our comprehensive service includes everything you don’t get from most cosmetic manufacturers.

Prompt and uncomplicated communication with a personal contact, efficient and modern processes for shorter lead times, first-class brand development and product design, full service for certifications and notification of products as well as door-to-door delivery.

With minimum order quantities for lipsticks as low as 1,000 pieces, we are an option for both up-and-coming and established brands. We manufacture private label and custom lipsticks, lip liners, lip balms, lip tints, and lip creams.

While Kolmar is best known for manufacturing oils and lotions, the company does dabble in color cosmetics and lip products. Kolmar boasts its “trend direction” services for helping newer brands to decide what to bring to the market.

Cosmetic Service specialising in the design, production and customisation of cosmetics articles. What makes them special is that everything is done in house — from researching the idea, to preparation of the sample in the laboratory, to production, labelling, packaging and shipping.

CTK Clip is a company that specializes in private label manufacturing, offering a wide range of services including product design, formulation, packaging development, and fulfillment. They focus on innovative and trendy cosmetic products, providing a comprehensive platform for beauty B2B partnerships and global quality management processes.

This American contract cosmetics manufacturer offers filling and packaging for more than 50 production lines. With a reputation for providing variety in color cosmetics, Verla offers brands many options for pigmenting lipsticks and lip stains.

Rozelle Cosmetics specializes in private label manufacturing, offering a range of customization options for color, texture, and packaging. With over 50 years of experience in the beauty industry, they are a USA-based company that focuses on producing high-quality, paraben-free cosmetics.

ColorStrokes Cosmetics is a provider of private label color cosmetics, offering a range of natural, organic, vegan, and gluten-free products. They specialize in creating high-quality cosmetic brushes and mineral makeup, catering to companies seeking to brand and sell products under their own name with low minimum order requirements.

As one of the larger cosmetic formulators in the United States, XJ beauty primarily works with large corporations. XJ’s lipstick lineup includes matte and liquid lipsticks, glosses, balms, and lip oils.

Lady Burd is a private-label cosmetics manufacturer specializing in lipsticks, lip glosses, lip finishers, and lip primers. Lady Burd is a leading provider of cruelty-free cosmetic products.

Sheen Color is a newer company that opened its first factory in the United States in 2019. It provides hot pours for lipsticks, glosses, lip lacquers, and liquid lipsticks.

Are you looking for lipstick manufacturers? then you don’t need to look any further. Here you will not only find our top 10 lipstick manufacturers, but also learn everything you need to know about lipstick production.

Lipstick manufacturing is a delicate process that involves specific temperature settings and handling.

Here’s a blueprint for how a typical lipstick is made:

In order to properly merge oils and waxes, they are heated together at a temperature between 70 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius inside a vessel. Specific temperatures vary by formulation.

In order to add colors and textures to lipsticks, pigments and additional ingredients are mixed with the oils and waxes. Common ingredients in lipsticks today include pigments, preservatives, antioxidants, and fragrances. These ingredients are mixed until fully integrated.

Once a lipstick mixture has been formulated, it is poured into metal or plastic molds that create the signature “tube shape” that makes lipsticks recognizable.

Once poured, lipstick formulations must be cooled in order to allow the mixture to solidify. Depending on the process chosen, molds can either be cooled at room temperature or placed in low-temperature cooling apparatuses.

Once hardened, lipsticks are removed from their molds to be packaged. In some cases, the lipstick manufacturer will coat the finished product with polishes or extra ingredients that create additional sheen or smoothness.

For brands concerned about the cost and warehousing space needed to label, package, and store lipstick products, it’s helpful to know that full-service lipstick manufacturers cover this final portion of getting products on the market.

Packaging options can range from simple plastic tubes to high-end, designer-quality cases. Each lipstick batch will be labeled with brand details, color information, ingredients, contact information, selling points, and other information deemed relevant by the brand.

Prior to being deployed for sale, each lipstick batch is subjected to rigorous quality-control testing to ensure that consumers will receive products that meet both brand standards and legal standards. Items covered during an inspection include color consistency, shape, texture, smell, and general appearance.

The rundown of how lipstick is made that’s covered above really highlights the complexity of bringing a cosmetic product on the market.

That’s why pairing with the right lipstick manufacturer is vital for ensuring quality, scalability, and cost control.

What should you look for when searching for a lipstick manufacturer?

First, be sure to inquire about minimum order quantity (MOQ). MOQ refers to the number of units required in order for a batch to be made.

For brands, the goal is to reach the profit-making sweet spot between having decent inventory and staying aligned with the retail price point. 

In addition to asking about MOQ, be sure to inquire about cost per unit to get a picture of what the costs for bringing a lipstick line to life will look like!

MOQ alone is not enough to evaluate the best option — even when you’re running on a budget.

Take for example, Supplier XYZ and us, SBLC Cosmetics.

Supplier XYZ

• MOQ: 500 Units
• Cost per Unit: ≈6€

Spy Pharma

• MOQ: 1000 Units
• Cost per Unit: ≈3€

That’s why you should definitely ask for the unit price when choosing between lipstick manufacturers.

Production time (or lead time) is the length of time between placing your order and completion of production.

Time to market is the length of time it takes from a lipstick being developed until it’s being available for sale.

You would rather not waste your time talking to a lipstick manufacturer for months and then, when you are finally ready to order, you find out the production time exceeds your deadline.

In the fast-paced lipstick industry, brands often rush to launch products. If you do not plan to develop your own formula, one shortcut is using ready-made formulations (private label lipsticks) from lipstick manufacturers instead of creating custom ones.

This approach saves time on research, development, and decision-making.

So instead of working with a pure cosmetic contract manufacturer, definitely make sure your lipstick manufacturer has some premade formulations you like.

Finally, inquire about a lipstick manufacturer’s certification. Generally, lipstick manufacturers based in Europe operate according to the strictest guidelines, which means their lipsticks are safe to sell in basically any country in the world.

Choosing a company that does not meet regulatory standards for product safety and standards could result in fines, lawsuits, and irreversible damage to a brand.